In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Strictly Come Dancing has bid farewell to another celebrity contestant, as Neighbours icon Stefan Dennis was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a severe injury. The announcement, confirmed on Monday evening (20th October), sent shockwaves through fans of the BBC dancing contest. Former Strictly star Sally Nugent, who participated in the 2023 Strictly Christmas special, shared a poignant three-word reaction on BBC Breakfast: “It’s so disappointing.”
On Tuesday’s (21st October) episode of BBC Breakfast, Sally Nugent, alongside co-host Ben Thompson, delivered the morning’s top stories, including the devastating news of Stefan’s exit. The Australian actor, renowned for his long-standing role as Paul Robinson on Neighbours, had been paired with professional dancer Dianne Buswell. Sally explained to viewers, “The actor Stefan Dennis has pulled out of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. The Neighbours star was told after Saturday night’s show that he’d torn his calf muscle so severely that he would need to withdraw.”
The broadcast featured footage of Stefan and Dianne’s performances, with Ben noting, “You see there, partnered with Australian Dianne Buswell, who is the first professional dancer to take part in the show while pregnant.” Back in the studio, Sally expressed her disappointment, highlighting the high hopes fans had for Stefan: “It’s so disappointing because I know there are a lot of people who wanted to see him do really well.” Ben added, “There is a lot of work that goes into it,” to which Sally responded, “They have been working for months, but that training regime is grueling—you can’t do it with an injury.”
Stefan’s withdrawal marks him as the third celebrity to leave this year’s series. He follows Love Island star Dani Dyer, who fractured her ankle and was replaced by Amber Davies, and Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, who cited “a high level of stress and a little bit of grief” as his reasons for stepping back. Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope has stepped in to replace Nairn.
Dianne Buswell, who recently announced her pregnancy with partner Joe Sugg, took to Instagram to share an emotional tribute to her time with Stefan. Posting a heartfelt video montage of their moments together, she wrote, “Stefo, I’m so sorry our Strictly journey was cut short just as that confidence was starting to grow. But you can walk away with your head held high.” She encouraged him to return home to his wife, Gail, and dance with her, noting, “You can go home to your wonderful wife, put your hand out, and say, ‘Would you like to cha cha cha with me?’ The main reason for being on this show was to be able to dance with her, and you can certainly do that now.”
Dianne concluded her message with warmth and admiration: “You are the kindest human I have ever worked with, and I can always say I got to dance with the iconic Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis—or as my dad calls ya, Paul Robertson. Can’t wait for you to send me the video of you and Gail dancing together.”
The departure of Stefan and Dianne has left fans reeling, with many expressing their sadness over the abrupt end to their Strictly journey. As the competition continues, the grueling demands of the show remain evident, reminding viewers of the physical and emotional toll it takes on its stars.