Joe Sugg has addressed the so-called “Strictly curse,” revealing how he was once mistakenly linked to a co-star before his romance with dance partner Dianne Buswell
Daniel Windham Assistant Editor
13:15, 30 Nov 2025
Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg(Image: Joe Sugg YouTube)
Joe Sugg has opened up about the so-called “Strictly curse” and how he was once incorrectly linked to one of his co-stars on the BBC dancing competition.
The YouTube star and television personality, who competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, famously formed a romance with his dancing partner Dianne Buswell during their time on the show.
The pair continued their relationship after the series and have remained in the public eye ever since. In September, Buswell, 36, and Sugg, 34, shared a video to Instagram to announce they were expecting their first child together.
But in a candid chat on The Fellas podcast, Joe revealed that rumours about a Strictly romance cropped up before his connection with Dianne.
Speaking about his dancing co-star Faye Tozer, Joe said: “Yeah, so she was in my series, and when I was a kid, she was my favourite in the band. And yeah, so she was my favourite in the band.”
Faye Tozer(Image: Getty Images for The National Lo)
The story, Joe explained, originated from a video he found from years ago, showing him and his sister recreating one of the dance routines from pop group Steps. “I remember I said, I used to fancy Faye,” he admitted. “They brought that up and tried to make it out like there was already a Strictly curse going on between me and Faye.”
However, Joe said that there was no romantic link between him and the pop star, with the YouTube star confirming his romance with his Strictly professional partner after the 2018 final.
In September, the couple shared a video to Instagram which showed them painting on a canvas. After multiple strokes with their brush, they unveiled their masterpiece, which depicted two stick figures holding the hands of a smaller stick figure alongside the date “2026”.
The caption of the post, which was soundtracked by Sir Elton John’s Tiny Dancer, said: “Our little baby boy. We cannot wait to meet you.”
Strictly judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse and professional dancer Johannes Radebe were among those congratulating the couple in the comments.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Dianne Buswell announces pregnancy joy with Joe Sugg(Image: Joe Sugg Instagram)
Dancer Amy Dowden added: “Still screaming, dancing and celebrating! So so happy for you both! Magical. Auntie Ames can’t wait.”
Documentary-maker Stacey Dooley, who won series 16 of Strictly alongside dancer Kevin Clifton, simply said “YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES” alongside a crying emoji.
Like Buswell and Sugg, Dooley and Clifton went on to form a relationship and now have a daughter called Minnie.
Buswell exited this year’s Strictly Come Dancing after her dancing partner, Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, pulled out of the competition after injuring his calf.
The Australian dancer won the glitterball trophy last year alongside her celebrity dance partner, comedian Chris McCausland, who was the first blind person to compete on and win the series.
