Latest news with #WinningIsn'tEverything
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Strictly Come Dancing star admits devastating news has 'been tough'
Strictly Come Dancing champion Dianne Buswell has shared her grief after her beloved granddad passed away thousands of miles away in Australia at the age of 99 Strictly Come Dancing favourite Dianne Buswell has opened up about the tragic death of her grandfather. Dianne spoke about her relative dying aged 99 in Western Australia on the Winning Isn't Everything podcast with fellow Strictly winner. She explained: "He only celebrated his 99th birthday two weeks ago. I don't I don't think he wanted to reach 100." She fondly recalled how her grandpa, affectionately known as Buzz, took pride in her triumphant Strictly journey, telling Chris: "He called you the blind fellow, he couldn't believe that I taught the blind fella how to dance." After lifting the coveted Glitterball Trophy, Dianne returned Down Under to spend precious moments with Buzz, reminiscing together as they watched her dance routines. She recounted: "We watched some of the dances together. He got very emotional about it. He loved it. And before I left, he said to me, 'You know, I'm pretty much done'." Despite the family's hopes for Buzz to celebrate a centenary, he passed shortly after marking his 99th year. She confessed that she struggled to find the right words when her dad delivered the heartbreaking news, admitting: "I don't know really how to act or what to do in situations like this. I feel like I'm just trying to console my dad over phone, but I didn't really know what to say or do. It's really tough." Dianne described his final days: "He just began to get really tired and they put like a little oxygen mask on him. "He was still in his nursing home. So he didn't go to hospital or anything, but he was getting weaker by the day. But he called me a couple of days ago and he was still quite conscious. "And that was the last time, because my dad told me this morning that, he sadly passed away at about ten something this morning in Australian time. which is really sad, but he's now with his wife, Mary, who passed away from Alzheimer's. "He loved her so, so much," Diane added. "They were inseparable. He did everything for her. They used to go travelling together. She was a surf life saver, he was a bike rider. They were a very fit and very active couple. So I'm sure he would be up there with her now having a little dance." Dancing runs in Dianne's family. Alongside her brother Andrew, she became the Western Australian Open Adult New Vogue champion in 2008 and 2010 before joining Aussie TV's So You Think You Can Dance – a spinoff of the US show hosted by Cat Deeley. Dianne later joined the cast of Australia's Dancing with the Stars and then made the pivotal move to the UK, where she met her now-partner Joe Sugg on the 2018 series of Strictly Come Dancing. In the podcast, she shared how she had been longing for her family back in Australia and had even begun planning a surprise holiday for her parents, expressing relief that those plans never materialised. "Something in my head was telling me 'don't book it just yet.' So I kept putting it off...I had this weird feeling. And then last week when my dad was saying 'Pops is not really in a great way' And I thought 'there was my reason.'"
Edinburgh Live
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Strictly's Dianne Buswell admits 'it's been tough' as she addresses heartbreaking news
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Strictly Come Dancing's Dianne Buswell has opened up about heartbreaking news she received this week, admitting it's been "tough". The Australian, who joined the hit BBC programme in 2017 as a pro dancer and won last year with Chris McCausland, recently revealed her grandfather had died. Sharing her grief on the Winning Isn't Everything podcast with fellow Strictly winner Chris McCausland, she revealed: "He only celebrated his 99th birthday two weeks ago. I don't think he wanted to reach 100." Her grandad, affectionately nicknamed Buzz, took immense pride in her triumphant Strictly journey, once referring to Chris as "the blind fellow". She told Chris: "He couldn't believe that I taught the blind fella how to dance." After her win, Dianne cherished moments back home, replaying show highlights with Buzz. Reflecting on those precious times, she said: "We watched some of the dances together. He got very emotional about it. He loved it. And before I left, he said to me, 'You know, I'm pretty much done'." Although the family held onto hope for Buzz's centenary, his health declined rapidly after his birthday. Dianne explained his final days saw him growing weary and being placed on supplemental oxygen. "He just began to get really tired and they put like a little oxygen mask on him," she said. (Image: Instagram) "He was still in his nursing home. So he didn't go to hospital or anything, but he was getting weaker by the day. But he called me a couple of days ago and he was still quite conscious. "And that was the last time, because my dad told me this morning that, he sadly passed away at about ten something this morning in Australian time. which is really sad, but he's now with his wife, Mary, who passed away from Alzheimer's." "He loved her so, so much. They were inseparable. He did everything for her. They used to go travelling together. She was a surf life saver, he was a bike rider. They were a very fit and very active couple. So I'm sure he would be up there with her now having a little dance." Dancing is very much a family affair for Dianne. She and her brother Andrew were Western Australian Open Adult New Vogue champions for 2008 and 2010 before she went on to appear on Aussie TV's So You Think You Can Dance – a spinoff of the US show of the same name presented by Cat Deeley. Dianne went on to appear on the Australian version of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars, before making the fateful move to the UK that saw her meeting now-partner Joe Sugg in the 2018 series. (Image: PA) She revealed in the podcast that she had been missing her family back in Australia, and had every started making plans to bring her parents over for a surprise holiday, but she's now glad she didn't. Dianne said: "Something in my head was telling me 'don't book it just yet.' So I kept putting it off...I had this weird feeling." "And then last week when my dad was saying 'Pops is not really in a great way' And I thought 'there was my reason.'" She revealed that conversing with her dad after he broke the sad news was challenging, confessing: "I don't know really how to act or what to do in situations like this. I feel like I'm just trying to console my dad over phone, but I didn't really know what to say or do. It's really tough."
Edinburgh Live
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Strictly Come Dancing stars share statement after 'difficult circumstances'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Fans were left disheartened as Strictly Come Dancing luminaries Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola announced the cancellation of part of their evening's programme. In the throes of their Red Hot and Ready tour, Dianne, 36, and Vito, 32, were set to dazzle the audience last night (22 June) at the prestigious Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End. The blow came for those who had shelled out for the Meet and Greet package; they received news that this element was axed. Emails bore the disappointing message: "We're sorry to inform you but due to very difficult circumstances that have occurred today, today's meet and greet with Dianne and Vito has unfortunately been cancelled." The communication extended the twosome's sincerest apologies and recognised the unfortunate disruption. It reassured ticket holders that, despite this setback, the pair were ready to carry on with Sunday's show. (Image: Red Hot & Ready) Guaranteeing a refund, the organisers strove to soothe ruffled feathers, reports the Express. This setback came after Dianne conceded to experiencing a challenging period on tour, confessing: "I've been struggling, I've had a struggle struggle week." In her chat on the Winning Isn't Everything podcast alongside ex-partner Chris McCausland, she confided: "Because I did have a moment, I've cried and everything, I had a moment where I thought, 'I feel really bad when I used to be so mean to Chris about being sick'." Joining in the banter, the comic jested: "Hang on, when we did Strictly, I'm just trying to think, even when I was bad or injured," prompting an interjection from Dianne who quipped: "You were quite sick a lot." (Image: BBC) He retorted: "How many times did I cry that wasn't for joyous, emotional reasons? How many times did I cry because of illness or pain or sadness?" After taking a moment to reflect, he humorously added that the number was "zero". In her defence, Dianne remarked that women often appear "much more emotional" than men, reasoning that hormones play a role. The dancer, famed for her relationship with YouTuber Joe Suggs, and her colleague Vito branched out following the annual national tour of Strictly Come Dancing – which, this year, marked the first time without its reigning champion. Chris, achieving a milestone as the first blind victor in 2024, missed the tour due to a calendar conflict with his own engagements. At that juncture, he released a statement regarding the tour collision: "I'm afraid I will not be able to do the Strictly tour. My own tour was meant to be on the road in September and a lot of dates were moved to Jan and Feb to accommodate doing #Strictly." He lamented: "It's unfortunate as it's been so much fun, but my own dates can't be moved for a second time."
Edinburgh Live
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Strictly's Dianne Buswell tells co-star 'I've been struggling' after crying backstage
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Dianne Buswell, a dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, has informed her former dance partner Chris McCausland about a tough time she's been having on tour. The pair were back together for the latest edition of their podcast, in which they discussed various topics including her current venture with Vito Coppola, and their stint together on the BBC show. When Chris, 48, quizzed her on how her and Vito's tour was going, the 36-year-old confessed: "I've been struggling, I've had a struggle struggle week." Jokingly mocking her sad admission, the comedian began playing some melancholic music, to which she responded: "Don't you start! Because I did have a moment, I've cried and everything, I had a moment where I thought, 'I feel really bad when I used to be so mean to Chris about being sick'." Reflecting on their Strictly experience, Chris went on to say: "Hang on, when we did Strictly, I'm just trying to think, even when I was bad or injured," but was swiftly interrupted by Dianne who recalled: "You were quite sick a lot." He went on to say on their Winning Isn't Everything podcast: "How many times did I cry that wasn't for joyous, emotional reasons? How many times did I cry because of illness or pain or sadness?" After humorously trying to work it out, he concluded it was "zero". Determined to justify her tears, Dianne pointed out that women tend to become "much more emotional" at times due to hormonal factors. The red-haired beauty and Vito's gigs comes just months after the Strictly cast reunited for the annual nationwide tour. For the first time in its history, the tour did not see its champion from that year take part. Announcing his absence at the time, Chris wrote: "I'm afraid I will not be able to do the Strictly tour. My own tour was meant to be on the road in September and a lot of dates were moved to Jan and Feb to accommodate doing #Strictly. "It's unfortunate as it's been so much fun, but my own dates can't be moved for a second time." Chris made history on the show last year as the competition's first ever blind contestant and winner. This year, a new line-up of celebrities will be hoping to follow in Chris' footsteps and win the Glitterball trophy. Confirmed names are yet to be announced, though rumoured participants so far include; Helen Flanagan, Tom Parker Bowles, Sir Mo Farah, Tom Skinner and Dani Dyer. The professional dancers that are preparing for their return include; Dianne, alongside Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito. The new series is expected to return in September.
Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Strictly's Dianne Buswell has four-word wedding message for Joe Sugg
Strictly Come Dancing pro Dianne Buswell, who has been in a relationship with Joe Sugg since they were partnered together in 2018, had a message for her boyfriend Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell delivered a major wedding hint to partner Joe Sugg. The flame-haired dancer, 36, and her partner Joe, 33 and known for his YouTube fame, hit it off during their stint on the BBC favourite in 2018. The duo shimmied their way to the final while Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton clinched the coveted Glitterball Trophy. Dianne and Joe's romance swiftly developed off the dance floor, and they confirmed they were an item later that same year, eventually moving in together and snapping up their first property in February 2021. Since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for Joe to get down on one knee. On her Winning Isn't Everything podcast with fellow Strictly champ Chris McCausland, Dianne gave a lighthearted message to her other half. During a conversation about fingers on the podcast, Dianne gestured to her ring finger asking: "What's that one, your best friend finger?" which led Chris to quip: "It's the one Joe's done nothing with." To which Dianne replied: "Exactly, we need to remind Joe what that finger holds. That finger is feeling very lonely, it needs something to weigh it down with." Following the purchase of their swanky £3.5million London pad in 2021, Dianne said they were "playing their marriage by ear". Putting her career at the forefront, she said to the Mirror: "Joe and I don't really talk about that kind of thing. We're both so relaxed so we just play it by ear. We really enjoy each other's company so much and whatever happens, happens." Dianne has opened up about the duo's aspirations to eventually build a family. Last year, the Aussie-born Strictly star spoke about the couple's desire to have children "when it feels right". She candidly shared that, just like their wedding plans, they're not in any hurry to progress in their romantic tale. Joe Sugg, whose elder sister Zoe is a YouTuber, was 27 when he met Dianne. He has openly declared that Dianne is his first "proper girlfriend". In a heartfelt chat with The Sunday Times back in 2021, Joe revealed: "Dianne is my first girlfriend. Other than, like, my pen pal from when I was 10." He has also admitted to being somewhat cautious at first about posting photos with his significant other online. Explaining the reason, he said: "My audience was very protective over me. But they instantly accepted Dianne, because we were partnered on Strictly, so after the show finished and we got together, they already felt like they knew her well." Echoing the sentiment on Instagram, Joe and Dianne's fellow Strictly dancer Johannes Radebe left a cheeky comment saying: "If you don't marry him Di, I will.."
