The baby props, Della Reese's “Daddy,” a visible timing slip and a surprisingly strong score made Strictly Come Dancing's 24 October 2026 routine a talking point. Here is what each detail meant.
The prams were part of a new-dad celebration, not a mysterious dance rule. Will Best had recently welcomed a son, so his professional partner Dianne Buswell helped build a playful cha-cha around fatherhood. The disagreement came when some viewers felt the dolls and baby noises crowded out the dancing, especially after a reported timing error. The judges nevertheless awarded 31 out of 40.
The routine and the people behind it
BBC One's fifth live show of the 2026 Strictly Come Dancing series began on Saturday 24 October at 6:30 p.m. British Summer Time. Strictly pairs celebrities with professional dancers for judged ballroom and Latin routines. Will, a British television presenter, was dancing with pro Dianne. Their cha-cha used Della Reese's song “Daddy”; a BBC performance listing dated 25 October identifies the number.
Why the baby theme was so literal
Will and his fiancée Tobi Rose welcomed their son Sonny on 11 October. The prerecorded segment showed Will, Dianne and the baby at a café. The performance then brought old-fashioned prams, dolls and baby-related sound effects onto the floor. “Daddy” made the concept unmistakable even before the props appeared.
That is also why it became a comedy of excess. A Latin dance competition briefly looked like an elaborate baby-shower sketch. Some viewers enjoyed the affectionate joke; others wanted to see more uninterrupted footwork. Both reactions can coexist without turning a light-entertainment number into a scandal.
The mistake and the four judges' marks
Contemporary reporting describes a section where Will and Dianne lost synchronization. Head judge Shirley Ballas specifically mentioned a missed Cuban break, a recognizable cha-cha movement. Craig Revel Horwood scored the dance 7; Motsi Mabuse, Shirley and Anton Du Beke each gave 8. That totals 31.
Why reward a routine with a mistake? Judges also assess performance, technique and progress. The score is a recorded result, while claims that it was “overmarked” are viewer opinions. It is fair to debate the generosity of an eight; it is not evidence that the scoring was secretly fixed.
What viewers actually objected to
In a 24 October discussion on r/strictlycomedancing, some commenters complained about a lengthy pram introduction, dolls and repeated emphasis on the new baby. A live Digital Spy thread included surprise at what posters interpreted as a baby-fart sound. Those are accounts of viewers' reactions, not a verified statement of the producers' intentions.
Other viewers said Will danced well when the routine let him move, or praised his energy despite the slip. The argument was largely about the balance between storytelling and actual cha-cha, not about whether becoming a father deserved congratulations. Nor does a cluster of UK fan comments establish a worldwide backlash.
Bottom line
The props celebrated Will's 11 October arrival as a dad; the 31 points came from four judges assessing his 24 October dance. What made the number memorable was the collision between an exuberant parenting gag and the expectation of clean Latin choreography. A pram can make an entrance; it cannot dance the Cuban break for you.
