Dianne Buswell plans to land role as Strictly judge and teases who she could replace

Strictly winner Dianne Buswell has revealed that she has a plan for her future on the BBC show – and it's bad news for one of the four iconic judges on the panel

As one half of Strictly Come Dancing's current champion pairing, Dianne Buswell doesn't have much more to achieve as a professional dancer. But the 36-year-old Aussie has another ambition on the BBC series – replacing one of Strictly's judges.

Speaking to fellow champ Chris McCausland on their Winning Isn't Everything podcast, she predicted: "One day I'm going to be a judge. That would be my ultimate dream goal is to be a judge on Strictly."

It wouldn't be an unprecedented step. After 16 years on Strictly as a professional dancer, Anton Du Beke hung up his dancing shoes at 54 and went on to replace Bruno Tonioli on the judging panel the following year.

Dianne, seen here with Queen Camilla and a host of Strictly regulars, has hinted that she would like Craig's job(Image: Getty Images)

Dianne was initially reluctant to say which of the current panel she would replace, saying: "I wouldn't replace Shirley [Ballas]. I don't think anyone could replace Shirley," before eventually going on to say that Craig Revel Horwood might eventually tire of his relentless schedule.

Alongside his Strictly role, Craig is a sought-after choreographer, and has worked on several West End musical productions, as well as on big screen hit, Paddington 2. He's also appeared in several pantomimes and starred in a touring production of Annie as Miss Hannigan.

Dianne actually auditioned to become a judge on the Australian version of Strictly in 2019, narrowly missing out when producers plumped for rival dancer Sharna Burgess.

She's already lifted the trophy once(Image: PA)

She says the audition process was quite unnatural: "I had to actually audition as if Craig [Revel Horwood] was next to me. So they played me clips of Craig.

"It was really weird in the evening audition that I did. I sat in a room on my own and it was really tough because I had no-one to bounce off.

"They'd show me a dance that had already been shown the previous year… then I had to comment on it, but I had to come in after Craig...

"I had to pretend that I was talking back to Craig, so it was it was a bit odd."

Dianne now lives in London with boyfriend Joe Sugg(Image: Carlo Paloni, BAFTA via Getty Images)

Getting the job would have meant spending more time back in Australia – something Dianne has admitted she's been keenly missing of late.

Speaking during a performance of the Red Hot and Ready live show, which she is currently touring with friend and Strictly co-star Vito Coppola, she said: "Being away from home is honestly one of the hardest things for me.

"As you can see, I'm a massive family girl, so when I'm not around for birthdays, Christmases, christenings, the list goes on and on, it can be extremely difficult.

"But my mum and dad always taught me to follow my dreams, and that's exactly what I'm doing.

"Australia will always have my heart, but I'm so lucky and grateful that I have a second home, and that's right here.