Aussie dancing queen ‘shaking like a leaf' during major TV triumph
Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell won the BAFTA TV Awards' memorable moment gong for her waltz with comedian Chris McCausland, the show's first blind contestant.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Aussie dancer Dianne Buswell claims BAFTA win.
The pair danced to You'll Never Walk Alone during the 2024 series of the BBC program, which they ultimately won.
'In one minute and thirty seconds of a dance, I feel like this told such a story — a story of hope, determination, resilience and vulnerability,' Buswell said.
'I had something completely different that I was going to say but somebody asked me outside what I thought of when I was doing that dance.
'Honestly, I held Chris' hands and I was set off from the minute we started because he closed his eyes and he smiled a smile that I've never seen from him before and that meant it came straight from his heart.
'This moment meant so much to the both of us so I'm just so thrilled that we have this.'
It was a first BAFTA win for both Buswell and McCausland.
The award was decided by public vote and Buswell said she was 'shaking like a leaf' as she collected it.
McCausland did not join his co-star at the ceremony but he did have a light-hearted message, which Buswell delivered.
'Chris did have something he wanted me to say and that is after 22 years in comedy he wins a BAFTA for dancing,' Buswell said.
'He said: 'Di, I'll take it, but please let them all know it hurts'.' Dianne Buswell gave a heartfelt speech as she collected her BAFTA award for memorable moment. Credit: John Phillips / Getty Images for BAFTA Buswell said she feels like her dance with Chris McCausland 'told such a story'. Credit: Dave Benett / Getty Images
Buswell's boyfriend Joe Sugg, a YouTube star who she met when they were partnered together during the 2018 series of the show, was in tears while listening to her deliver her speech.
Buswell and McCausland's dance was nominated alongside moments from Bridgerton, Gavin and Stacey, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Rivals and The Traitors.
'That BAFTA is SO deserved. What Dianne Buswell achieved with Chris McCausland was nothing short of extraordinary,' one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
'She's also an absolute delight.'
The Aussie dancer is originally from Bunbury, south of Perth in WA.
She previously appeared on Australia's Dancing with the Stars before moving to the UK in 2017.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Dai barbecue ai banh mi: lo slang culinario australiano
Per saperne di più: Transcript Howie: Have you ever been invited to an Aussie party and been told to 'bring a plate'? If that sounds strange, you're not alone. Aussie English can be weird — but there's always a reason behind it. So why do Aussies talk about eating the way they do? And how did all these unique food phrases become part of everyday life? Let's find out. Sharing food, sharing culture Food is a beautiful, shared experience. Australia's diverse population has brought meals and food traditions from many cultures. Because of this, you'll hear lots of eating-related words that have evolved from different places. Sharing food is a big part of Aussie culture and mateship. Since the early 20th century, Australians have used the phrase 'bring a plate' — not because they're out of crockery, but because they're asking you to bring food to share. It doesn't have to be a literal plate. It could be a bowl of dessert, a salad, drinks — anything, really. The story behind 'bring a plate' The phrase goes back to community fundraisers and club events in the early 1900s. Instead of buying a ticket, guests were asked to bring a plate of food — often cake. By the 1920s, that became simply: 'bring a plate.' So if you're invited to a barbie, make sure to put some tucker on your plate. Barbie = barbecue Tucker = food (any kind) Snags, sausages, and democracy The snag (sausage) is the hero of many Aussie barbecues. It's also the centrepiece of election fundraisers — where it becomes a 'democracy sausage.' Australians love word shortenings. Research shows that around 4% of Australian English words are shortened forms. Why? Because shortening words feels informal and friendly — and that's how Aussies like to talk. Goon and boxie: the language of wine It may come from 'flagon' (a big bottle of wine), or from 'goom,' another word for alcohol. Either way, it now refers to boxed wine — which Aussies also call: Boxie Box monster Cardy chardy Goon bag Goon sack We get creative with food, and even more creative with names for it. Food, language, and culture Food has always been tied to identity, class, and culture. Australia's earliest settlers and convicts were curious about Indigenous food — later called bush tucker. In 1864, Edward Abbott published the first Australian cookbook, featuring recipes for emu, kangaroo, and other native ingredients. Over time, traditional foods gave way to British and American dishes — even within many Indigenous communities. But after World War II, Australians began to embrace multicultural food more openly. Even when Aussies were hesitant to use other languages, they still used original names for many dishes: Nasi goreng, chop suey, goulash, and more. Kangaroo, macadamia, and Indigenous words Australia's most iconic animal — the kangaroo — gets its name from the Guugu Yimidhirr language. But not all Indigenous words survived colonisation. The macadamia nut, for instance, was named after chemist John Macadam, even though Indigenous names like 'gumburra' and 'kindal kindal' were already in use. Today, we're embracing more migrant and Indigenous words than ever. Borrowing, shortening, and debating Aussies often shorten borrowed food terms too: Spaghetti bolognese becomes spag bol Chicken parmigiana becomes… parma or parmi — depending on where you are Warning: Saying the 'wrong' version could spark a pub debate! Food can be fun — but it can also be political. Australians feel strongly about what we eat and what we call it. From HSP to dim sims Terms like 'kebab' and 'halal snack pack' (HSP) have become part of the Aussie food experience. In fact, in 2016, halal snack pack won the People's Choice Award in the Macquarie Dictionary's Word of the Year. This love of food reflects how we welcome new people, cultures, and ideas — by sharing meals and language. We say 'bring a plate' not just to make parties easier to host — but to try everyone's favourite dish. Food as a shared experience From bush tucker to democracy sausages, and from goon bags to goulash, Aussie English is full of flavour. It's shaped by what we eat, how we live, and who we welcome to the table. And like every good meal — it's meant to be shared. Weird and Wonderful Aussie English Credits Video production company: New Mac Video Agency
Courier-Mail
3 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Robert Irwin returns to Coffs Harbour restaurant to pay his food bill
Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. Less than a week after admitting he forgot to pay for his bill at a restaurant, Robert Irwin has returned to the scene of the crime to settle the score. The Aussie wildlife warrior, 21, took to Instagram last week sharing a since viral-video where he revealed he unwittingly left The Jetty Pavilion in Coffs Harbour without paying for his salad. Within five days, Irwin made good on his promise to venture back and fix up the bill, with camera crews on hand to capture the moment. 'I'm a man of my word. I said I was gonna pay for the salad, so I'm here to do just that,' he told 7News. Robert Irwin returned to the Jetty Pavilion in Coffs. Picture: 7News Irwin made good on his promise to pay for a salad he accidentally forgot to settle during a fan frenzy. Picture: 7News 'It went through! We got a tick,' Irwin continued as he tapped his credit card. 'I definitely paid! I'm outta here,' he laughed, while also leaving a generous tip. Owners Ben Hemsworth and Kyle Miller said they'd experienced a 50 per cent boost in business since Irwin shared a video recommendation last week. Irwin triggered global headlines when he admitted to ordering the $26 Harvest Bowl at the local eatery during an east coast road trip, before he was swarmed by fans and forgot to pay. Irwin with co-owner Kyle Miller. 'I went in there, and there was a lot of people who, you know, saw me and said g'day, and wanted to have a photo. But it turned into a bit of a frenzy … It was a bit of a flurry there for a moment,' Irwin began. 'Anyway, they got the salad done super fast, I made sure I said hi to absolutely everyone, 'Cheers, thanks so much, see ya later.' 'Then the next morning wake up and realise, I never paid for my salad! I just did the old dine and dash and didn't even realise. I felt terrible.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY The I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! co-host said he quickly reached out to the venue and offered to hand over his credit card details to fix up the bill, as he'd already left Coffs at that point. 'They said, 'Don't worry, just leave us a good review.' I said, 'I'll do you one better!'' Irwin continued. 'There are eight million of you guys on here [Instagram]. Go and support the Jetty Pavilion. They are the absolute best. 'I apologise again. Today is not the day I start my life of crime, as much as the tabloids would love that, it's not happening. 'Cheers everyone. Love you, Coffs Harbour.' The Jetty Pavilion owners have since hinted they might name the salad after Irwin in light of the saga. Originally published as Robert Irwin returns to Coffs Harbour restaurant to pay his food bill
Courier-Mail
3 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Olivia Newton-John's widower John Easterling finds love with American businesswoman
Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. Olivia Newton-John's widower has found love three years after her death. Daily Telegraph reports John Easterling, who married the late Australian singer in 2008, has moved on with US businesswoman Sarah Owen. Owen is the founder and owner of two companies: Striphair, which is a gentle grooming brush for pets, and Betty's Best, The outlet claims the pair met at a New Year's Eve event in December, 2022. Newton-John died at her ranch in California in August 2022. She was 73. Olivia Newton-John' s widower John Easterling has found love again. Picture: Instagram Sarah Owen is an American businesswoman who has reportedly found romance with Easterling. Picture: Instagram Owen and Easterling reportedly met in December 2022. The Grease star, who suffered a long battle with breast cancer, spent her final days at the sprawling Santa Ynez Valley estate with Easterling, where the couple had lived since purchasing the property in 2015. Easterling sold the home for $US7.95 million (AUD$12.16 million) in February this year after it was first listed in June 2024. 'Olivia and I made many wonderful memories at our home in Florida and the ranch in California. The message that keeps coming through so clearly is to love life, live life, and never forget about the good things that are going on,' Easterling told PEOPLE at the time. 'The 'Indian Way' Ranch in Santa Ynez is a spectacular property where I can see a new family having great nature adventures and relishing the life experience. I'll still maintain a presence in both Florida and California.' Olivia Newton-John's California ranch sold in February. Easterling, who founded the Amazon Herb Company in 1990, first met Newton-John in 1993 when they were married to other people. After years of friendship, the pair began dating in 2007 before marrying in a spiritual ceremony in Peru in June 2008, followed by a legally-binding wedding on Jupiter Island in Florida. Newton-John's first marriage was with Matt Lattanzi, who she met on the set of the 1980 film Xanadu. They later married in 1984, welcoming their daughter Chloe Lattanzi in January 1986. The couple divorced in 1996. Chloe Lattanzi, John Easterling and Olivia Newton-John at the Olivia Newton-John Wellness Walk and Research Run in Melbourne in 2019. Picture: Sam Tabone/WireImage At the time of her death, Easterling paid heartfelt tribute to Newton-John, describing every day with his wife as 'supernatural.' 'Every day with Olivia was a bit of magic,' Easterling wrote. Lattanzi, for his part, shared a joint statement written by his current wife, Michelle. Olivia Newton-John and Matt Lattanzi were married in 1984 until their divorce in 1996. Easterling speaking at the State Memorial Service for Newton-John at Hamer Hall, Melbourne. Picture: Jason Edwards 'Today we lost one of the world's greats Olivia Newton-John. Matt and I are so overwhelmed with the love and gratitude shared with us by friends, family and a deeply loving community of fans who will all miss Olivia's presence in this world,' Michelle wrote in a post shared to Facebook. 'I have heard truly lovely stories and memories from people near and far, and honour in each of you where those feelings and memories come from. 'Nothing will replace the icon we lost, yet her legacy is alive and well in our hearts and memories, as well as her contributions to our global culture, her beloved daughter Chloe Lattanzi, and her cancer research and wellness centre in Melbourne, AU.' Originally published as Olivia Newton-John's widower John Easterling finds love with American businesswoman
