Dianne Buswell gives birth! Strictly pro welcomes a baby boy with boyfriend Joe Sugg as she pays tribute to her father with her son’s sweet name

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I’m so thrilled to share some wonderful news! My partner, Joe Sugg, and I have welcomed our first baby! It’s a really special time for us, and we’ve named our little one after my dad, Mark, as a lovely way to honor his memory. We’re completely smitten!

The couple, who first met on a BBC show in 2018, shared in September that they are expecting a baby.

Dianne made history on Strictly as the first professional dancer to compete while pregnant. Unfortunately, her partner Stefan Dennis had to withdraw from the competition in 2025 because of an injury.

Dianne announced on Instagram on Wednesday that she and her partner Joe welcomed a baby boy named Bowden. They chose his middle name to honor both Dianne’s father, Mark, and Joe’s grandfather Richard, who passed away in 2021.

She shared a photo of her cute son being held by Dianne, and another of her and Joe bringing their newborn baby home from the hospital.

She announced her son’s birth on social media, sharing his full name: Bowden Mark Richard Sugg. She wrote about the incredible love she feels for him and included his birthdate: March 16, 2026.

Dianne announced she was expecting a baby on Instagram in September, just before the new season of Strictly Come Dancing began.

Dianne and Joe announced they were expecting a baby in a sweet video set to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.” They playfully pretended to paint a picture together on an easel as part of the reveal.

They held up the canvas for the camera, and it showed a drawing of two stick figures – one with bright red hair like Dianne’s – holding hands with a baby.

The couple shared that they’re expecting their first child in 2026, and it’s a boy!

Joe captioned the clip: ‘Our little baby boy ❤️ we cannot wait to meet you’.

Friends and fans showered the couple with congratulations, and their costars on Strictly Come Dancing were among the first to offer their best wishes.

Dianne hinted that the birth of their baby son was imminent in February in a sweet update. 

She made a video showing her and Joe Sugg’s belongings, and included tiny replicas of them.

Dianne hinted the baby could arrive any moment, saying ‘now we wait,’ after she revealed she’d prepared everything – from little outfits and shoes to a fun onesie inspired by ‘Strictly Come Dancing.’

She captioned the Instagram post: ‘When 2 will soon become 3 the last one!’

Joe and Dianne became a couple after being partnered together on the sixteenth season of Strictly Come Dancing in 2018.

Last year, when Dianne became the first contestant to compete while pregnant, show officials secretly prepared backup plans just in case.

Since the baby is expected in early 2026 and the ‘Strictly’ finale is in December 2025, she might be able to continue dancing until she’s ready to give birth. This means show officials need to prepare a replacement plan just in case.

According to a source, the show’s producers are prepared for any issues and have several experienced dancers ready to replace anyone who needs to leave, ensuring the show continues without interruption.

The BBC’s top priority is Dianne’s health and wellbeing, and they plan to fully support her with ongoing check-ins from their welfare team.

Okay, so I’ve been following everything so closely, and honestly, the Daily Mail is just stirring up drama! A friend of mine who’s totally in the know on ‘Strictly’ told me it’s all a big misunderstanding. Apparently, whatever they’re claiming is some big secret has been public knowledge forever! It’s so frustrating when they try to make it seem like something new and scandalous is happening when it’s really not. They’re just twisting things!

Dianne was a contestant on last year’s show with her fellow Australian, Stefan Dennis, who is an actor from the show Neighbours. However, they had to leave the competition when Stefan was injured.

Rumors spread quickly suggesting Stefan’s injury wasn’t real and that Dianne’s pregnancy was the true reason they had to pull out.

Dianne quickly went to Instagram to deny the rumors, writing: ‘Just to be clear, a lot of people have messaged me thinking this is an excuse for why I can’t dance!’

We would never lie, especially about someone’s health. And to be clear, I’m doing well! I am pregnant, but I’m also perfectly capable and feeling great.

She also clarified that procedures are established to handle professional illness or injury, stating, “If a professional becomes sick or injured, there are systems in place to address it.”

Dianne had been dropping hints about wanting a baby for months before they announced her pregnancy, and revealed in May that she really longed to become a mother.

The celebrity, who won the dance competition with her partner Chris McCausland in 2024, shared that the pressures of her work have delayed their plans to start a family.

She shared with The Sun that she definitely wants to have children, saying she and her partner, Joe, both love kids and see it happening in their future. She hasn’t decided how many children she’d like to have, but is confident it will happen.

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2026-03-18 22:19