Strictly's Will Best breaks down in tears as he returns to the show days after welcoming his first child... but host Emma Willis jokes he has no right to complain about sleepless nights

Published: 22:48 BST, 17 October 2026 | Updated: 23:28 BST, 17 October 2026

Will Best had a very emotional week on Strictly as he welcomed his first child and juggled jive rehearsals with sleepless nights. 

The presenter, 41, returned to training with his professional partner Dianne Buswell just days after his fiancée Tobi Rose gave birth to their son Sonny on Sunday. 

Before introducing Will's VT package during Saturday's live show, host Emma Willis revealed the Strictly stars had some gifts for the new dad and his son.

After the judges showed off some tiny shoes and a mini scoring paddle, mum-of-three Emma brought out a 'teeny tiny violin,' explaining it was 'just in case I ever hear Will complain about how tired he is when it was his fiancée that gave birth'.

Will broke down in tears during training as he told his pro partner Dianne, who welcomed her first child in March, his big news.

'Big week this week. We've got the jive... also I've had a baby,' Will revealed to Dianne.

Will Best had a very emotional week on Strictly as he welcomed his first child and juggled jive rehearsals with sleepless nights

Before introducing Will's VT package during Saturday's live show, host Emma Willis revealed the Strictly stars had some gifts for the new dad and his son

The two were sobbing as Dianne gushed 'we are now in the mum and dad club.'

'What I will say, is that you will feel tired but it's a magical tired - you're tired from the exhaustion of loving them so much,' she advised her partner.

Will then got teary again as he called Dianne 'inspirational,' adding 'you're doing all of this and you've got a baby and you're clearly the most amazing mum so I want to try and learn from you.'

Despite his tiredness, Will bagged some impressive feedback, with Shirley noting that he should be 'proud of yourself' as it was his 'best dance so far', while Craig observed the pair did a 'fantastic job'.

Anton joked: 'My advice to you is to continue to not sleep because it works wonders for your dancing!' 

With a great score of 31 points, it has topped what has no doubt been a memorable week for the Big Brother host.

 Earlier this week fans urged bosses to give Will a week of paternity leave.

Will, who also presents the weekly live Big Brother eviction every Friday, admitted on Wednesday that he 'hasn't slept in days'.

Will broke down in tears during training as he told his pro partner Dianne, who welcomed her first child in March, his big news

Will got teary again as he called Dianne 'inspirational,' adding 'you're doing all of this and you've got a baby and you're clearly the most amazing mum

Despite his tiredness, Will bagged some pretty impressive feedback, with Shirley noting that he should be 'proud of yourself' as it was his 'best dance so far'

Strictly fans penned in the comments on Will's announcement post: 'Give him a break to get to know his little one and be there for Mama,'

'I'm ten months postpartum and this whole thing is giving me the ick. Give him the week off and a bye to next week. It's not that deep,'

'Please give Will and his wife and baby some paternity leave!!!!' 'Good grief give the guy a week off and a bye to next week,'

'He should definitely be given a weeks grace after Saturdays show to be at home,'

'Surely they can give him a week off to be with his child. Ridiculous'. 

Speaking about his newborn son during rehearsals, Will said: 'My beautiful fiancée and I have got a baby now. 

'Sunday morning he arrived and he's amazing. Tobs is doing well, it's the most surreal, wonderful thing. I haven't slept for a couple of days'.

His partner Diane said: 'No sleep and a Jive... we just have to do it don't we? We just have to crack on.'

Will got engaged to his girlfriend of over a decade, Tobi Rose, in July 2024.

The presenter whisked Tobi off to Tuscany in Italy for a romantic holiday before getting down on one knee to pop the question.