Will Best’s Strictly Break Could Put Family Time First After Best Jive Yet

Will Best delivered his strongest dance of the series on Strictly Come Dancing, then made the case for a pause that has nothing to do with his performance. With fiancée Tobi Rose having given birth to their first child, Sonny, the bigger question is whether a packed television schedule is sustainable during the first weeks of family life.

That’s a striking reversal from just a few weeks ago, when I argued that Will could reach the final and might even be the contestant to watch. His progress since then has only strengthened that assessment. But it has also sharpened the concern: success on the dance floor may be arriving at the same time his family needs him at home.

Last night’s jive, set to “Rocket Man,” was fast, energetic and tightly matched with professional partner Dianne Buswell. Will danced in a sequinned Elton John outfit and earned his best score of the series. If there were a most-improved award, this performance would make him a strong contender. His enthusiasm has been a pleasure to watch, and his connection with Dianne was clear in the routine’s pace and timing.

Before they took to the floor, Will spoke emotionally about Dianne, who welcomed a baby with Joe Sugg in March. He told her, “You’re an inspiration. You are doing all of this, and you’ve got a baby, and you are clearly the most amazing mum, so I want to try and learn from you.” The moment carried extra weight given that Will and Tobi have just welcomed Sonny.

The programme didn’t capture the full demands of Will’s week. Alongside Strictly, he has been hosting Big Brother. On Friday, he joined AJ Odudu for the live eviction show, which ran until 10.30pm, before facing an early start for Strictly’s show day. Whether he slept much around a newborn’s needs is anyone’s guess.

Emma Willis joked that she had brought Will a miniature violin in case he complained about being tired when his fiancée had given birth. The gag landed, and the exhaustion of a new mother deserves recognition. Still, that doesn’t erase the demands on a new father who is performing and presenting across two major shows.

I’m not a parent, so I can’t claim to know what this period feels like for Will and Tobi. But a newborn changes the shape of every day. If a friend told me they were continuing with the biggest professional opportunity of their career immediately after a baby arrived, I’d gently ask whether they had room to step back and be present at home.

There is also an uneven expectation built into parental leave: the source notes that a mother must take at least two weeks away from work after giving birth, while a father has no equivalent obligation. Could Will have been offered a week away from both shows? We don’t know whether he was, and there’s no need to assume. But it’s fair to ask whether either programme would truly have been diminished by giving him that time.

Will’s reasons for carrying on are easy to understand. After years in television, he’s having a long-awaited moment in the spotlight. Big Brother’s move to ITV has brought renewed energy to the programme, and Will is also appearing in the Saturday-night Strictly line-up. Viewers are responding to him. He has earned the attention and the opportunities now opening up; the uncomfortable part is that they’ve arrived just as his family life has changed dramatically.

His jive makes it increasingly likely he could go far in the competition. I’d expect plenty of support for him after such a lively performance, and it’s hard to imagine the warmth in the studio failing to reach viewers at home. His improvement is real, and the result gives him a stronger platform in the series.

That makes the question more complicated, not less. The kindest choice for Will may be to leave Strictly while the decision is still his, spend time with Tobi and Sonny, and trust that his renewed visibility will carry beyond the ballroom. The television opportunities could continue to matter next year. These first weeks with a newborn won’t come around again.

Whatever happens in the competition, the people around Will should make sure he has proper time at home and the freedom to step back if he needs it. He’s given audiences a terrific dance. Now the most meaningful support may be giving him space to decide what his family needs.

Will was previously backed as a possible finalist, while Tobi’s news of Sonny’s arrival puts the timing of his schedule in focus. Dianne’s experience as a new parent was also part of their conversation, following the birth of her baby with Joe Sugg.

Dianne and Joe’s family milestone offers context for Will’s heartfelt words, but his own decision is the one that matters now. A career high and a new family can coexist; the challenge is making sure the schedule leaves room for both.

The competition continues tonight, and Will’s latest performance could carry him further. Yet the result that matters most may be whether he can enjoy this moment on the show while also being present for Tobi and Sonny.

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