Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell has spoken about how motherhood gives her an "extra little boost" during the competition, as she and her dance partner Will Best discussed their recent experiences of parenthood.
Balancing Motherhood and the Dancefloor
The Australian dancer, 37, welcomed her first child, a son named Bowden, with her partner Joe Sugg in March 2026. Her Strictly partner, Will Best, became a father for the first time just weeks ago when he and his fiancée, Tobi Rose, welcomed a baby boy named Sonny on October 11, just hours after Will performed live with Dianne on the show.
Ahead of the latest show, the pair spoke candidly about their experiences of parenthood, praising their partners for their support at home while they juggle family life with the demands of Strictly.
"We both say we have incredible partners back home who help us immensely to be able to do what we do," Dianne told the Daily Express and other press. She described both support networks as "incredible", admitting she likely wouldn't be able to do the show without it.
Finding Motivation in Her Son
"Personally, for me, it gives me like an extra little boost on the moments where I do feel nervous or scared," Dianne explained. "I genuinely do think of my little boy, and it does make me feel so much better."
"So there's things that I can pull from having this new experience and I take it into my dancing, which is really nice," she added.
Turning to her dance partner, Dianne acknowledged that Will's experience might be a little different because his son was born so recently.
Will Best's Perspective on Parenthood
Will made the heartwarming admission that he gets a mental image of Tobi and baby Sonny before performing every Saturday night. He added that he knows Sonny is always watching him in some form, and it has reminded him what the true meaning of Strictly really is.
"This competition is supposed to be fun. It is a competition, but it's also, more importantly, a fun entertainment show where we're just trying to have a good time and entertain people," the Big Brother host said.
"And I try and remember that, and I just think, whatever happens, whether I do really well or I fall flat on my face, either one will be fun for Sonny to watch in a few years' time. 'Look, this is when Daddy fell over on the telly!' That will be just as fun. 'This is when Daddy got a good score because he did good footwork.' It kind of makes it all feel a bit more like a win-win," Will added.
Training Sessions and Adrenaline
Dianne revealed that the first half-hour of their training sessions is often spent chatting about their babies, including how they've slept the night before. Despite the inevitable lack of sleep, the pair admitted they often find themselves running on adrenaline.
"It's so cute because we come in every training and we both talk about how well our child has slept and what they did last night," Dianne confessed. "That's a good first half-hour chat about our children which is really cute."
Will added: "Adrenaline is an amazing thing. It really gets you through the tough times."
