Joe Sugg has opened up about false rumours linking him to Faye Tozer during Strictly Come Dancing 2018, confirming Dianne Buswell was his only romance
Daniel Windham Assistant Editor
15:15, 30 Nov 2025
Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell(Image: Tristan Fewings, Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for BBC Earth Launch)
Joe Sugg has spoken candidly about the notorious “Strictly curse” and how he was mistakenly linked to a fellow contestant on the BBC dance show.
The YouTube star and TV personality, who competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, notably developed a relationship with his professional partner, Dianne Buswell, during the series.
The couple continued their romance after the show ended and have remained prominent in the public eye ever since.
Last September, Buswell, 36, and Sugg, 34, shared a video on Instagram announcing they are expecting their first child together.
However, during a frank discussion on The Fellas podcast, Joe revealed that speculation about a Strictly romance emerged before his relationship with Dianne began, reports Wales Online.
Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg(Image: Joe Sugg YouTube)
Speaking about his 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.”
Joe explained that the rumour stemmed from an old video he discovered, showing him and his sister performing one of the choreographed routines from pop group Steps.
“I remember I said, I used to fancy Faye,” he confessed. “They brought that up and tried to make it out like there was already a Strictly curse going on between me and Faye.”
Faye Tozer(Image: Getty Images for The National Lo)
Nevertheless, Joe confirmed there was no romantic connection between himself and the pop star. He later established his relationship with Dianne following the 2018 finale. In September, the pair posted a clip on Instagram showing them painting on a canvas.
After several brush strokes, they revealed their artwork: two stick figures holding hands with a smaller stick figure, alongside the date “2026”.
The post, set to Sir Elton John’s Tiny Dancer, was captioned: “Our little baby boy. We cannot wait to meet you.”
Strictly judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse, along with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, were among those offering their congratulations in the comments.
Dancer Amy Dowden added: “Still screaming, dancing and celebrating! So so happy for you both! Magical. Auntie Ames can’t wait.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s Dianne Buswell announces pregnancy joy with Joe Sugg(Image: Joe Sugg Instagram)
Documentary-maker Stacey Dooley, who won series 16 of Strictly alongside dancer Kevin Clifton, wrote: “YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES” with a crying emoji.
Like Buswell and Sugg, Dooley and Clifton later began a romance and now share a daughter named Minnie.
Buswell left this year’s Strictly Come Dancing after her dance partner, Stefan Dennis, withdrew from the competition due to a calf injury.
The Australian professional claimed the glitterball trophy last year with comedian Chris McCausland, who became the first blind contestant to compete on and win the series.
