Strictly Come Dancing pair issue apology as BBC stars cancel event ‘due to difficult circumstances’
Strictly Come Dancing stars Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola have apologised to fans after having to cancel a feature of their show.
The choreographers performed at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End over the weekend, with a Meet and Greet scheduled to follow the show.
Buswell, 38 and Coppola, 32, are currently in the middle of their Red Hot and Ready tour, and on Sunday took to the iconic stage at the capital’s West End.
However, fans who’d purchased the Meet and Greet package would soon be disappointed after it was announced the feature had been cancelled.
An email read: “We’re sorry to inform you but due to very difficult circumstances that have occurred today, today’s meet and greet with Dianne and Vito has unfortunately been cancelled,” Express reports.
The statement continued: “Both Dianne and Vito send their deepest apologies and regret an inconvenience.”
It went on to clarify that even though the Meet and Greet wouldn’t be going ahead, the stage performance would still be taking place.
Producers are also understood to have assured fans who’d signed up to the cancelled event would receive a full refund.
The update came just days after Australian dancer Buswell confessed she had found the demands of the current tour difficult.
“I’ve been struggling, I’ve had a struggle struggle week,” the 36-year-old reflected.
Speaking to her former dancer partner Chris McCausland, with whom she won last year’s Strictly Come Dancing, she further explained on his Winning Isn’t Everything podcast: “I did have a moment, I’ve cried and everything.
“I had a moment where I thought, ‘I feel really bad when I used to be so mean to Chris about being sick.'”
McCausland replied: “Hang on, when we did Strictly, I’m just trying to think, even when I was bad or injured -“before Buswell cut in to respond: “You were quite sick a lot.”
“How many times did I cry that wasn’t for joyous, emotional reasons? How many times did I cry because of illness or pain or sadness?” he asked.
After a pause, he added: “zero,” prompting Buswell to argue women tend to get “much more emotional” than men.
Back in March, Buswell shared a personal loss and was flooded with support following the candid post.
The dancer took to Instagram to share the news that her beloved grandmother had died, writing next to a series of sweet photos: “Rest in peace nan.”
She continued: “Love you very much. I’m so grateful I was home to say goodbye to such a special lady in my life.”
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She concluded the emotional post: “Now go be with pop he has been patiently waiting for you.”
Alongside her tribute, the dancer shared a video of some tender moments with her grandmother who many fans may have recognised from the Aussie dancer’s vlogs.