Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg romance from marriage plans to Joe's cute admission
Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Dianne Buswell fell head over heels for YouTube star Joe Sugg when they were paired on the 2017 series of the BBC One competition, and since then, their love story has continued to blossom.
Over the years the dreaded Strictly curse has broken up many couples and marriages, but after being paired together six years ago, it was clear that love was in air for Dianne, 34, and Joe, 32, as the pair are still going strong to this day. It seemed the love won all during the 2017 series after Dianne and Joe finished as runners-up behind Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, who also became a couple after the series wrapped, and have since welcomed their first child together.
When they first met, Dianne was dating soap star Anthony Quinlan, who starred in both Hollyoaks and Emmerdale. However, just a few short months after her split with Anthony, Dianne went public with her romance with Joe as the loved-up couple shared an array of adorable couple snaps together – much to the delight of adoring Strictly fans who had for a long time, said they seemed perfect for one another.
At the time, Joe broke the happy news of their new relationship when he posted an adorable photo of the pair gazing lovingly into one another’s eyes. Joe sweetly said that although he didn't win Strictly Come Dancing, he won the woman of his dreams instead. "I may not have won the glitter ball, but I’ve won something a million times more special," [sic] he gushed.
Before Joe's gushing announcement, Dianne’s ex-boyfriend Anthony denied that their relationship ended due to the dreaded Strictly curse, and insisted that he and Dianne were still ‘good friends’ before he gave a public blessing to her new romance with Joe. "I’m actually rooting for Joe and Dianne. They’re doing absolutely amazing in Strictly and I still think the world of the girl. We were really close, it just wasn’t meant to be," Anthony said after the announcement.
Strictly's Molly Rainford and Tyler West fuel romance rumours while on tourSince then, Strictly fans have enjoyed seeing Dianne and Joe's relationship go from strength-to-strength on social media as they regularly shared loved-up snaps on their romantic getaways, with their families - including Joe's famous older sister, Zoe Sugg, and in 2021, the couple cemented their future together when they bought their first home together.
Although they live happily in their London home together, Dianne and Joe appear to be in no rush to get married or have children any time soon. Back in 2021, after purchasing their first home together, Dianne said that marriage wasn't on the cards for them – just yet. Dianne admitted that her career comes first, and that she and Joe were 'playing their marriage by ear'.
"I plan my work a lot, but that’s probably as far as I go with planning. I’m quite an unorganised person actually," she confessed. "Joe and I don’t really talk about that kind of thing. We’re both so relaxed so we just play it by ear. We really enjoy each other’s company so much and whatever happens, happens."
While they haven't spoken about marriage, Dianne is very much excited to share a family with Joe some day. In a 2022 interview, Australian-born Dianne said that she and Joe are hoping to start a family 'when it feels right' – admitting that much like their marriage plans, they are in no rush to take the next steps in their love story.
And while Dianne has previous relationship experience, Joe recently admitted that Dianne is his first 'proper' girlfriend. When they met, Joe was 27, and didn't have a lot of romantic relationship experience. Speaking to The Sunday Times back in 2021, Joe confessed: "Dianne is my first girlfriend. Other than, like, my penpal from when I was 10."
Sharing his initial fears of going public with Dianne, doting Joe explained at the time: "My audience was very protective over me. But they instantly accepted Dianne, because we were partnered on Strictly, so after the show finished and we got together, they already felt like they knew her well."
And lifting the lid on their sweet romance, Joe said that he and Dianne rarely row with one another as their relationship is equally as relaxed and as chilled as they are. "We very rarely have full-blown rows. Dianne's very messy, so even on camera I'd take the mick that she's left the room like a bombsite. I think it's good to keep things like that in, because especially if you've got younger people watching, you could otherwise give them a false idea that being in a couple is all rainbows and daisies."
While their relationship has managed to escape any bumps so far, rumours have spread this Strictly series as Dianne was paired with EastEnders heartthrob, Bobby Brazier. This week, Dianne defiantly brushed off any rumours of trouble with boyfriend Joe as she shared a sweet Instagram Story with her beau of five years.
The couple have been dogged with rumours that they may have split or be on the verge of a break up, but Dianne showed her Instagram fans that the pair are firmly still together and loving living together. She treated fans to a shot of some delicious looking roasties from their Sunday dinner together, as she re-shared a post from boyfriend Joe where she told him that she 'loves him more than she did before'.
Sharing a repost of a snap of herself beaming with the roasties, Joe's caption read: "These are the best roast potatoes I've ever eaten in my life. Joe you are the best roaster of the potato the world's ever seen, I love you so much more than I even did before."
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman 'sign deal' to host Strictly for two more yearsThe public declaration for boyfriend Joe came after Dianne was seen getting tearful on Saturday night's Strictly after dancing the tango with partner Bobby. Affectionately squeezing her dance partner, Dianne told Claudia Winkleman after they danced that the EastEnders had been a huge support for her over the past week. She told Strictly: "He has just been a massive rock this week, so thank you".
Bobby also admitted to having been "so so emotional all week", despite having repeatedly received high praise from the judges and public and being noted as one to watch on the BBC show.
Fans at home speculated that Dianne's emotional outburst could mean difficulties at home with boyfriend Joe, as one viewer tweeted: "Bobby has been a rock this week... I hope no issue with Dianne and Joe Sugg. This show really does test relationships." Despite rumours of their relationship ending, Joe showed his support for Dianne and Bobby as he shared a picture of girlfriend Dianne and Bobby's red themed tango to his Instagram on Saturday night. Cheering on his partner, he wrote: "LOVE IT! INCREDIBLE."
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday from 6.20pm on BBC One.