Strictly's Will Best announces birth of first child, son Sonny
Will Best, the 41-year-old Big Brother presenter now competing on Strictly Come Dancing, announced on Instagram on Thursday that he and fiancée Tobi Rose have had their first child, a son named Sonny.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Will Best, the 41-year-old broadcaster and Big Brother presenter who is competing on Strictly Come Dancing, announced on Thursday 15 October that he has become a father for the first time. Daily MirrorL “Will Best has become a dad for the first time. The TV presenter, 41” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Evening StandardN “The 41-year-old, best known as the co-host of Big Brother, announced the birth of his son Sonny Best in an Instagram post on Thursday.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2He posted a video to Instagram in which he joked about a "really cool new thing" he got that day, then panned the camera down to show the baby in his arms. Daily MirrorL “"So I got this really cool new thing today, lots of people get them but they are pretty cool," and at that panned the camera down” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Evening StandardN “opened with a video of the broadcaster jokingly showing off a “really cool new thing I got today” before panning the camera to reveal his son.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2In the caption he wrote: "Welcome to the world Sonny Best, you little smasher," thanked his partner Tobi Rose, a fashion stylist, calling her "a miracle", and described them as "a couple of tired new parents". Daily MirrorL “Welcome to the world Sonny Best, you little smasher. @tobiroseofficial you’re a miracle and I love you so much.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Evening StandardN ““A couple of tired new parents (see last slide) but oh my goodness aren’t we lucky.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Left · 1The Daily Mirror reports that Best said in a behind-the-scenes clip for Strictly: It Takes Two that the baby had arrived on Sunday, which was Icons Week on the show; the Evening Standard does not give a birth date. Daily MirrorL “the little one had in fact arrived on Sunday, quipping: "He's arrived on Icons Week. What does that make him? An icon!"” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Best's Strictly dance partner, Dianne Buswell, who recently had her own first child with YouTuber Joe Sugg, wrote that their son Bowie "is so excited to meet little Sonny". The Mirror spells her first name "Diane". Daily MirrorL “Will's Strictly partner Diane Buswell was one of the first to send her congratulations, shortly after she and Joe Sugg became parents themselves.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Evening StandardN ““Yay I’m so happy for you and Tobi, and Bowie is so excited to meet little Sonny,” she wrote.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Fleur East, who co-hosts the Hits Radio Breakfast Show with Best, also commented, telling him to "go and smash it on that ballroom floor for your little family". Evening StandardN “Fleur East, with whom Best hosts the Hits Radio Breakfast Show, commented” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “Go and smash it on that ballroom floor for your little family.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2Other well-wishers named include Strictly host Josh Widdicombe and professional Amy Dowden (Mirror), and judge Oti Mabuse, contestants Dame Sarah Storey, Graeme Hall and John Nellis, It Takes Two host Ellie Taylor and GK Barry (Standard). Daily MirrorL “Josh Widdicombe, who, along with Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe, took over from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly as Strictly Come Dancing hosts this year, said: "Holy moly!!! Congratulations, mate!"” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Evening StandardN “Others offering their well-wishes include Strictly judge Oti Mabuse, as well as many of his fellow contestants such as Dame Sarah Storey, Graeme Hall and John Nellis.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Best revealed the pregnancy in a mid-September Instagram post of summer photos that included a mirror picture of Rose's baby bump. He has been engaged to Rose since a 2024 trip to Italy (the Mirror says Tuscany), after nearly 15 years together. Daily MirrorL “Will has been engaged to Tobi since 2024 after over a decade together. They got engaged during a romantic trip to Tuscany” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Evening StandardN “Best has been in a relationship with Rose for almost 15 years, and he asked the stylist to marry him during a romantic getaway to Italy in 2024.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Best will return to the Strictly ballroom on Saturday with Buswell to dance a jive to Crocodile Rock by Sir Elton John, according to the Standard. Evening StandardN “will return to the ballroom floor this Saturday with partner Buswell as they dance a jive to Crocodile Rock by Sir Elton John.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Light showbiz announcement led by the baby's name, with Best's quips and a recap of the pregnancy reveal.
- Emphasis
- Best's Icons Week joke, the birth date (Sunday), colleagues' messages, and a Sun source quote from the pregnancy announcement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Best's Hits Radio role with Fleur East or his Celebrity Mastermind win, or Saturday's dance.
- Charged language
- “sweet name”“little smasher”
- For example
-
“Strictly Come Dancing's Will Best welcomes a baby boy and reveals sweet name” — Daily Mirror
“"He's arrived on Icons Week. What does that make him? An icon!"” — Daily Mirror
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Warm, straightforward announcement piece led by Best feeling 'so lucky', describing the Instagram post in detail.
- Emphasis
- The photo carousel, the wide range of well-wishers, Best's career background and Saturday's jive.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no birth date and omits Best's remark about the baby arriving on Icons Week.
- Charged language
- “so lucky”“sweet snaps”
- For example
-
“Strictly Come Dancing star Will Best feels ‘so lucky’ as he welcomes first child” — Evening Standard
“He also included several sweet snaps of himself and Rose cradling their infant” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Will Best, 41, announced the birth of his first child, a son named Sonny Best, on Instagram on Thursday 15 October.
- His partner is stylist Tobi Rose; they have been together for around 15 years and have been engaged since 2024.
- Dianne Buswell, Fleur East and other Strictly figures posted congratulations.
- Best is competing on the current series of Strictly Come Dancing with Buswell.
Where accounts differ
-
Where the 2024 engagement took place
- Left
- The Mirror says it was a trip to Tuscany.
- Centre
- The Standard says it was a getaway to Italy.
Will Best person
Presents the birth as a joyful moment, praising his partner and calling the couple lucky, tired new parents.
““A couple of tired new parents (see last slide) but oh my goodness aren’t we lucky.”” — Evening Standard
“you’re a miracle and I love you so much.” — Daily Mirror
Left1 article
-
Strictly Come Dancing's Will Best welcomes a baby boy and reveals sweet name
Celebratory Upbeat celebrity news item built around the name reveal and Best's own jokes, with background on the pregnancy.
Centre1 article
-
Strictly Come Dancing star Will Best feels ‘so lucky’ as he welcomes first child
Celebratory Warm announcement piece quoting the caption and listing congratulations, with career context and a Strictly preview.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 15 Oct 17:55 First Daily MirrorL Strictly Come Dancing's Will Best welcomes a baby boy and reveals sweet name
- 15 Oct 18:00 +4m Evening StandardN Strictly Come Dancing star Will Best feels ‘so lucky’ as he welcomes first child
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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