Dianne Buswell’s dad Mark has left Strictly Come Dancing fans in tears following his emotional reaction to his daughter’s finale performance on Saturday.
On Saturday evening, Buswell and celebrity partner Chris McCausland were crowned this year’s winning couple after seeing off the likes of JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec, and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola.
On the night, the duo pulled off three show-stopping routines, finishing the night with a staggering 116 points across the trio of performances.
Rounding off their set of three routines, McCausland and Buswell took on their favourite routine, a Waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers.
“We’re both a mess,” McCausland said as he and Buswell finished their last-ever routine on the show together.
Buswell’s dad watched on as the judges delivered their feedback, starting with Motsi Mabuse: “I am glad I’m not the only one crying now! Look at you all now yeah!
BBC Strictly: Dianne Buswell was embraced by Shirley Ballas after her final dance
BBC
“Guys. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you so much for that. I just want to say, Chris, you said in the VT you’re a role model for the blind community, at this point I just think you’re a role model for each and every one of us.
“Absolutely everything is possible if you fight, you have shown us quality… You didn’t just show us dancing, you showed us inspiration for the past 12 weeks.
“Absolutely out of this world and well done Dianne,” she concluded before Tess Daly turned to Shirley Ballas.
The head judge was full of praise for McCausland but also had a touching gesture to impart to Buswell.
“You certainly will never walk alone,” she began. “I think the whole country will be following every single thing that you do and this was totally on top of your game.
“But I have to give this young lady a cuddle. So come here, Dianne,” Ballas said as she got to her feet. “Come here.”
Buswell wrapped her arms around the head judge as Ballas told her: “You are unbelievable, you have found a way to this man’s heart, you have found every step that’s possible for him to do and that takes a very, very special person.
“So from one teacher to an amazing teacher, congratulations,” she told a tearful Buswell.
As Buswell rejoined McCausland on the dancefloor, Ballas took her seat and the camera cut to the Australian dancer’s dad in the crowd.
He could be seen sobbing over his daughter’s efforts on the dancefloor and soon, fans at home revealed they too were shedding a tear.
One viewer said on X: “10.10.10.10 across the board & not a moment too late! So deserved for Chris & Dianne. Dianne’s dad Mark sobbing got me too #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.”
A second agreed: “Tash, JB and Sarah have been tremendous. But Chris and Dianne both deserve to win this. Chris is extraordinary and seeing Dianne’s dad so emotional through his pride in his daughter #Strictly.”
“If I wasn’t a mess before, seeing Dianne’s dad in tears in the audience definitely got me #Strictly,” a third added followed by a crying emoji.
Elsewhere, a fourth said: “Oh my god. STILL SOBBING. Chris and Dianne. Wow. Dianne’s mum and dad. Beautiful. #Strictly.”
“That was lovely from @ShirleyBallas giving Dianne the praise she deserves. Dianne’s mum & dad were in tears #Strictly,” a fifth remarked while a sixth weighed in: “Dianne’s dad has fully tipped me over the edge #Strictly.” (sic)
Buswell’s dad was in tears once more at the end of the show when his daughter and McCausland were crowned this year’s winners.
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BBC Strictly: Dianne Buswell’s dad was left in tears in the crowd
BBC
“It’s astonishing… I don’t know what to say,” McCausland told Daly. “I honestly thought I could go out in the first week or two and I know no one went out in the first week but I thought I still could.
“We just lasted and lasted and she has got so much out of me,” he added as he gestured towards Buswell. “She deserves this so much.
“Every day – her positivity, her belief, and she is just honestly one of the easiest people to be funny with. Unless she changes her number she’s stuck with me.
“And this is for her and for everyone out there that was told they couldn’t do something. It shows that opportunity, and support, and just determination just – anything can happen.”
Buswell then weighed in: “Chris says that this is for me but this is not for me, this me and you Chris, we did this together. This is for both of us, not just me. We worked together and we did it!”
