Strictly Come Dancing lovebirds Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg have announced the arrival of their baby boy.
The couple, who met on the BBC programme and got together in late 2018 after making the final, revealed tonight that their first child together arrived two days ago.
Sharing a sweet snap of the newborn sleeping, their caption also confirmed his unusual name: ‘Never felt a love like it 💙’, Joe wrote.
‘Baby Bowden Mark Richard Sugg,’ he added with the date ’16/03/26′.
While the doting parents are yet to divulge further details about how they decided on Bowden’s name, it’s fair to assume his middle names are a tribute to their own loved ones, since Dianne’s father is called Mark, and Joe’s late grandfather, who died in 2021, was called Richard.
Get personalised updates on Strictly
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
They had also already hinted at choosing a ‘unique’ moniker for their child, with vlogger Joe telling his audience in October that it’s a name he ‘doesn’t really see anywhere’.
Other snaps shared by the YouTuber, 34, and professional dancer, 36, showed Dianne cradling him shortly after giving birth, and new dad Joe carrying the little one home.
Comments quickly flooded in from fellow Strictly stars and famous pals, congratulating them on their arrival.
‘The best news!!! Congratulations my gorgeous girl. So happy for you and @joe_sugg. The most beautiful moments in life are to come 🤍🙏🏼’, commented former pro and It Takes Two host Janette Manrara.
Fleur East said: ‘Ahhhh he’s here! Congratulations to both of you.’
‘Huge congratulations ❤️❤️❤️’, wrote Luba Mushtuck, with Ellie Leach echoing: ‘congratulations guys how beautiful ❤️’
‘He is so beautiful☺️ I can’t wait to meet him❤️❤️❤️’, wrote Michelle Tsiakkas.
‘OMG!! Congrats to you both!!!’, Gorka Marquez penned.
‘Oh Finally 😍❤️ bello di zio 🙌’, added an excited Vito Coppola. ‘I am so so happy 🥹 crying for joy and happiness 🫶 Uncle Vito cannot wait to meet you ☺️’
The happy news comes just weeks after Dianne and Joe were forced to respond to AI-generated images circulating online, which people thought were their child.
He said: ‘I woke up this morning to loads of family and friends messaging me, being like, “Oh, congrats on the news, we thought you’d tell us first before it was on the internet”.’
‘This is AI. Look, that’s not me,’ he clarified, pointing to the picture. ‘I don’t know who that is, but it’s not me. I mean, I’d take it, I’d quite like to look like that to be honest, but that’s not me, that’s not my chin, that’s not my hair, unfortunately.’
‘AI is getting scary,’ he quipped with a concerned expression.
Dianne and Joe announced in September last year that they were to become parents.
‘Our little baby boy ❤️ we cannot wait to meet you’, the caption of their Instagram video read, as they painted a family portrait of themselves with a child, writing ‘2026’ at the top.
In the months since, Dianne, who joined Strictly in 2017, has shared plenty of pregnancy updates, including debuting the beautifully decorated nursery in their home, which boasts green walls and plenty of nostalgic toys.
While she never revealed her due date, she hinted last month that baby boy would be arriving imminently, saying, ‘Now, we wait,’ after showing off some new tiny clothes.
Dianne has also sadly had to hit back at trolls who either criticised her for showing her bump or for taking part in Strictly last series.
Some claimed it was ‘not appropriate’ for her to be dancing with Stefan Dennis, but Dianne explained repeatedly that she had been given the all-clear to do so.
Speaking previously on her podcast with Chris McCausland, she shared that she had consulted her doctor, adding: ‘I’m still doing everything I did before.
‘Obviously, with lifts, there’s going to be a bit more caution. But my doctor has said everything is normal.’
Dianne remained in the series for just a matter of weeks, however, as the Neighbours legend had to withdraw due to an injury. The beloved Aussie pro still attended the live shows.
Following Stefan’s premature departure, the flame-haired dancer wrote on social media: ‘Just to clarify as I have had lots of people msg me thinking this is a cover up for me being not able to dance!?
‘Firstly we wouldn’t lie especially about somebody being sick! And secondly I am fine, yes I am pregnant but I’m also very capable and feeling really good!’
She added that contingency plans are in place for all professionals in any series, not just for her while pregnant, as viewers had long questioned what might happen if she had to pull out.
‘There are things in place if any pro were to get sick or injured,’ she said.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
