BREAKING NEWS: Strictly’s Dianne Buswell gives ‘first look’ ahead of launch show as fans guess partner
The professional dancer will be hoping to win the Glitterball again
Strictly Come Dancing favourite Dianne Buswell gives ‘first look’ ahead of launch show as fans guess which star she will be partnered with.
Dianne Buswell joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 for Series 15. Her first celebrity partner on the show was the Reverend Richard Coles, where they were eliminated second after losing out against chef Simon Rimmer.
Last year, Dianne and partner Joe Sugg announced their pregnancy joy ahead of the BBC One dance show’s 2025 series, which she competed in with Neighbours legend, Stefan Dennis.
This marks her first series back after welcoming baby Bowden, where Dianne has shared snaps and videos of him watching her rehearse ahead of race for the Glitterball.
Taking to her Instagram, Dianne shared some photos of herself all glammed up, including one with fellow dancers Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu, just one week until Strictly is back on our screens.
She captioned the post: “The first strictly glam of the year ! Disclaimer I certainly do not look like this at home right now Launch show is less than a week away who’s my partner gonna be ?? (No spoilers ) plzzzz & thank you”.
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Fans in the comments flooded Dianne with love and support, with a few guesses for both Chris Appleton and Will Best as her potential celebrity partner.
The launch show of the 2026 series will see the news hosts – Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johanns Radebe – at the helm for the first time, as well as feature a large opening number in which judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke will showcase their dance moves.
Meanwhile, other names set to take to the Strictly ballroom this year are EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, singer Delta Goodrem, Man City legend Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Gavin & Stacey favourite Melanie Walters.
There will also be five new professional dancers were revealed to join the show this year. They are Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita. They will make their debut participating in the opening routine, along with the 14 returning professionals.
The class of 2025 represented Strictly for one final time at the NTAs, ahead of the BBC One dance contest returning for 2026 on September 19, starting with the pre-recorded launch show.
Accepting the award, with stars such as Amber Davies, La Voix and Lewis Cope behind her, was Karen Carney, the former England football player won the Glitterball trophy last year with her professional dancer partner Carlos Gu.
Karen said: “Thank you to everyone who voted for Strictly Come Dancing to win the NTA award. We’d be nothing without our fans, so thank you very much. To our four fabulous judges, we love you very much, even when you give us rough marks… Craig [Revel Horwood].
“To our wonderful professional dancers who are incredible, patient, kind and dedicated, we’re lucky to have you. To the cast, you told us your journeys, who you are and your dancing capabilities, which were incredible.”
Praising the former Strictly hosts, Karen continued: “To Tess and Claudia, who sadly couldn’t be with us tonight. Thank you for giving us the privilege of being on your final series of Strictly. To the heartbeat of Strictly, that’s everyone behind the scenes. We might be front-facing, but everyone from costumes, hair, make-up, to talent, everyone who makes Strictly, thank you, this is your award.
“Finally, on behalf of the cast of 2025, we want to wish the new cast for 2026 all the very best. Strictly Come Dancing will be coming back on September 19. I’ll be drinking a glass of wine and thinking about who has been paired with who. Good luck and thank you all so much, keep dancing.”
