Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell has opened up about a profoundly moving moment from the show that continues to give her goosebumps, sharing a heartfelt tribute to her former dance partner, Chris McCausland.
A Historic and Emotional Strictly Journey
The 36-year-old dancer, who recently made history by becoming the first person to perform on Strictly while pregnant, has been in the headlines recently. This followed her response to claims that her partner Stefan Dennis's exit from the BBC One competition was 'planned' after he suffered a tear in his calf muscle.
However, shifting focus to a more positive memory, Buswell reflected on her triumphant partnership with comedian Chris McCausland. The pair won the Glitterball trophy together in 2023, with McCausland being the show's first-ever blind participant.
The Waltz That Brought Tears
Appearing on BBC Two's Strictly: It Takes Two, Dianne became emotional as she recalled their powerful Waltz to 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.
"The Waltz is one dance that will always have a special place in my heart," she said. "He closed his eyes, I remember going – he is loving this. Ah, it was so powerful."
She described the most poignant part of the routine: "It gives me goosebumps. And then it was the moment when I left him to walk alone, and I pulled back from him but I watched him the whole time. The vulnerability on his face. He went from vulnerable to I feel safe again. It was so beautiful, so emotive."
A Bond Forged in Trust and Achievement
Discussing their immediate reaction after the dance finished, Buswell revealed the raw emotion they shared. "I think we just cuddled each other and cried in each other's arms," she confessed.
She added a powerful statement about her pride, saying, "I loved every single second of it and I've never felt more proud of my finished dancers as when I was with Chris."
Their successful partnership was further crowned when the duo won a Bafta TV award for Must-See Moment for their iconic dance, cementing its place in Strictly history.
Away from the dancefloor, Dianne and her partner Joe Sugg are preparing for the arrival of their first child. In a recent YouTube video, they revealed they have chosen a 'unique' name for their unborn baby, though they are keeping it a secret for now, jokingly referring to the baby as 'Derek' to avoid any accidental reveals.
