STRICTLY Come Dancing bosses have plans in place for a replacement professional should Dianne Buswell have to quit the competition because of her pregnancy.
The Aussie dancer, 36, revealed last week that she and boyfriend Joe Sugg — a former contestant on the show — are expecting a baby boy.
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Then on Saturday’s launch show, Dianne was paired with 66-year-old Neighbours star Stefan Dennis, meaning she could potentially be on the show until December.
A TV insider said: “Everyone at Strictly is absolutely thrilled by Dianne and Joe’s news, particularly as they met and were seen falling in love during the course of the show in 2018.
“This is being thought of as the first Strictly baby because never before has a professional knowingly been pregnant while dancing on the contest.
“Producers have plans in place, and there are several pros who could easily step in and take over at a moment’s notice, because the show must go on.
“On Saturday night’s show her bump was already very noticeable, though it certainly didn’t seem to hold her back physically, most notably when she was lifted high on the shoulders of fellow pro Kai Widdrington as she held up the Glitterball.
“The BBC’s primary concern is the health and wellbeing of Dianne and they fully intend to support her through the process with regular check-ins from the welfare team.”
A spokesman for the BBC said: “We do not comment on personal medical matters.”
Dianne and Joe, who announced their news on social media, have not said how advanced her pregnancy is, but they have suggested the baby is due in early 2026.
Strictly has a history of swapping pros in and out at short notice.
Last year, Amy Dowden had to suddenly drop out of the competition in October when she suffered an injury.
Her place in the competition, in which she was paired with JLS singer JB Gill, was taken by fellow pro Lauren Oakley, and they finished as runners-up to Dianne and blind comedian Chris McCausland.
There are also three female pros without a partner in this series — Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas and Nancy Xu.
Meanwhile, insiders have claimed a storm is brewing after Nancy, who joined Strictly in 2019, was not given a partner.
She was paired with Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey — aka Nitro — for last year’s Christmas special.
He is also in this year’s main series but has been partnered with Karen Hauer.
Nancy’s 2023 Christmas special partner, Jamie Borthwick, also got a different pro when he joined the main series last year.
An insider said: “Nancy is upset that she’s been benched again, despite having a brilliant run with Harry during the Christmas series.
‘LEFT OUT’
“It’s not the first time it’s happened and she’s said she thinks there may be some kind of deeper issue she’s not aware of.
“Nancy understands that she can’t be dancing with the same partner because they’d have a bit of an advantage but she can’t work out why she’s not getting a celebrity.
“She is incensed by it all and can’t work out what she’s done to make producers snub her.
“She absolutely loves Strictly and gives it her all.
“So to be left out in the cold again for this series has been really jarring for her.”
