Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell has said 'it's so hard' as she was asked about her dad's ill health before making an admission about competing on the hit show.
The Australian dancer is partnered with EastEnders star Bobby Brazier and the pair will be hoping to bounce back in the BBC One dance contest after being in the dreaded dance-off last weekend. Dianne and Bobby were one of seven couples to make it through to week nine of the competition which as per the show's annual tradition, they ditched the usual Elstree studio for a much more famous venue up North.
They kickstarted the latest live show with a colourful and bouncy jive to Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! and it wasn't just any old night as it was the annual Blackpool special which saw the remaining couples perform in the seaside town's iconic Tower Ballroom.
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But away from the show, Dianne is facing personal challenges as her dad undergoes chemotherapy in Australia. Earlier this month, she posted a photo of her dad, Mark, lying in a hospital bed. In the snap, Mark was seen smiling at the camera while wired up to a machine.
Next to him were a bunch of balloons, one of which included a bright yellow smiley face design. Alongside the image, Dianne wrote: "Love you so much dad. Sending all my healing wishes and energy your way." She also tagged her dad, whilst also calling him her "hero".
Then last week, Dianne shared more about her dad's diagnosis. On November 16, the 34-year-old took to Instagram to wish her father well ahead of his first round of chemotherapy treatment. Now, taking part in a Q&A with her Instagram followers, Dianne was asked how her dad was doing.
"It's so hard to see your dad go through so much and from so far away," she started to type in response. "I cannot wait to see him at Christmas and hug him! Meanwhile, I will continue to make him proud dancing my heart out as that's all he wants for me. Brings him so much joy. Thank you for asking xx."
Dianne was also asked about how it feels to be going into week ten of Strictly and surviving the dance-off for the first time in her time on the show. "I feel incredibly grateful and don't want it to end. I would love to be in that final," she said before saying in response to the latter: "I was so happy! I don't want this to end."
