Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left in tears during the show's live final as it paid a heartfelt tribute to professional dancer Dianne Buswell's pregnancy.
A Historic and Emotional Moment
Dianne Buswell made Strictly Come Dancing history this year by becoming the first professional dancer to compete on the BBC show while pregnant. The special nod to her pregnancy came during the final on 20 December 2025, when all the eliminated couples returned for a group dance.
As Dianne and her celebrity partner, Stefan Dennis, performed their section of the routine, the show first honoured Stefan's iconic role on Neighbours by framing them as if in the soap's title sequence. The tribute then took a personal turn. On-screen text appeared reading: "Starring Stefan, Dianne and Bump!"
Fan Reaction and Defence of the Dancer
The simple, sweet message prompted an outpouring of emotion from the audience. One fan expressed their feelings on social media platform X, writing: "'And Bump' is the moment I burst out crying, oh my God I'm such a wreck." Another said: "Dianne and bump I'm sobbing!!"
Many supporters used the moment to champion Dianne, who has faced significant scrutiny throughout the series for continuing to dance. One viewer posted: "Can we give Dianne her own little trophy because that girl deserves it and more. The amount of hate, criticism and judgment she’s received the whole series just because she showed everyone you can still live out your passions even if you’re pregnant. What a woman."
Overcoming Criticism and Scrutiny
Throughout the 2025 series, Dianne's participation attracted heaps of criticism, with some voicing concerns over the safety of dance moves like cartwheels. This persisted despite Dianne having received medical clearance from a doctor confirming that dancing was safe for her and her baby.
The professional dancer was forced to hit back at online trolls on several occasions. On Instagram, she shared a video of herself doing a cartwheel with the caption: "For all those people saying they can't watch a pregnant girl dance! I just can't help it when I hear the beat."
She also addressed hurtful comments on her Instagram Stories, stating she had "honestly had enough" of people saying they felt uncomfortable watching her or that the BBC had made a mistake.
After Stefan Dennis was forced to withdraw from the competition due to an injury, conspiracy theories emerged suggesting it was a setup to protect Dianne. A frustrated Buswell issued a statement, saying: "Please respect Stefan who is extremely gutted to not be able to dance and stop presuming this was a set up! because believe me we would if we could!"
The emotional tribute during the final served as a powerful celebration of Dianne Buswell's groundbreaking and resilient journey on this year's Strictly Come Dancing.
