This weekend’s Strictly Come Dancing dance-off was too much for Dianne Buswell and partner Bobby Brazier.
The Australian pro, 34, and the EastEnders actor, 20, finished second to Angela Rippon, 79, and Kai Widdrington, 28.
Dianne and Bobby, on the other hand, kept their spirits up as they did their jive to Wham!’s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go for the second time in Blackpool’s famed Tower Ballroom.
Fortunately for Bobby and Dianne, the four judges unanimously opted to save them, sending Angela and Kai home after 10 fantastic weeks.
‘Well, there’s a standout performance for me that I can’t ignore and the couple that I would like to save are Bobby and Dianne,’ commented Craig Revel Horwood.
Motsi Mabuse also went for the pair, adding: ‘I felt that both couples danced so beautifully. Really one of the most beautiful dance-offs we have had. I am going to save Bobby and Dianne.’
Bobby and Dianne danced ‘excellently again,’ according to Anton Du Beke, who hailed the’marvellous dance-off.’
But when the outcome was revealed, Dianne fell into tears and had to be consoled by Bobby.
After realising that they would be dancing again the next week, the redhead beauty cried into Bobby’s chest, and he engulfed her in a hug.
Both immediately raced over to embrace ousted stars Angela and Kai, who walked away with their heads held high and a grin on their faces.
Reacting to the heartbreaking farewell, social media fans rushed to lend their support to Dianne, who has recently struggled with personal issues.
‘Her dad’s having chemo and was supposed to be here watching her. No wonder she’s emotional. We’ve got you Dianne’, one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
‘Noo seeing Bobby in the dance-off was sad but seeing Dianne cry was awful my god’, another wrote.
Referencing her dad’s cancer and Strictly’s Amy Dowden’s illness, another person tweeted: ‘Dianne another pure soul, her dad currently undergoing chemotherapy, her best friend also battling the awful c word. It really can’t be easy for her too. Go and smash it next week you two, always get my votes’.
Others commented that Bobby and Dianne ‘should’ve never been in the dance-off in the first place’.
Dianne just provided an update on her father’s status while he is receiving treatment in Australia.
Alongside a photo of him smiling in his hospital bed, the dance star wrote earlier this week: ‘i’m so proud of you dad ❤️ first round of chemotherapy today ! i wish i could be there to hold your hand and support you in person ❤️ but i do know that i’m making you so proud over here in my concert every week !’
She added: ‘the Australian nurses and drs are now very aware of strictly come dancing as my dad won’t stop talking about it😂💕💕 you can do this daddy xxx [sic]’
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Dianne was met with an outpouring of love from her Strictly family, with Katya Jones commenting: ‘You can do this Mark!!! ❤️’
Welsh pro Amy – who was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer earlier this year – wrote: ‘Sending all my love to whole Buswell family! Mark you got this and soon it’s going to be a distant memory! Roll on 2024 where you will be watching Dianne live in concerts. Thinking of you 💖’
Dianne has often mentioned how Bobby has been her ‘rock’ throughout this season’s Strictly.
Speaking previously, Dianne – who is dating YouTuber Joe Sugg – said: ‘We’re very lucky to have each other, actually.
‘I always knew that Bobby was a gorgeous soul, but getting to know him and being able to work with him is a real privilege.’
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‘I feel the same,’ Bobby chimed in.
‘The closer you get to someone, the highs are higher and the lows are lower. It’s super emotional, it’s so emotional!
‘But I wouldn’t change it for anything.’
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday and Sunday on BBC One and iPlayer.
