Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell was left in tears as she shared an emotional farewell with her parents, Mark and Rina, who returned to Australia after a six-week stay. The visit was filled with precious moments, including Mother's Day and Dianne's birthday, as the family bonded with her baby son, Bowden.
A Heartfelt Goodbye
Mark and Rina had been staying with Dianne and her partner Joe Sugg at their £3.5 million home in Brighton, East Sussex. The primary purpose of their extended visit was to spend quality time with Bowden, who was born in March. Dianne revealed that her mother, Rina, had developed an especially strong connection with her grandson.
In a video uploaded to her YouTube channel, Dianne said Bowden would "miss his little cuddles with Nanny" after her departure. "He loves his cuddles with Nanny," the Strictly star continued. "Sometimes Nanny's the only one that can actually console him. So, I'm going to have to ring Nanny and say, 'Do you mind getting on the next flight? He won't stop crying.'"
Six Weeks of Joy
Dianne admitted that the six-week stay had allowed her to settle into a comfortable routine with her parents, and their absence would leave a significant void. The best part, she noted, was the amount of meaningful time they had spent together. "I was actually free the whole time, which was even lovelier," she explained. "Normally I've got something on, or I'm doing some show, or I'm on Strictly, or whatever. So I don't really get to see them for as long and we don't get to do as many things."
The six weeks were packed with activities, including celebrating Dianne's 37th birthday and her first Mother's Day. Bowden arrived on March 16, and the couple has been enjoying parenthood ever since.
Dianne and Joe's Love Story
Dianne and Joe became romantically involved after being paired together on the 16th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. Their chemistry was evident both on and off the dance floor. They reached the grand finale, with their most memorable routine being a Quickstep to "Dancing Fool" in week nine, which earned them an outstanding 38 points from the judges.
Despite a near-flawless score of 40 in the final, they were narrowly beaten by another couple, Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton. However, in an emotional post after the result, Joe declared that he had won something far more valuable than the Glitterball trophy: "I may not have won the glitter ball, but I've won something a million times more special," he wrote on Instagram.
Future Plans
Dianne revealed in 2021 that marriage was not imminent, and the couple planned to "play it by ear." She admitted, "I plan my work a lot, but that's probably as far as I go with planning. I'm quite an unorganised person actually."
With her mother now back in Australia and a challenging newborn at home, Dianne may need to adjust to life without her parents' help. The emotional farewell marks the end of a memorable chapter for the family.
