STRICTLY’S Motsi Mabuse has been slammed after demanding that Dianne Buswell and Stefan Dennis should rehearse more after their performance last night.
Despite welfare rules the judge urged the pair ‘find a way’ to practice more even though Stefan, 66, is the oldest contestant on the show and his pro partner Dianne is pregnant.
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Strictly’s Motsi Mabuse under fire as she demands pregnant Dianne Buswell and Stefan Dennis rehearse moreCredit: BBC
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Despite welfare rules the judge urged the pair ‘ ‘Credit: BBC
Dianne and Stefan performed the Cha Cha Cha to Give It Up by KC and The Sunshine Band.
It seemed that nerves ended up getting the best of Stefan resulting in a mistake-ridden performance.
The judges panel gave a mixed review with Craig Revel Horwood branding the dance “stompy” and “stiff” whilst Anton Du Beke thought it was “very good” in places.
Although it was judge Motsi who had some choice words for the pair.
She began: “You have a brilliant partnership, and you have a brilliant energy.
“You guys are like sunshine when you pair up together.”
“I’m going to have to address the elephant in the room, there were lots of tiny tiny mistakes everywhere,” she was then met with a chorus of boo’s from the audience.
Motsi hit back at the audience: “There were guys sorry, lets just be honest.”
“Just let’s try next time to rehearse and stick to the routine.”
A disgruntled Dianne fired back at the comment: “I don’t know how much more we can rehearse Motsi.”
Petrified’ Strictly star Stefan Dennis stumbles after mistake-ridden performance
Mosti continued: “Find a way I don’t know, we have to get one performance without those tiny tiny creepers in there.”
Stefan also went on to explain that even before stepping onto the floor he was ‘petrified’ admitting that the routine had completely ‘stumped’ him.
The pair ended up receiving a score of just 17 placing them as one of the lower scoring couples on this week’s leaderboard.
Dianne is currently expecting her first child with fellow Strictly star Joe Sugg.
Insiders had previously revealed that the red-haired beauty was pacing herself in rehearsals, with regular breaks during sessions with various welfare measures put in place.
An insider had told the Daily Mail: “There are duty of care and welfare measures in place for everyone working on Strictly.
“As with all sessions, there will have been regular breaks and rest/warm-up periods, and the rehearsal will have been led by Dianne and tailored to the pace of her and her partner.”
Fans rushed to X (formerly known as Twitter) outraged by Motsi’s comments, one fan penned: “I’m sorry but its clear that Stefan and Dianne have been rehearsing all day, every day, all week…they can’t magic more time…such an uncalled for comment!”
“I’m so glad Dianne fired back at that rehearsal comment what else do they think they’ve been doing what a bizarre criticism,” added another.
A third chimed: “I feel like telling the eldest contestant with the pregnant pro to rehearse more when they have been doing long days and its clear it was because of nerves and not lack of rehearsal is an extremely unfair thing to say.”
“Dianne was NOT happy with the rehearse more comment and I’m glad because I nearly jumped out my seat in anger lol,” a fourth agreed.
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The pair ended up receiving a score of just 17Credit: PA
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Fans were left outraged by the Motsi’s commentsCredit: BBC
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Dianne is currently expecting her first child
Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse has sparked controversy after suggesting pregnant professional dancer Dianne Buswell and her celebrity partner Stefan Dennis need to increase their practice time following Saturday night’s error-laden performance.
The 66-year-old Neighbours actor, who is this series’s oldest competitor, had performed a Cha Cha to Give It Up by KC and The Sunshine Band, earning just 17 points from the judging panel.
Ms Mabuse praised the duo’s partnership and energy, describing them as “like sunshine when you pair up together” before addressing what she called “the elephant in the room”.
She highlighted numerous small errors throughout the routine, prompting boos from the studio audience.
“There were guys, sorry, let’s just be honest,” Ms Mabuse told the crowd. “Just let’s try next time to rehearse and stick to the routine.”
The 36-year-old Australian professional, who is expecting her first child with partner Joe Sugg, immediately challenged the judge’s critique during the live broadcast. “I don’t know how much more we can rehearse, Motsi!” she responded.
BBC Strictly: Dianne Buswell keeled over in exhaustion following Mabuse’s comments
| BBC
When Ms Buswell protested about their rehearsal schedule, Ms Mabuse persisted: “Find a way, I don’t know, we have to get one performance without those tiny tiny creepers in there.”
Mr Dennis later revealed he had been “petrified” before taking to the dancefloor, acknowledging the routine had completely “stumped” him.
The reigning champion professional is the first dancer to compete whilst pregnant in the show’s history. She announced before the 2025 series launch that she and Mr Sugg, her 2018 celebrity partner, were expecting a baby boy.
BBC insiders previously confirmed that welfare protocols are in place for all participants, with sessions featuring regular breaks and rest periods. The rehearsals are reportedly tailored to accommodate both dancers’ needs.
BBC Strictly: Motsi Mabuse was unsympathetic
| BBC
The programme introduced stricter training limitations in 2023 following internal misconduct investigations. Couples are now restricted to 48 hours of practice weekly, equivalent to eight hours daily across six days, with mandatory chaperones present during all training sessions.
Social media users swiftly condemned the judge’s remarks. On X, one Strictly viewer hit out: “Such a horrible comment to make. That will make people think they haven’t put the time in.”
A second weighed in: “I thought Strictly capped the amount of hours they could rehearse to 8 hours a day? So how can the judges be giving out comments like ‘you need to rehearse more’ when they’ve been doing their 8 hours a day… every day. They aren’t allowed.”
Elsewhere, a third fumed: “Dianne was NOT happy with the ‘rehearse more’ comment and I’m glad because I nearly jumped out of my seat in anger lol #strictly.”
“I feel like telling the eldest contestant with the pregnant pro to rehearse more when they have been doing long days, and it’s clear it was because of nerves and not lack of rehearsal is an extremely unfair thing to say #Strictly,” a fourth added.
And a fifth echoed: “I’m so glad Dianne fired back at that rehearsal comment. What the hell else do they think they’ve been doing? What a bizarre criticism #strictly.”
A sixth also argued: “I’m sorry but it’s clear that Stefan and Dianne have been rehearsing all day, every day, all week…they can’t magic more time…such an uncalled for comment! #strictly.”
“Ouch Motsi. Rehearse! I think they did #Strictly,” a seventh concurred before another hit out: “‘Let’s try next time to rehearse’what the f*** does she think they’ve been doing all week? Motsi’s on a right one this week #Strictly.” (sic)
Ms Mabuse’s comments to Ms Buswell weren’t the only ones that landed her in hot water with the Strictly fandom.
The judge also faced criticism for a “harsh” and “ridiculous” comment to Karen Carney after the former Lioness revealed she had a health condition that affected her spine.
BBC Strictly: Dianne Buswell and Stefan Dennis during Week Two of the series
| BBC
“I have this thing called Scheuermann’s,” Ms Carney told BBC viewers. “I’ve had it since I was a kid.
“It’s a curve in my spine. It’s really, really hard for me to open my back up. There’s just certain elements that I won’t be able to do as well as I’d like to, but Carlos has been really supportive, really encouraging.”
Despite the challenges posed by the condition, Ms Carney still performed her Tango, but during Ms Mabuse’s feedback, she made some questionable remarks.
Referring to Ms Carney’s health challenge, Ms Mabuse said to the former footballer: “It’s going to be something that we have to challenge to see how far we can really stretch and open up because it’s a ballroom dance and there’s a specific posture that we need.”
The Strictly star left some viewers “disgusted” by suggesting they could “challenge” the condition, with others saying it was too “personal”.
