Strictly pro Dianne Buswell broke down on Saturday’s instalment of the popular BBC dance competition while celeb partner Chris McCausland comforted her.
The Aussie 35-year-old and comedian McCausland opened Strictly’s iconic Blackpool Week to rave reviews.
The pair danced an American Smooth to Jump by Paul Anka which set the bar high for the rest of the program, earning them 37 points from the judges.
Judges Craig Revel-Horwood and Motsi Mabuse awarded the pair an eight and a nine respectively for the performance.
However, former Strictly regular Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas gave the couple top marks – lifting the 10 paddles.
Du Beke complimented the pairs “exemplary” movement and claimed he couldn’t have done it better himself.
Buswell and McCausland’s American Smooth wowed judges
BBC
Ballas was full of praise for McCausland, glowing about: “Your grace, your beauty, the way floated across the floor.”
Turning to Buswell, the head judge grinned and declared: “Dianne, you have magic hands my darling.”
As the scores were announced, the euphoria of the two 10s quickly turned into floods of tears for Buswell who was embraced by McCausland.
Fans were quick to wonder about the break down, especially as 35-year-old had previously missed an instalment of her behind the scenes blog.
The paired opened Strictly’s iconic Blackpool Week
BBC
In the latest “CHRIS’s DIAnneRIES,” Buswell revealed that she hadn’t been “very well” recently.
Speaking to her Strictly partner, she explained in the previous week: “I wasn’t very well on Friday, I wasn’t very well Saturday, Sunday was a write-off and Monday I still wasn’t very well.”
McCausland quipped that it may have been “because we were working really hard”.
Buswell said she had been battling a bad stomach bug but was feeling much better now.
Adding to the relief and emotion of the night, Buswell reflected on the special privilege of dancing in the legendary Blackpool ballroom while in the so-called Clauditorium.
The 35-year-old explained that, as a young aspiring dancer, she had started a lemonade stand to fund a trip to Blackpool as her parents couldn’t afford to send her.
“I made $2.50 (AUD), it didn’t get me here but I’m here now and I just danced a beautiful Foxtrot on that floor so I’m made up,” she said, wiping away tears.
Buswell and McCausland have grown to become fan favourites, with the comedian making history as Strictly’s first ever visually impaired contestant.
