Strictly’s Dianne Buswell cuddles up to star partner Max George after rejection

Strictly stars Max George and Dianne Buswell proved themselves to be firm friends as they shared a cuddle days after their shock elimination. 

The pop star and Australian pro dancer were seen walking along in a warm embrace after filming Strictly Come Dancing sister show It Takes Two on Tuesday. 

The Wanted singer, 32, landed in the bottom two with Maisie, 20, with both Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke voting to keep the EastEnders star in the competition – while head judge Shirley would have voted for Max. 

Max seems to have recovered from the tough news, which came to light on Sunday’s eviction show, as he left alongside the flame-haired dancer. 

Clad in a casual white tee, he stood out alongside uber glam Dianne, who is dating Strictly alum Joe Sugg, as she sported a dazzling mini dress.  

Maisie and partner Gorka Marquez won against Max and Dianne, who were eliminated in the dance-off on Sunday evening’s show. Maisie earned 24 points out of 40 for her Cha Cha to Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. 

While he was no doubt disappointed with the decision, Max gushed about Dianne’s ‘amazing’ work with him over the last few weeks. 

After Tess Daly asked him about his time on the show, he said: ‘I’ve loved it. It’s all down to Dianne, she’s been literally amazing.

‘For me to get through 90 seconds of a dance for four weeks now is a credit to her, she’s just unbelievable. I’ve got to say, all these guys over here are the nicest group of people ever. I love you all!’

Dianne also shared praise about Max, as she said he did ‘an absolutely amazing job’. 

She gushed about the star: ‘He has done four incredible dances and I know how nervous you get, but you’ve come out here very week’. 

‘I know you always say you want to do me proud and oh my goodness you’ve done me more than proud – so well done. I also want to say thank you to the judges, Anton you were incredible tonight. Thank you so much.’

In a further blow to Dianne and Max, absent judge Motsi Mabuse, who was replaced by ballroom dancer Anton as she isolates for following a whirlwind trip to Germany. has revealed that if she had been in the judging seat, she would have saved Max.

The professional dancer, 39, told BBC Radio 2 on Monday that she would have sided with head Shirley and kept Max in, saying: ‘I saw that Max had a very difficult routine, he had to control himself quite a lot. 

‘If we remember last week with the Simpsons he was all jolly and I think he liked that role and this time he had to be back in control. I’m stuck here, I’m almost like Shirley, watching from the outside, maybe I might have saved Max.’

South African dancer Motsi is in isolation after rushing home to Germany due to her dance school being ‘targeted’. She worked with police to ‘solve the crime’ and will be improving security at her school.