Strictly Come Dancing production insiders have sought to allay fan concerns about the wellbeing of professional dancer Dianne Buswell after reports that she had been through a "gruelling 10‑hour" rehearsal session while pregnant.
An insider told the Daily Mail that duty-of-care and welfare measures are in place for everyone working on the show and that rehearsal sessions involving Buswell have been tailored to her pace, with regular breaks and warm‑up periods. The source disputed a report in another title that described a marathon 10‑hour rehearsal, saying that sessions would be led by Buswell and adjusted to the needs of her and her partner.
Buswell, 36, announced last week that she and her partner, YouTuber Joe Sugg, 33, are expecting a son in 2026. The announcement came about a week before the BBC series returns for its new season; the celebrity partner Buswell will be paired with is due to be revealed during the programme's launch show this weekend. The series is scheduled to run until the week before Christmas.
The professional will become the first pregnant dancer to compete on the programme. Insiders said she is "taking it at her own pace" and that the show's production team has been monitoring welfare considerations in line with standard practice. Representatives did not provide detailed medical or scheduling specifics but emphasised that rehearsals incorporate rest and warm‑up periods as required.
Buswell and Sugg, who met as dance partners on the 2018 series of Strictly, revealed their pregnancy in an Instagram video in which they pretended to paint a canvas that showed two stick figures and a baby; the clip was set to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer." Sugg captioned the post: "Our little baby boy ❤️ we cannot wait to meet you." Fellow cast members and fans offered congratulatory messages on social media.
The question of professionals competing while pregnant has precedent in the programme's history: Erin Boag, a former Strictly professional, left the show in 2014 after she became pregnant. At the time, Boag said pregnancy influenced her decision not to return for that series.
Buswell is a former Glitterball Trophy winner, having taken the title with comedian Chris McCausland in the previous series. The BBC and representatives for Buswell and Sugg did not immediately respond to requests for comment on rehearsal schedules and specific welfare arrangements. The show’s launch, when Buswell’s celebrity partner will be confirmed, is set for this weekend.