Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell has been forced to address circulating theories that she and celebrity partner Stefan Dennis pulled out of Saturday’s show due to her pregnancy.
On the latest episode of the BBC competition, it was announced by hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly that the couple wouldn’t be performing because actor Mr Dennis, 66, had fallen ill and was advised not to take part in the show.
However, due to 36-year-old Ms Buswell currently being pregnant with her first child, it didn’t take long for social media users to speculate that she had been the "real" reason the pair were forced to withdraw from the show.
Several fans suggested that Mr Dennis’s ill health had been a "cover-up" explanation to hide Ms Buswell’s inability to dance thanks to her pregnancy.
The Australian dancer was quick to shut down such rumours over the weekend, addressing the unfounded claims with a social media statement of her own.
Taking to Instagram, the choreographer shared on her Story: “I just have to clarify, as I have had lots of people messaging me thinking this is a cover-up for me not being able to dance?
“Firstly, we wouldn’t lie especially about somebody being sick. And secondly, I am fine, yes I’m pregnant, but I’m also very capable and feeling really good.
“Thirdly, there are things in place if any pro were to get sick or injured.”
The news was initially announced on Friday night, with Strictly Come Dancing's official social media pages delivering the update.
The post read: "Stefan Dennis won't be dancing on Saturday night due to illness. We wish him a speedy recovery and will hopefully see him back in the Ballroom with Dianne next week."
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Ms Buswell, who won last year's show with comedian Chris McCausland, was supported by viewers the previous week when judge Motsi Mabuse instructed her to "rehearse more" during feedback of her and Mr Dennis' Cha Cha Cha.
The duo performed their lively routine on Saturday, October 4, but the week two performance saw a few slip-ups creep in.
Ms Mabuse had some positive comments for the couple, describing them as being "like sunshine when you pair up together".
However, she went on to address what she had deemed "the elephant in the room."
Dianne Buswell and Stefan Dennis were forced to withdraw from Saturday's BBC Strictly
|BBC
After pointing out the mistakes in the routine, she told the disgruntled audience: "There were guys, sorry, let's just be honest."
She concluded: "Just let's try next time to rehearse and stick to the routine."
Dianne Buswell clarified the explanation given for the couple's absence was the truth
|BBC
During Tuesday’s Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two, host Janette Manrara pointed out: "Motsi said that you needed to rehearse more because of the mistakes that happened on the night.
"But you couldn't have rehearsed more. You did a lot of training. What did that comment mean to you?"
"Look, the judges don't know how much we train and all of that," Ms Buswell acknowledged, before adding: "So you know, a fair comment coming from her.
"However, we literally have rehearsed our maximum amount of hours. He [Stefan] is someone that repeats, repeats, repeats, repeats, to the point that I have to tell him, 'We need to have a break.'"