Strictly's Dianne Buswell addresses leaving show with sights set on judge role
Popular Strictly professional dancers Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola talk about joining forces for a new tour, their close relationship and how the hit BBC show transformed their lives
They're both members of that exclusive band who have known the thrill of holding aloft the winning Strictl y Glitterball Trophy: Italian pro Vito Coppol a with Ellie Leach in 2023, and Australian star Dianne Buswell with comedian Chris McCausland last year. But it took them a couple of years to come up with what looks like a no-brainer as this summer – they will perform 40 shows together in new touring production Red Hot And Ready.
Opening in Shrewsbury on 11 June and ending in Eastbourne on 26 July, with rehearsals starting just two days later for the next series of Strictly, they talk exclusively to OK! about how the BBC show has changed their lives, what happened when Dianne changed her hair colour and the dish Vito would rustle up if he invited you to supper.
Hi, both! Can you tell us about your Red Hot And Ready show?
Dianne: There'll be plenty of dancing, of course, and singing. But, more than that, you'll get to meet Vito and me properly. There's no time on Strictly for our full personalities to come across. I love comedy, Vito loves cooking, so prepare yourself for a feast, with lots of laughs thrown in.
Who else is in the show?
Dianne: Six other dancers, two vocalists and a percussionist. I'm not exaggerating when I say I find every one inspiring. The choreography is by Strictly's Jason Gilkison, who is the god of the dance world.
Who decided to put you and Vito together?
Dianne: From the moment we met, Vito and I clicked. He's Italian, as is my mum's side of the family. He immediately reminded me of one of my cousins and my crazy uncle. That's why I get on with him so well. I can be myself with him.
Vito, describe your relationship with Dianne...
Vito: We're like brother and sister. When I met her the first time, it felt like I'd known her forever. She's one of the funniest people I know. Two summers ago, I was in her home, baking. We started dancing round the kitchen and that's when we came up with the idea of putting together a show. We decided we wanted it to be like '50 Shades of Dianne and Vito'.
Has Strictly changed your lives?
Dianne: Oh, 100%. It's through the show I met my life partner Joe [Sugg]. It put my name on the map and taught me so much about dance. Vito: I left home when I was young to dance competitively around the world. I didn't feel I belonged anywhere until I reached the UK and joined Strictly. It felt as though I'd come home, I'd found my bubble. In my first year, 2022, my celebrity partner was Fleur East and she's one of my favourite human beings. People think celebs learn from us – they do – but we pros also learn a lot from them.
Did you know that you had picked a winner with Ellie Leach?
Vito: My name for her was Lulu because her second name is Louise. To begin with, she didn't believe in herself. She thought we would be eliminated on week one. Every week, right up to the final, she'd cry at least one day. But I always reassured her that I would get the best out of her. Once I'd won her trust, she slowly came to believe that she was capable. The week of the paso doble was a turning point. She'd become a strong, independent woman.
Lifting the Glitterball must have been a moment…
Vito: Winning is not everything but it's very nice when it happens! I felt the same when I won Celebrity MasterChef. The way I approached that was by imagining I was cooking for my family: this producer was my auntie, this production assistant was my cousin, the judges were my parents and so on. As a result, I never felt alone cooking. I gave my winner's medal to my grandfather – he was the only person I'd told that I'd entered the competition.
What's the special meal you would cook for Dianne and Joe?
Vito: Seafood pasta and a rum baba sponge, both of which I cooked in the final of Celebrity MasterChef. Dianne, you joined Strictly in 2017 and recently celebrated your 36th birthday. Do you look ahead? Dianne: I take it as it comes. Even if I wasn't dancing on it, I'd love to be on the judging panel or connected with the show in some way. It's what brought me to the UK from Australia in the first place. Strictly is my family, it's given me so much. Look at Karen [Hauer]. She's 43, our longest-serving professional, and still going strong.
When you were told you'd be paired with blind comedian Chris McCausland, were you concerned?
Dianne: Not concerned, no. But I was curious because I'd never taught anyone who was even visually impaired. To be honest, I didn't think we'd make it that far, never mind win.
How did you tackle the obvious obstacle of him not being able to see?
Dianne: By completely changing my teaching methods. Everything I'd ever learnt and taught was visual. I had to choreograph routines so he'd always know where I was. It meant thinking outside the box. Trust was extremely important. I'm not going to lie, it was a real challenge.
Were you whispering instructions in his ear?
Dianne: In the rehearsal rooms, yes. But then we realised he couldn't hear what I was saying on the dance floor, the music was so loud. So, we developed a method where I'd press certain parts of his body to communicate what I wanted him to do. It was the hardest but most rewarding thing I've ever done.
Has it forged a lifelong friendship?
Dianne: Absolutely. We've created a weekly podcast, Winning Isn't Everything. Chris couldn't come on the Strictly live tour because he was committed to his stand-up tour. I went to one of his shows and he was brilliant. It was nice to see him in his natural habitat.
Will Joe be coming to see you on your new tour?
Dianne: Of course! And he's a big fan of Vito's who's been over to our house on a number of occasions and cooked for us, too.
Your trademark is your flame-coloured hair. Is it true you were once a hairdresser?
Dianne: Oh, hairdressing has been a lifelong passion of mine. I started my apprenticeship aged 15 and went on to have my own salon in Australia. Dancing took over but, wherever I go, I take my scissors with me. Maybe I should suggest a haircut to Vito...
Has your hair always been dyed red?
Dianne: I've had so many different colours – blonde, blue black, jet black, brown, you name it – although red has been a staple for quite a while. I did change it to orange a few years back and got all these messages saying it wasn't right and I should change it back to red immediately. People got quite angry at me!
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