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Dianne Buswell be making history this year as the first dancing Strictly pro – but there have been four other couples who have found both love and family through the BBC show

Dianne Buswell will be making Strictly history this year after her baby announcement at the weekend.

The 36 year old will become the first professional dancer in 21 years to perform on the BBC show with a celebrity partner while pregnant. Dianne and YouTuber Joe Sugg, who have been dating for seven years, announced on Sunday that they were expecting a baby boy in 2026 in an adorable video.

Joe, who met Dianne on Strictly in 2018 when they reached the final together, posted a video of them both painting a stick man and woman holding onto a stick child’s hands with ‘2026’ above as Elton John’s Tiny Dancer played in the background. He wrote with a heart emoji: “Our little baby boy. We cannot wait to meet you.”

The comments were flooded with congratulations from their delighted Strictly co-stars, with Claudia Winkleman writing: “SO SO HAPPY FOR YOU – amazing news. I’ll get ANY snack you need.”

While Shirley Ballas commented: “Ahhhh congratulations to you both @diannebuswell @joe_sugg. such beautiful news x.”

Former It Takes Two host Zoe Ball gushed: “Oh my my this just melted my heart completely congratulations you gorgeous ones.”

However, Vito Coppola’s comment left some fans confused as he wrote: “THIS IS BELLISSIMOOOOO. The First Strictly Baby. Cannot wait to meet him and I promise to be the best crazy Italian uncle. Congratulation guuuuuuuys I am so so soooo happy for you.”

A fan pointed out with a crying laughing emoji: “@vitocoppola There are 10+ Strictly babies Vito.” While another commented: “@vitocoppola Oh there’s a football team of them now Sugg jr will be the newest.”

Vito appears to be referring to the first Strictly ‘unborn baby’ performing on the show, as Dianne will be dancing pregnant.

But Joe and Dianne certainly aren’t the first couple to meet on the show and welcome a child together. We take a look at four other couples who found love and family on the show…

Gemma Atkinson

Just a year prior to Joe and Dianne meeting, Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson met pro dancer Gorka Marquez.

While the pair weren’t partnered up on the show (Gemma had danced with Aljaz Skorjanec and Gorka with Alexandra Burke), they became incredibly close behind the scenes and fell in love.

The couple went on to welcome their two children Mia, six, and Thiago, one, and are now engaged. Gemma has previously spoken candidly about the challenges that they face as a couple with their busy schedules, particularly during Strictly season.

“Gorka is a huge fan of Strictly and every year he’s buzzing with excitement about it, we all are,” she told New! magazine last year. “But then, each year he also realises that he has to be away from home and wherever his [celebrity] partner is based, he has to go to them. Before we had children it wasn’t an issue, but when you have kids, your perspective changes.

“Mia will ask, “But why do you have to go, Papa? ” and I think it makes him feel guilty. But in the grand scheme of things, we’re so lucky we can travel. I’m constantly reassuring Gorka and saying, “I’ve got this, don’t worry,” then when he goes, I’m like, “Oh gosh, I need help,” but at least he drives off in a good mood!”

Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton

It was definitely the year of love in 2018 as champions Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton soon found romance after Joe and Dianne.

At the time of the BBC competition, Stacey had been in a seven-year relationship with personal trainer Sam Tucknott, who was regularly seen cheering her on from the audience. Four months later, however, the pair split as those past rumours intensified as Stacey and Kevin embarked on the Strictly tour together.

Stacey’s ex Sam was not best pleased and went on a furious social media rampage in which he branded pro dancer Kevin an “absolute rat”. Both Kevin and Stacey were adamant there was never any crossover, however, as the latter took to X (formerly Twitter) to put her side across.

“Anyone with any adult life experience knows there are 2 sides to every story,” Stacey wrote. “I haven’t got the time or energy to correct some of the utter nonsense I’ve read on here. Re Sam, I loved him v much and only wish him happiness and success going forward.”

The couple later confirmed their romance as Kevin moved into Stacey’s flat, before they bought their first home together in west London.

Talking about their romance publicly for the fist time, Stacey admitted she was head-over-heels in a chat with BBC Radio 5’s Headliners podcast.

“I didn’t want to be such a cliché – it’s so cringe and cheesy. I want to be cooler than this,” she said. “He is an angel. He is the kindest man I’ve met.”

Fast forward to in January 2023, their perfect picture was completed by the arrival of their daughter Minnie. Stacey later gushed over Kevin in a post for Valentine’s Day, describing him and Minnie as the “loves of [her] life”. She added: “I dunno what I did to get so lucky.” Kevin later admitted on Stacey’s podcast, Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over: Family And Me, that he wouldn’t allow the tot to follow in his dance footsteps.

Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev

Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev met after being paired together all the way back on the 2013 series of Strictly. Countdown star Rachel had marriedmillionaire businessman Jamie Gilbert just a year prior to performing on the show, but announced that they were divorcing while she was in the middle of competing.

She had explained at the time that her various TV commitments had taken a toll on their short marriage. “At that time, I was doing Countdown and The Gadget Show, so I was living in Essex, I was filming in Birmingham and in Salford, and then filming Strictly in Borehamwood, with a bit of It Takes Two in London,” she had told GQ.

“I was getting three hours’ sleep a night, trying to fit in all these things… All you want to do at that time is the dancing because you know you’ve got to do this thing in a few days.”

It wasn’t until a year later that Pasha and Rachel officially began dating and surprised friends and family with a whirlwind Las Vegas wedding in 2019.

“So, we were never bothered about getting married, but then we just were like ‘shall we just get married’ once were were having the baby,” Rachel previously told the Express.

“And actually, we had such a nice day. It was really lovely. But we only decided the week before.”

Rachel and Pasha have since welcomed their two daughters, five-year-old Maven and three-year-old Noa, and often keep fans up to date with their lives via social media.

Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff

That same year that Rachel and Pasha met, so did rugby player Ben Cohen and dancer Kristina Rihanoff when they were paired together in 2013.

Unfortunately, Ben had been married at the time and later divorced his wife Abby before going on to date Kristina. At the time of their split, heartbroken Abby labelled Kristina a “f***ing Russian dancer” but later said she regretted the comments.

Three years after meeting on the BBC show, Kristina and Ben welcomed their daughter Milena, who Kristina often proudly posts about on her social media after she followed in her mum’s footsteps and took up dancing.

In 2023, Ben popped the question to Kristina during an idyllic family holiday to the Maldives last November, later revealing their plans to ‘marry in secret’ but admitted now they are both very focused on their businesses. He told MailOnline: “You know, having a business in today’s world is really tough. Not only do we have to deal with Brexit, we’ve gone into Covid and all the lockdowns and three wars and a recession.”

Sadly, however, things have not gone well for the couple and they have since split. A source said earlier this year: “For the sake of their family, they have chosen to go forward as separate individuals. Those close to them who know them as a couple had hoped they would be able to work things out but for now it’s over and it looks like there’s no going back.”

Last year, the pair appeared in court where they said they were so in debt they are “fighting not to lose their relationship and their home”. They were in court after Kristina was caught driving her Audi Q3 without insurance. The court slapped her with six points on her licence but faced a ban for totting up 12 penalty points.

She had been to court to appeal the conviction for driving without insurance with her husband appearing as her witness. During the hearing, Ben said he had ignored a text from his insurance company.

In a sad admission, Ben said: “I get up every day and I fight not to lose everything to lose my cars and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn … We’re still living together. We’re in it financially.

“We’re in business together so the problem is that we opened the business before Covid and we got the worst severities of it and in all honestly this is just another problem for me to deal with. I’ve got credit cards that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got a business debt because of Covid. It’s just another problem.”

During the court hearing, at one point, Kristina rushed off after saying she felt sick and holding her hands over her mouth. She also sobbed throughout the proceedings and said she needed to drive to judge ballroom competitions across the country as it earned her £2,000-a-month and she also needed to be able to drive to take her kids to school.

The pair had also reportedly put their five-bedroom home in Sywell, Northamptonshire on sale. The home was put up for sale for £1.75million and was described as a “superb family home offering spacious and versatile living accommodation” and also had a “impressive kitchen breakfast/family living area”.

The TV star admitted “I’ve got an extremely chequered past… more than most”

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Thomas Skinner has admitted he has made “big mistakes”, and claims: “If you dig you’ll find more”. He also said he has become a “target”, and is “being portrayed as a public enemy number 1”, following revelations of his infidelity.

The former Apprentice candidate, 34, has admitted he cheated on his wife Sinead just weeks after their wedding. However, he said she has forgiven him and the pair, who share three children, have “moved forward together”.

In a lengthy statement on X, he wrote: “My life ain’t perfect…..far from it. I’ve made big mistakes, I’ve let people down, and done things I’ll always regret in my past. The worst was what I did to my wife three and a half years ago… one stupid moment I’ll carry forever.

“It was nothing more and nothing less despite what is being said. I told her straight away. She had every right to leave me back then, but she forgave me…….and that forgiveness changed my life.

“Since then, we’ve built a new home, had two more beautiful children, and moved forward together. We are stronger. Family is everything to me. It’s what I do everything for.

“But I’ve noticed I’ve become a target. Every part of my life is being dragged out….. even my families. People around me have been offered BIG money to sell stories. And I’ve noticed I’m being portrayed as public enemy number 1. They’re trying to break me and get me cancelled.”

Skinner said that he has got a ‘thick skin’, adding: “The abuse and death threats don’t bother me. In fact some lies make me laugh.”

He continued: “I’ve got an extremely chequered past… more than most. I’ve never shied away from that. I’ve made mistakes and if you dig you’ll find more. But here’s the truth: most people have made mistakes. It’s okay to own up to them, it’s okay to talk about them and people do deserve second chances.”

Skinner first revealed he cheated on his wife in The Sun On Sunday. He said he met an “attractive woman” who “offered me some kind of cosmetic slimming treatments.”

He said their affair, which happened shortly after their May 2022 wedding, when they already had a son Henry, now four, was “a brief moment of madness”. The couple also now have twin girls, Darla and Roma, two.

It comes as the Strictly Come Dancing star claims he received death threats after he met with US vice president JD Vance, according to an interview with The Sun. Skinner has previously drawn strong criticism for various posts he has made on X.

He said it is “not far-right” to be “flying your flag and loving your country”. He also complained that “it ain’t safe out there any more” in London, saying the city is “hostile” and “tense”.

Prince Harry has revealed exactly why he took aim at the royal family in his memoir Spare, and insists that his ‘conscience is clear’ when it comes to one ‘difficult message’

Prince Harry has doubled down on his decision to openly criticise the royal family as he seems to make another dig at his estranged brother Prince William.

The Duke and his wife Meghan Markle have continuously taken aim at the monarchy since their self-exile to the US, delivering painful blows in TV interviews, Netflix shows and Harry’s own memoir Spare.

But Harry insists in a new behind-the-scenes chat that he hasn’t “aired his dirty laundry” and instead wanted to set the record straight, even at the cost of his fraught relationship with his relatives.

The bold revelations come just days after Harry reunited with his father King Charles for the first time 19 months. During his four-day trip to the UK, the Duke met his dad at Clarence house for tea in a meeting that lasted 55 minutes.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle celebrates Prince Harry’s return to US with message to her ‘beau’READ MORE: Prince Harry interview bombshells after King Charles meeting from truth claim to ‘no regrets’

The reunion came after months of speculation that father and son were working to heal their relationship after Harry claimed earlier this year that Charles “refused to speak to him” due to his battle with the Home Office over the level of security he is granted while in the UK.

Royal sources have persistently said that chances of a reunion all boil down to trust, with Charles said to be fearful that Harry will continue to speak out about the royals in interviews and other media.

But now Harry has insisted that he did so to “correct” the “one point of view” that was “put out”. In an in-depth chat with The Guardian, the Duke said: “I know that [speaking out] annoys some people and it goes against the narrative.

“The book? It was a series of corrections to stories already out there. One point of view had been put out and it needed to be corrected.”

He continued: “I don’t believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear.”

The Duke also seemed to make a subtle dig at his estranged brother William, as he said that while he wants to reconnect with his family, “you cannot have reconciliation before you have truth”.

The comment echoes allegations that Harry has made in the past about William. In his explosive Netflix show with his wife Meghan in 2022, the Duke said: “They were happy to lie to protect my brother” while Meghan was “fed to the wolves”. In the show, Harry also accused William’s team of lying and planting stories.

In his new interview during his trip to war-torn Ukraine, Harry insisted: “It is not about revenge, it is about accountability”.

The brothers have reportedly not spoken in years, and while Charles likely spoke to William about his plans to see Harry during his UK visit, the rift between siblings will be much harder to crack, according to experts.

Strides towards peace were seemingly made earlier this summer when top aides from both Harry and Charles’ camps met in a secret meeting in London, where the Duke’s team reportedly offered to share his diary in order to prevent any clashes with royals during his visits to the UK. William’s team were not present, however.

Experts have also warned that Harry’s latest visit to Ukraine could spark further tensions with his brother. The Duke’s visit to Kyiv comes just months after he visited the country previously, spending time at the Superhuman Trauma Centre in Lyiv, which works with amputees.

However, his first visit to Ukraine is said to have left his older brother, Prince William, “fuming” at palace officials.

William’s also been a huge supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022, but he was reportedly blocked from visiting the country itself on the grounds of “security concerns” in 2024.

He has been allowed to visit Poland, where he met with British soldiers and thanked them for “defending our freedoms”. William also visited Estonia, where he got the chance to speak with Ukrainian refugees and visit an army base that’s a crucial strategic point in NATO’s eastern flank.

Former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison has opened up about the start of Strictly Come Dancing next weekend and says she’s been crying in the bath after rehearsals

Terrified Vicky Pattison says she is so ‘overwhelmed’ ahead of curtain up on Strictly Come Dancing that she has been crying in the bath after rehearsals.

In 2023, the Geordie Shore star was diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which can floor her physically and emotionally every month. It means the reality star’s anxiety will be heightened before anyone has even danced a step because with the health condition bringing on panic attacks, insomnia and exhaustion.

Vicky says she fears being stuck in her ‘own head’ and also applying too much pressure on herself to achieve high scores ahead of the start of the show. After winning 2015’s I’m a Celebrity and reaching the final of Celebrity MasterChef in 2019, the reality star is ready to tackle the challenge head on.

READ MORE: Dani Dyer fears Strictly Come Dancing fans will be disappointed to see her on showREAD MORE: Strictly Come Dancing ‘struggled to get talent’ for 2025 season after string of scandals

She said: ‘I’m just out of my comfort zone and it’s really scary when you’re out of your comfort zone and I am a bit overwhelmed. I thought I was doing an alright job of hiding it but obviously, I’m not. I think it’s because I have wanted to do this show for so long and I am a big fan.

“You’re asking me in my nearly 40s to get out of my comfort zone and do something that I’ve never done before on a massive stage,” she told MailOnline. “I know what people are expecting to see, they want the razzle dazzle, and I am putting a lot of pressure on myself ultimately. At the end of the rehearsal last night, I went and cried in the bath.”

Vicky has spoken out about living with PMDD, and how hugely supportive Strictly has been as she struggled through rehearsals. “It affects me in the 10 days before my period,” she admits. “That is panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, exhaustion and in some moments, there can be suicidal thoughts. Like every woman dealing with it, I’m just riding the wave.

“There are moments I can be OK and be the bright, shiny version of myself that everyone expects, and then there are moments where I’m debilitated by it. Now, everything feels heightened and stressful. I’ve been burying my head in the sand a little bit saying it’s ages away, but it’s not. I’m learning as I go. Strictly take things into ­consideration.”

Joining Vicky on the dancefloor are Doctor Who actress Alex ­Kingston, model Ellie Goldstein, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and EastEnder Balvinder Sopal. YouTuber George Clarke, drag queen La Voix, former England rugby ace Chris Robshaw and The Apprentice’s Tom Skinner are also taking part.

Neighbours favourite Stefan Dennis, Lioness Karen Carney, ex-Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, reality star Dani Dyer and TV host Ross King. They will be judged by Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.

Vicky says show bosses have picked the perfect partner for her – a person who can help calm her nerves. He will be revealed on Saturday’s launch show. “They have found me someone that is kind and measured and patient and supportive,” she says ahead of kick-off.

“There are people with big energy and that’s amazing, but that would have exacerbated how I was feeling. I hope that when I get the hang of it, I’ll be less nervous. I hope I’m blessed to be here long enough to get a few shows under my belt.”

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday for its launch show.

As Prince Harry opens up in an interview held shortly after his long-awaited interview with King Charles, the Mirror takes a look at some of the biggest recent bombshells that hint towards what’s really going on behind closed doors

It’s been nearly three years since Prince Harry offered a glimpse behind the gates of Buckingham Palace with his tell-all memoir, Spare. Now, the fifth in line to the throne has dropped yet more bombshells, while declaring “my conscience is clear”.

This comes after Harry’s eventful trip to the UK, where he attended the WellChild Awards as part of his ongoing role as charity patron. Poignantly, this event coincided with the three-year anniversary of the death of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Harry made sure to lay flowers by her graveside, shortly after landing on British soil.

It was clear that family was at the forefront of Harry’s mind during his brief return to the country of his birth, which saw him reconcile with his father, King Charles III, for the first time since February 2024.

Now the prince, who turns 41 today, has given another candid interview, which suggests there has been at least some thawing of the tensions that have shaken palace life in recent years.

READ MORE: Prince Harry ‘didn’t air dirty laundry’ with Spare as his ‘conscience is clear’

After his packed London visit, Harry, who has since made a new life for himself in Montecito, California, flew over to the Ukraine to promote the work of his Invictus Games Foundation (IGF), which aims to support injured veterans, while inspiring others through the power of sport and community.

Sadly, this is a topic that resonates all too well with the people of Ukraine, where many have suffered devastating injuries amid the backdrop of the ongoing war with Russia. It’s here where Harry, a former soldier himself, spoke with The Guardian about why he doesn’t regret opening up about family disputes on several occasions, including during his 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, and in his 2022 Netflix series, Harry & Meghan.

Here are just some of the bombshells that have gotten people talking.

Hopes of spending more time in UK

Dad-of-two Harry admitted to the publication that he was keen on the idea of spending more time in the UK. He went on to share: “Yes, I have enjoyed the week. I have always loved the UK and I always will love the UK. It’s been good to reconnect with the causes I am passionate about. I have been able to spend some time with people that I have known for so long. It is hard to do it from far away.”

This follows new reports that claim the Duke wants his children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 3, to spend more time in the UK so they can benefit from prestigious educational opportunities and the “extensive family network” enjoyed by their cousins.

Speaking with the Daily Mail, a friend who claims they spoke with Harry during his UK visit, alleged: “I can tell you that Harry wants to educate the children here in the UK. Harry feels his children are missing out on the extensive family network that their niece and nephews are enjoying.

“Harry wants his children to have the very best education. He has retained his closest friendship group of confidants from his days at school at Ludgrove and Eton. He wants that for his own children.”

Harry has previously made it clear that the lack of automatic police security for himself and his family has so far prevented him from bringing little Archie and Lilibet back to England, with his own private security not having the jurisdiction or adequate intelligence to keep the Sussexes as safe in the same way that the police would.

However, there does seem to have been some sort of recent breakthrough, with Harry hinting that this past week has “definitely” brought the prospect of a Sussex family visit closer.

Focus on dad

In this same interview, Harry asserted that “the focus really has to be on my dad” in the coming year, suggesting that he’s keen to spend more time with the king.

Both Harry and Charles have kept pretty tight-lipped about the hour-long Clarence House meeting, which saw the father and son enjoy tea together at the London residence.

Back in May, Harry told the BBC that he wished to reconcile with his father in light of his cancer diagnosis, as he “wasn’t sure how much time” Charles had left. He then went on to admit that “some members of my family may never forgive me” after his years of speaking publicly about private family matters.

Cryptic comments about the ‘truth’

In this most recent interview, Harry spoke about the importance of telling the truth, which some have taken to be a jibe against his elder brother, Prince William.

He shared how his wife, Meghan, always told him that truth “is the most efficient way to live”, explaining: “She said, ‘Just stick to the truth’. It is the thing I always fall back on. Always. And if you think like that, who would be stupid enough to lie? It takes up too much time and effort.”

Noregrets over Spare

Although Harry’s frequent admissions about his family have added to the ongoing rift, he apparently has no regrets about sharing his side of the story. According to Harry: “I know that [speaking out] annoys some people, and it goes against the narrative. The book? It was a series of corrections to stories already out there. One point of view had been put out, and it needed to be corrected.”

“I don’t believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear.”

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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The TV presenter has opened up about his time at school and the pressures of sitting exams after he admitted he upset his mother when he received his results

TV star Vernon Kay has opened up about the moment his A-Level results left his mum in tears. The 51-year-old presenter, who has previously spoken about his struggles with education, said the experience only made him more determined to succeed.

Despite this, he reassured others who may have stumbled or failed that they will eventually find their path.

Speaking to The Sun, Vernon credited his parents for instilling a strong work ethic in him, which saw him take on a variety of jobs.

He said: “Oh, it was terrible, dreadful. I found sixth form quite difficult – I had terrible attention span. I was kind of lost in this world where everyone was growing up and leaving me behind. But you know, you do find your way.

“Mum and Dad gave me a good work ethic. I’ve cleaned phone boxes, I’ve stuck stickers on boxes of bananas, I’ve been a caretaker, I worked in Tesco; I did anything for money because I loved getting paid on a Thursday and spending it on a Saturday.”

This isn’t the first time Vernon has shared the story of making his mother Gladys cry. Earlier this year, ahead of A-Level results day, he recounted the tale to his Radio 2 listeners.

He remembered how she questioned why his grades weren’t as high as she’d expected, to which he responded that he’d been too busy playing football.

Vernon recalled: “We’re only a few weeks away from the dreaded school exam results. I made Gladys cry. What have you been doing for two years?’ ‘I’m really good at football’. That was when I got me A-Level results.”

Vernon’s remarks came just weeks after he’d discussed his own daughter, Amber, whom he shares with wife Tess Daly, preparing for her GCSEs, which brought back memories of his own school days.

He said: “Of course, it’s stressful. I remember my GCSEs…well, I don’t…I’m lying, it was so long ago – 1990 I did mine.

“I remember sitting there thinking, ‘Gosh, I wish I’d revised’. I’m not remembering anymore, it’s making me depressed.

“It’s not the way education should be for me, more practical, playing out, hide and seek, I’d have got A+ in that.