By admin 
The landscape of British entertainment media was illuminated this week by the joyous announcement from television presenter and current Strictly Come Dancing contestant Will Best, who confirmed the arrival of his first child. Best, 41, and his long-term partner and fiancée, Tobi Rose, have officially welcomed a baby boy named Sonny Best into their family. The announcement, which was shared via social media on Thursday, October 15, 2026, marks a significant personal milestone for the presenter, occurring simultaneously with one of the most demanding phases of his professional career as he competes for the Glitterball Trophy on the BBC’s flagship dance program.
The news was first broken through a series of intimate photographs and video clips shared on Instagram, capturing the couple’s first moments of parenthood within a hospital setting. In the primary post, Best expressed profound gratitude and affection for his fiancée, a professional stylist, while introducing their newborn to his followers. The couple, who have been together for over a decade, described themselves as "lucky" and "tired," a sentiment familiar to new parents but amplified by Best’s current rigorous rehearsal schedule.
The Announcement and Initial Reactions
Will Best took to his official Instagram account to share the milestone with his audience, posting a carousel of images that showcased the newborn. In his characteristically warm and humorous tone, Best captioned the post: "Well who do we have here then?! Welcome to the world Sonny Best, you little smasher. @tobiroseofficial you’re a miracle and I love you so much. A couple of tired new parents but oh my goodness aren’t we lucky."
Accompanying the photos was a short video clip in which Best joked about his "new thing," before panning the camera to reveal baby Sonny resting peacefully on his chest. A secondary video, distributed through the official Strictly Come Dancing social media channels, provided further technical details, confirming that Tobi Rose had given birth on the morning of Sunday, October 12, 2026. This timeline indicates that Best managed to balance the birth of his son with the live show requirements of the previous weekend, a feat that has garnered significant respect from his peers and fans alike.
The outpouring of support from the entertainment industry was immediate. Dianne Buswell, Best’s professional dance partner on the current series of Strictly, was among the first to offer her congratulations. She noted the excitement of her own social circles and the Strictly "family" in meeting the new arrival. Other notable figures, including Strictly judge Oti Mabuse and former contestant and presenter Fleur East, shared their well-wishes, with East encouraging Best to "smash it on that ballroom floor" for his newly expanded family.
A Relationship Spanning Over a Decade
The birth of Sonny Best serves as a crowning moment for a relationship that has been a constant in Will Best’s life throughout his rise in the television industry. Best and Tobi Rose have been a couple for over twelve years, a rarity in the high-pressure environment of show business. Their journey has been documented sparingly but affectionately on social media over the years.
In March 2023, Best celebrated their 12th anniversary by sharing a retrospective of their relationship, including a screenshot of a comment Rose had made early in their courtship vowing never to leave him. He described her as a "one in 7.88 billion human being," signaling the depth of their commitment long before their formal engagement.
The couple’s path toward parenthood took a more formal turn in July 2024, when Best proposed during a romantic holiday in Tuscany, Italy. The engagement was met with widespread celebration from fans who had followed the couple’s journey since Best’s early days on youth television. The pregnancy itself was announced with characteristic subtlety in September 2026, when Best shared a photo of Rose’s baby bump alongside an image of tiny baby shoes, captioned simply, "Baby, Will?!"
Balancing Fatherhood with the Rigors of Strictly Come Dancing
The timing of Sonny’s arrival presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for Best. He is currently a frontrunner in the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing, a competition known for its grueling physical demands and time-intensive rehearsal schedules. As the show enters "Icons Week," one of the most high-stakes themed weeks of the competition, Best will be tasked with mastering complex choreography while navigating the sleep deprivation associated with a newborn.
Historically, contestants who experience major life events during the show—such as births or personal milestones—often find a renewed sense of motivation, which translates into their performances. Sources close to the production suggest that the Strictly team has been incredibly supportive, offering flexibility where possible to ensure Best can spend time with Rose and Sonny.
Icons Week requires contestants to pay tribute to legendary musical figures, involving high-concept production values and precision. For Best, the emotional weight of becoming a father is expected to influence his performance on Saturday night. His dance partner, Dianne Buswell, has reportedly been instrumental in managing their training sessions to accommodate his new domestic responsibilities.
A Retrospective of Will Best’s Television Career
Will Best’s transition into fatherhood comes at a time when his professional standing has never been higher. His career trajectory is a testament to his versatility and longevity in the British media landscape. Best first gained prominence on the music channel Viva, where he hosted Suck My Pop, and later moved to MTV to front the Top 20 chart show.
Between 2011 and 2012, Best became a household name for a younger generation as a presenter on Channel 4’s T4 slot. Working alongside established names like Vernon Kay and Jameela Jamil, he honed the relaxed, personable hosting style that would become his trademark. Following the conclusion of T4, he remained a fixture on Channel 4 and its sister stations, hosting the iTunes Festival, The Crush, and the dating show Love Shaft.
His foray into primetime mainstream television was solidified in 2017 when he co-hosted the ITV talent show Dance Dance Dance with Alesha Dixon. While the show had a limited run, it showcased Best’s ability to anchor large-scale studio productions. However, it was his appointment as the co-host of the Big Brother revival on ITV2 and ITV1 in 2023, alongside AJ Odudu, that propelled him back into the center of the cultural conversation. Taking over a mantle previously held by icons like Davina McCall and Emma Willis, Best was praised for his encyclopedic knowledge of the reality format and his chemistry with Odudu.
The Broader Impact and Industry Context
The arrival of "Strictly babies" has become a recurring and heartwarming theme in the history of the BBC program. Over the years, several professional dancers and celebrity contestants have navigated the joys of new parenthood during or shortly after their tenure on the show. This phenomenon often fosters a deeper connection between the viewers and the participants, as the audience witnesses the human element behind the glamorous costumes and choreographed routines.
From a journalistic perspective, Best’s situation highlights the evolving nature of work-life balance for public figures. By being transparent about the "tiredness" and the "miracle" of the experience, Best contributes to a more grounded and relatable image of celebrity fatherhood. Furthermore, his ability to maintain his professional commitments during such a transformative period reflects a broader trend of modern fathers seeking to be actively involved in early childcare while maintaining their career trajectories.
Future Outlook for the Best Family
As Will Best prepares for the upcoming live broadcast of Strictly Come Dancing, the narrative surrounding his participation has shifted from purely technical skill to one of personal resilience and joy. The public’s interest in Sonny Best is likely to remain high, though Best and Rose have historically maintained a degree of privacy regarding their personal lives.
The immediate future for the couple involves navigating the final weeks of the dance competition, followed by the first Christmas as a family of three. Professionally, Best’s stock continues to rise; his successful stint on Big Brother and his current popularity on Strictly position him as one of the BBC and ITV’s most valuable presenting assets.
In conclusion, the birth of Sonny Best is not merely a celebrity news item but a significant chapter in the life of a presenter who has grown up on British television screens. As he balances the demands of the ballroom with the responsibilities of the nursery, Will Best exemplifies a modern approach to celebrity, where professional ambition and deep-seated personal devotion coexist. The "smasher" that is Sonny Best has already made his mark on the Strictly season, providing a reminder of the real-life milestones that continue to unfold even under the bright lights of the television studio.
