Strictly 2026 pro dancer Dianne Buswell 'absent from recording' as 'concern' addressed
Dianne is back for her 9th seriesDianne Buswell remains part of Strictly Come Dancing’s 2026 plans despite reportedly missing a recent recording.
Her absence reportedly sparked concern among people at filming. However, a source has since shut down this speculation.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 latest
According to the Daily Mail, Dianne was noticeably absent from the recording of one of the first group dances for this year’s series.
One insider told the Daily Mail: “It was really odd Dianne wasn’t there.”
Those at the recording asked about Dianne during breaks, according to the newspaper.
However, in a statement to TV Guide, a Strictly source said: “There’s no need for fans to be concerned. As is standard on Strictly, not every Pro dancer appears in every group routine. Dianne has been busy rehearsing with all her fellow Pros over the past month, and will feature in the majority of group numbers this series.”
Five new Strictly Come Dancing professionals are joining the show in 2026.
They include Ukrainian Latin dancer Aleksandra Isaeva, Italian champion Cristian Priori and South African champion Lethabo Monametsi.
Canadian dancer Mark Karmalita and British ballroom champion Maddie Ingoldsby complete the new intake.
Changes extend beyond the dance floor. Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe will take over presenting duties.
They replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who stepped down last year.
Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Michelle Tsiakkas, Nadiya Bychkova and Luba Mushtuk have left the professional line-up.
The celebrity cast includes Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Graeme Hall, John Nellis and Jaime Winstone.
Dianne Buswell returns for ninth Strictly series before 2026 launch date
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will mark Dianne’s ninth year on the BBC competition.
She returns alongside established dancers including Katya Jones, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu and Nikita Kuzmin.
Neil Jones, Vito Coppola, Lauren Oakley and Aljaž Škorjanec are also back for the new series.
Her return follows the birth of her first child with Joe Sugg in March. Dianne told her Instagram followers she would miss baby Bowden while working away.
Dianne and Joe first met through Strictly in 2018. The YouTube star competed on the programme with Dianne as his professional partner.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is reportedly due to launch on Saturday September 19. It will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The filmed group dance will feature during the launch show. The episode will also reveal the celebrity-professional pairings.
TVGuide has contacted Dianne’s representatives for comment.
Strictly returns on Saturday, September 19 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
