Dianne Buswell Fires Back at Motsi Mabuse’s “Rehearse More” Remark: The Real Story Behind the Strictly Curtain

If you think professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing just breeze through a few rehearsals before dazzling us on live TV, think again. Ask Dianne Buswell—she’ll give you a reality check, and it’s full of emotion. Last Saturday, Dianne, who’s expecting her first child, took to the floor with Neighbours star Stefan Dennis, 66, delivering a lively Cha Cha Cha. But a couple of minor slip-ups were all it took for judge Motsi Mabuse to drop her bombshell: “Let’s try next time to rehearse and stick to the routine.”

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 The audience went wild. Social media exploded with support for Dianne, slamming Motsi’s comment as “horrible,” “bizarre,” and downright “unfair.” It was obvious to everyone watching—when you’re dancing while pregnant and guiding the oldest contestant in the series, rehearsals are no walk in the park. “Dianne was NOT happy with the ‘rehearse more’ comment, and I’m glad—because I nearly jumped out of my seat in anger!” one fan fumed on X.

But Dianne isn’t one to sit quietly and take it. On Strictly’s spin-off It Takes Two, host Janette Manrara asked her directly about the controversial remark. Dianne didn’t hold back: “The judges don’t know how much we train. It’s a fair comment from her, but honestly, we’ve rehearsed the maximum hours. Stefan is the type who repeats, repeats, repeats until I have to tell him, ‘We need a break.’ I’m the one who has to say, ‘Let’s rest our brains for a moment.’”

And she didn’t stop there. Live on the night, Dianne fired back at Motsi: “I don’t know how much more we can rehearse, Motsi!” But Motsi doubled down: “Find a way—I want one performance without those tiny mistakes.”

Behind the glitter and glamour of Strictly are long, exhausting days of training and pressure no one sees. Dianne—pregnant and keeping her partner’s spirits up—was reportedly worn out after the show. Fans felt her pain, rallying behind her: “Telling the oldest contestant and a pregnant pro to rehearse more, when it’s clear they’ve been working long days and nerves got the better of them, is extremely unfair!” Another wrote: “I’m so glad Dianne fired back. What do they think she’s been doing besides rehearsing? What a bizarre criticism!”

Strictly is famous for its dazzling performances, but the real work happens far from the spotlight. Thanks to Dianne’s honesty, viewers got a glimpse behind the scenes—a world of perseverance, emotion, and vulnerability. Maybe what Strictly needs most isn’t harsh criticism, but a little more empathy and encouragement, especially for those pushing themselves to the limit.

Dianne proved one thing: criticism isn’t always justified, and sometimes, the truth behind the curtain deserves more respect than any score on the leaderboard