By Jessica Sansome

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Dianne Buswell has been seen for the first time since announcing her baby news as Strictly Come Dancing fans got a first look at her reunion with Chris McCausland. Fans of the hit dance show will recall that there were emotional scenes as Dianne and comedian Chris, Strictly’s first-ever blind contestant, were crowned Strictly champions back in December 2024. And that’s not all they’ve won as earlier this year, the reigning Strictly champions won the memorable moment award at the Bafta Television Awards 2025, which is voted for by the public. The winning Strictly couple’s Waltz to the Liverpool anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone was the performance that earned them the nomination. The magical performance, which they recreated during the final of the 20th anniversary series in December, saw Dianne leave the ballroom floor so her partner could dance on his own before she returned to spinning in his arms moments later in tear-jerking scenes. The pair have since made a comeback by returning to Strictly’s iconic dancefloor, as it is tradition, the previous year’s winners perform during the launch show, with the 2025 edition filmed earlier this week. Chris and Dianne will perform on the launch episode of the BBC One dance contest’s 2025 run on Saturday (September 20), which will also reveal which professional dancers the 15 celebrity contestants will be paired with in this year’s competition. New pictures have been released ahead of their on-screen reunion, marking the first time Dianne has been seen since she announced she is pregnant with her and her boyfriend Joe Sugg’s first child. Taking to Instagram, the couple, who met on Strictly in 2018 when they were paired together and made it to the final, could be seen in a clip standing behind a wooden easel and paint, with the clip set to the Elton John track, Tiny Dancer. The playful clip then sees the couple painting, before the turn the canvas around to reveal three stick figures – one of Dianne, one of Joe and a baby in the middle of them. Alongside the post, originally shared by Joe, he wrote: “Our little baby boy [heart emoji]. We cannot wait to meet you.” Meanwhile, the pre-recorded Strictly launch episode, which will see Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman return to host, will feature group dances starring the professional dancers and all 15 celebrities taking to the dancefloor for the first time along with the judges. The show will also feature an exclusive performance from Jessie J, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, and a number of other surprises. Jessie J’s performance will come after she performed her first show since undergoing breast cancer surgery at the BBC’s Radio 2 In The Park in Chelmsford earlier this month. Love Island winner Dani Dyer, ER actress Alex Kingston, model and actress Ellie Goldstein, former England footballer Karen Carney, Olympian and Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, and YouTuber and podcaster George Clarke are all signed up for this year’s show The line-up of celebrity contestants is completed by Drag Race UK finalist La Voix, reality TV star Vicky Pattison, Apprenctice candidate Thomas Skinner, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, Neighbours stalwart Stefan Dennis, broadcaster Ross King and former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw. Judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke will return to score the couples as they compete to win the Glitterball Trophy. Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, September 20, at 6.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.