Dianne Claire Buswell (born 6 May 1989) is an Australian professional dancer who is best known for her appearances on the British television show Strictly Come Dancing. After competing on Dancing with the Stars in Australia, she joined the British series in 2017, reaching the final in 2018 with Joe Sugg and in 2023 with Bobby Brazier, before winning the contest with Chris McCausland in 2024, for which she also won a BAFTA award in 2025.
Career Buswell is a former Australian Open champion and four-time Amateur Australian Open finalist. She and her brother Andrew Buswell were Western Australian Open Adult New Vogue champions for 2008 and 2010. She also appeared on So You Think You Can Dance Australia.
Buswell turned professional at the age of 21 when she joined the touring dance company Burn the Floor in January 2011.
Dancing with the Stars In 2015, she was a professional dancer on the fifteenth season of Australia's Dancing with the Stars, paired with AFL star Jude Bolton; they were the fifth couple eliminated.
SeasonPartnerPlace15Jude Bolton7th
Season 15 Celebrity partner: Jude Bolton
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Cha-cha-cha"Uptown Funk"55621No Elimination2Paso doble"Best of You"88832Safe3Samba"Magalenha"77728Safe4Tango"Geronimo"78823Safe5Viennese waltz"Powerful"66618 Eliminated
Notes
Strictly Come Dancing Buswell moved to the United Kingdom, where she joined the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing – the original version of Dancing with the Stars – in 2017. Her celebrity partner for the 2017 series was the Reverend Richard Coles. They were the second couple eliminated in the series, losing the dance-off to Simon Rimmer and Karen Hauer in a unanimous decision. Buswell was paired with television presenter Tim Vincent for the 2017 Children in Need special.
For the sixteenth series of the show in 2018, she was partnered with YouTuber Joe Sugg. They were runners-up, alongside Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice and Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev, behind Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton. In early 2019, the couple performed in the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour, winning 28 of the 29 shows.
Buswell returned for her third series in 2019, paired with radio DJ Dev Griffin. They were the third couple to leave the show, after losing a dance-off to Emma Weymouth and Aljaž Skorjanec.
For series 18 in 2020, she was partnered with The Wanted singer, Max George. They were the third couple to be eliminated, after losing a dance-off to Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez.
Buswell returned for series 19 in 2021, partnered with Robert Webb, a comedian, actor and writer. Webb withdrew from the competition after three weeks, due to ill health.
In 2022, she was paired with radio and television presenter Tyler West for series 20. They were the eighth couple to be eliminated after losing a dance-off to Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.
In 2023, she was paired with actor and model Bobby Brazier for series 21. They finished as runners-up, alongside Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin, behind series champions Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola.
In 2024, she was paired with comedian Chris McCausland for series 22. They won the series, with Buswell winning for the first time and McCausland becoming the first blind contestant to win. In May 2025, the couple's waltz – which featured a passage of McCausland walking unaided and unsighted – won the British Academy Television Award for Memorable Moment at the 2025 British Academy Television Awards.
For the series 23 in 2025, she was partnered with Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis and announced she would compete despite her pregnancy, which was announced on 14 September. It was reported that there was a chance she could pull out of the competition and be replaced by one of the other professional dancers. However, the couple finished in 12th place after Dennis tore his calf muscle, forcing them to withdraw from the competition after four weeks. Series Partner Place AverageScore15Reverend Richard Coles14th16.016Joe Sugg2nd32.817Dev Griffin13th30.018Max George9th27.319Robert Webb13th24.020Tyler West8th32.221Bobby Brazier 2nd 33.822Chris McCausland 1st 32.623Stefan Dennis12th21.724Will Best18.5 Colour key:
Highest and lowest scoring per dance DancePartnerHighestPartnerLowest American Smooth Chris McCausland 37 Reverend Richard Coles 17 Argentine Tango Joe SuggBobby Brazier 30 Cha-Cha-Cha Tyler West 35 Reverend Richard ColesStefan Dennis 17 Charleston Joe SuggTyler West 38 Stefan Dennis 26 Couple's Choice Bobby Brazier 39 Max George 32 Foxtrot Joe Sugg 35 Will Best 19 Jive Bobby Brazier Joe SuggDev GriffinMax George 27 Paso Doble Joe Sugg 39 Reverend Richard Coles 14 Quickstep Joe SuggBobby Brazier 38 Robert Webb 25 Rumba Salsa Joe Sugg 36 Chris McCausland 30 Samba Bobby Brazier 39 Will Best 18 Showdance Joe SuggBobby Brazier Chris McCausland 38 Tango Tyler West 32 Max George 23 Viennese Waltz Chris McCausland 36 Joe SuggTyler West 29 Waltz 40 Joe Sugg
Color key:
number indicates when Dianne and her partner were at the top of the leaderboard. number indicates when Dianne and her partner were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
Series 15 Celebrity partner: Richard Coles
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Cha-cha-cha "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)"246517No Elimination2American Smooth "Love Really Hurts Without You"345517Safe3Paso doble"Flash's Theme"2444 Eliminated
Notes
Series 16 Celebrity partner: Joe Sugg
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Jive "Take On Me"677727No Elimination2Charleston "Cotton Eye Joe"788831Safe3American Smooth "Breaking Free"676726Safe4Cha-cha-cha"Just Got Paid"577726Safe5Waltz "Rainbow Connection"678829Safe6Foxtrot "Youngblood"899935Safe7Paso doble"Pompeii"799934Safe8Samba "MMMBop"788932Safe9Quickstep "Dancin' Fool"810101038Safe10Street "Jump Around"78101035Safe11Salsa "Joseph Megamix"8991036Safe12Viennese waltzArgentine tango"This Year's Love""Red Right Hand"6688788830Safe13Paso dobleShowdanceCharleston"Pompeii""I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor""Cotton Eye Joe"9991010910101010101039Runners-up
Notes
Series 17 Celebrity partner: Dev Griffin
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Foxtrot"Build Me Up Buttercup"778830No Elimination2Jive "Dance with Me Tonight"677727Safe 3Street "Friend Like Me"999936Safe4Cha-cha-cha"Dancing with a Stranger"677727 Eliminated
Notes
Series 18 Celebrity partner: Max George
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Tango "Best Fake Smile"65617No Elimination2Jive "I'm a Believer"67720Safe3Couple's Choice "The Simpsons Theme"88824Safe4American Smooth "It Had to Be You"57820 Eliminated
Notes
Series 19 Celebrity partner: Robert Webb
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Cha-cha-cha"Rasputin (song)"644620No Elimination2Tango "La cumparsita"776727Safe3Quickstep"The Muppet Show Theme"667625Safe4 - - - - - - -Withdrew
Notes
Series 20 Celebrity partner: Tyler West
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1American Smooth "Falling"457622No Elimination2Jive "Hit the Road Jack"788831Safe3Charleston "Flash, Bang, Wallop"910109Safe4Couple's Choice "Garage Megamix"89101037Safe5Tango "Doctor Who Theme"888832Safe6Cha-cha-cha "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)"79910Safe7Viennese waltz "I've Been Loving You Too Long"777829Safe8Paso doble"Unstoppable"688931Bottom two9Salsa "KC & The Sunshine Band mix"899935 Eliminated
Notes
Series 21 Celebrity partner: Bobby Brazier
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Foxtrot "All About You"678829No Elimination2Charleston "Do Your Thing"777829Safe3Samba "Young Hearts Run Free"888832Safe4Tango "Fashion"778830Safe5Viennese waltz "Golden Hour"788932Safe6Cha-cha-cha "Come On-a My House"697830Safe7Argentine tango "Sail"688830Safe8American Smooth "Ghost of You"788932Safe9Jive "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"899935Bottom two10Couple's Choice "This Woman's Work"89101037Safe11Salsa "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life"889934No Elimination12QuickstepPaso doble"Mack the Knife""Run Boy Run"989910910935Bottom two13SambaShowdanceCouple's Choice"Young Hearts Run Free""La La Land medley""This Woman's Work"99910101010101010101039Runners-up
Notes
Series 22 Celebrity partner: Chris McCausland
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Cha-cha-cha "Twist and Shout"466723No Elimination2Foxtrot "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"678829Safe3Jive "Wayne's World Theme"778830 Safe4Salsa "Down Under"688830Safe5Waltz "You'll Never Walk Alone"899935Safe6Samba "Stayin' Alive"5777Safe7Tango "Rock and Roll All Nite"678829Safe8Couple's Choice "Instant Karma!"789933Safe9American Smooth "Jump"89101037Safe10Paso dobleSamba-thon"El gato montés""Conga" &"La Vida Es Un Carnaval" 789934Safe11Quickstep "You're the Top"788932Safe12CharlestonViennese waltz"When You're Smiling""Nothing Else Matters"798999993336Safe 13Couple's ChoiceShowdanceWaltz"Instant Karma!""You Get What You Give""You'll Never Walk Alone"8810101010101010101010Winners
Notes
Series 23 Celebrity partner: Stefan Dennis
Week Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result1Foxtrot "Neighbours Theme"466622No Elimination2Cha-cha-cha "Give It Up"444517Safe3Waltz"It Is You (I Have Loved)" - - - - -Given bye4Charleston"Dance Monkey"577726Safe5 -"Livin' on a Prayer" - - - - -Withdrew
Notes
Christmas Specials Celebrity partners: Robbie Savage (2017), Joe Sugg (2019), Fred Sirieix (2021)
Year Dance Music Judges' scores Total score Result2017American Smooth"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"788831Participant2019Street/Commercial"Sleigh Ride"10101010Participant2021Quickstep"Merry Christmas Everyone"810101038Participant
Notes
YouTube and other media work Buswell started a YouTube channel in March 2019, where she posts regular vlogs showing her viewers what she does in her day-to-day life. In December of that year, she was named as the UK's most-subscribed new YouTuber of 2019, having gained almost 230,000 subscribers.
Before becoming a professional dancer, Buswell was a hairdresser, and in 2021, she had a podcast with BBC Sounds called 'Di's Salon', in which she chatted to guests as they looked back at the hairstyles they have had over the years.
In 2022, Buswell participated in the reality series Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof on BBC One.
In January 2025, Buswell and her Strictly partner Chris McCausland began a podcast called Winning Isn't Everything.
In January 2026, Buswell and Joe Sugg announced they were producing and co-hosting a TV show together titled Raiders of the Lost Crafts for Sky History, where they travel around the UK trying traditional crafts.
Filmography
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2015Dancing with the Stars (Australia)Professional Dancer2017–presentStrictly Come DancingProfessional Dancer2022Freeze the Fear with Wim HofContestantTBARaiders of the Lost CraftsCo-hostWith Joe Sugg
Stage YearTitleRoleVenue2011–2014Burn The FloorDancerTouring2019Here Come the GirlsDancerUK Touring 2019, 2022–2024Strictly The ProfessionalsDancerUK Touring2025Dianne & Vito: Red Hot and ReadyDancerUK Touring2027Dianne & Vito: Back in BusinessDancerUK Touring
Podcast YearTitleRole2021Di's SalonHost2025Winning Isn't EverythingCo-host with Chris McCausland
Personal life Buswell was born in Bunbury, Western Australia. She began dancing at age 5, and went on to compete from an early age in State, National and International Ballroom and Latin events. She has two older brothers.
Buswell dated soap actor Anthony Quinlan from late 2017 to October 2018.
In late 2018, Buswell began dating Joe Sugg, her celebrity partner from Strictly Come Dancing. The couple confirmed that they were living together in August 2019. In February 2021 they revealed that they had bought a house together. Their child, a son named Bowden, was born in March 2026 through emergency C-section.
References
External links