Strictly pros and their adorable babies – from Pasha Kovalev to Gorka Marquez

We're loving the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing – all those sparkly costumes, stunning dance routines and charismatic celebs entertaining us on a Saturday night. The ballroom dancing show isn't just known for the routines though… Strictly has played cupid to some of our favourite couples over the years like Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell and Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev. It's even created families!

We at HELLO! decided to take a look at other Strictly professionals who have heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet, including the newest addition to the Strictly family: Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev's newborn baby girl Noa! Keep reading to meet the Strictly babies…

Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev

Former Strictly pro Pasha Kovalev and his wife Rachel Riley welcomed their second child, daughter Noa, together in November. The couple are already parents to little Maven Aria.

Showing off their adorable new addition on Rachel's Instagram page, they wrote: "Introducing Pasha’s newest dance partner - baby Noa was finally born, 15 days after her due date, late on Friday night to the sound of fireworks!

"She’s totally adorable and her big sister Maven has already tried welcoming her to the world by offering Oatly and pickles, we think that’s a good sign."

MORE: 8 Strictly dancer dads cuddling their cute babies – see photos

Gorka Marquez

Gemma Atkinson had their baby girl Mia back in July 2019, and the Strictly dancer is besotted. Three days after, he went on Loose Women and said: "Just three days and it feels like three years. Joking, joking. I just wanted to say it's been amazing, it's so rewarding. Thank you to everyone for your lovely messages and support. It's been incredible."

Turning to Giovanni Pernice and Kai Widdrington, he said: "And without them, I'd be dying because they've been supporting me every day. So, thank you to these two, you're going to the best uncles to my baby girl. Thank you, I love you."

Anton du Beke 

Anton du Beke became a father in 2017 after welcoming twins with his then-girlfriend, Hannah Summers, who he later married in secret shortly after the birth. The couple had tried for a baby for a while before resorting to IVF treatment. And after three months, they conceived twins named George and Henrietta.

In May 2019, Anton joined This Morning for a new presenting role in a four-part cooking segment called Anton du Bake's Baking Fails. In the first episode, Anton created a tasty looking Victoria sponge cake at his family home, and viewers were not only delighted to watch his baking efforts, but they also got to see his two-year-old twins for the first time. 

RELATED: Take a look inside the Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers' houses

When George and Henrietta arrived into the world, Anton announced the news on Instagram with a picture of two dance shoes, one with a pink bow and one with a blue bow alongside a picture of a top hat and dancing cane. The picture was captioned by Anton as: "Oh my! The little dancing feet have arrived. Mum and twins are perfect, and dad is ridiculously excited!"

Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen

Ben Cohen and Kristina were partnered together for the eleventh series of Strictly Come Dancing, waltzing their way to the ninth week in 2013. Months after the show ended it was announced that married Ben Cohen had confirmed a relationship with Kristina despite having twin girls with his then wife, Abby Blayney.

In 2016, Kristina and Ben announced the birth of their daughter, Milena Rihanoff-Cohen shortly after Ben and Abby had finalised their divorce. Talking exclusively to HELLO! about the birth, Kristina explained: "I can't even begin to describe the pain, but it’s an insanely proud moment when you see your baby for the first time. It’s such an incredible feeling of love."

READ MORE: The best Strictly Come Dancing hair transformations

Brendan Cole

Brendan Cole and his wife Zoe Hobbs had the best Christmas present of all in 2012 when Zoe gave birth to their daughter, Aurelia, on Christmas Day. Six years later, in March 2018, the couple announced that they had introduced their son, Dante, into the world.

In November 2018, during an appearance on Loose Women, Brendan explained that he had been having difficulties bonding with Dante, despite never having an issue forming a close relationship with Aurelia. He stated: "I can barely even speak about it. With mothers, there's post-natal depression and there's quite a big percentage of people who experience it. With fathers it's not really talked about. I just thought to myself 'why am I not bonding?'"

Brendan went on to explain that after six weeks things changed and his relationship with his son began to thrive.

Aliona Vilani

HELLO! exclusively broke the news in 2018 that Aliona Vilani and husband Vincent Kavanagh were now parents to daughter Bella, born in June. The Russian-Kazakh professional dancer, best known for winning series nine with Harry Judd, explained the couple were "genuinely so blessed and happy" with their new bundle of joy.

MORE: 15 stylish yet affordable children's clothes perfect for a special occasion

Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova

The couple, both professionals who starred in series six of Strictly Come Dancing, excelled with their partners throughout the competition, with Darren taking home the glitter ball in 2004 with Jill Halfpenny and Lilia in 2005 with Darren Gough.

Darren and Lilia welcomed their daughter Valentina Rosa in early 2015 and it seems Valentina is set to follow in her parents dancing footsteps with Darren uploading a video of Valentina, now three, and himself attempting the famous Dirty Dancing pose.

Nadiya Bychkova

Nadiya Bychkova was one of three new starters who joined the Strictly professionals in 2017. In 2018 she was partnered with Lee Ryan but the pair were sadly evicted from the competition in the second week. When away from the TV dancefloor, the 29-year-old World Champion spends quality time with her two-year-old daughter with fiancé Matija Skarabot, a famous Slovenian.

Gleb Savchenko

Gleb Savchenko became a professional dancer for the thirteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, dancing his way to fifth place with partner Anita Rani. However, Gleb chose not to return for the fourteenth series, deciding he wanted to spend more time with his wife and daughter, Olivia.

In 2017, Gleb and wife, Elena Samodanova announced they were expecting their second child, Zalara, who was born in the August.

Erin Boag

Erin, who began dancing at the age of three, made the tough decision to leave the hit BBC show, after ten years as she decided to start a family. Shortly after leaving, Erin and business consultant, Peter, welcomed baby Ewan into their family in 2014. Erin and Peter spoke exclusively to HELLO! after the birth and explained that Ewan was born on Peter's 50th birthday:

"When Ewan was born, they wrapped him up, handed him to Peter and I said, 'Happy Birthday.' It was a moment I'll treasure forever." 

Erin also revealed that dancing partner and long-term friend, Anton du Beke, even became Ewan's godfather!

Vincent Simone

Vincent, who appeared in Strictly Come Dancing from 2006 until 2012 became a father to two sons, Luca, born in 2009 and Matteo in 2013 with then girlfriend, Susan Duddy. The couple wedded shortly after the births in 2015 at Castle Leslie in County Monaghan in Ireland.

Vincent and Susan exclusively explained to HELLO! that they had moved away from London and to the countryside in Northern Ireland, closer to Susan's family and away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Susan stated that their choice to leave the city was due to suffering from anxiety, finding herself in: "not an ideal situation when you have a husband who is on the road touring. My parents are here in Northern Ireland, as are my brothers and sister, and I needed that network around me."