Joanne Clifton has shared the news that will change her life forever — the former Strictly Come Dancing champion is expecting her first child at the age of 42 with fiancé AJ Jenks.
After years of dazzling audiences under ballroom lights, lifting the Glitterball trophy and building a successful career beyond Strictly, Joanne is now preparing for an entirely different role: becoming a mum for the very first time.
And in true Joanne and AJ style, there was no elaborate celebrity announcement. No dramatic photoshoot. Just one simple image that said everything.
A “Baby on Board” badge.
The understated reveal immediately sparked excitement among fans, before AJ added his trademark humour by joking about what they might call their new arrival. He shared an outrageously long collection of names inspired by famous figures from football, music and entertainment before revealing the detail everyone wanted to know.
“Cya in December!”
Their first baby is expected later this year.
The announcement quickly filled with congratulations from familiar faces in the Strictly family. Dianne Buswell and Amy Dowden were among those sending their love, while Joanne’s brother Kevin Clifton responded with three heart emojis.
For Joanne and AJ, the pregnancy marks another huge milestone in a love story that Joanne herself once never expected to happen.
The couple went public with their relationship in 2020, despite Joanne previously deciding that she did not want to date anyone from the entertainment industry.
Then she met AJ.
As Joanne once admitted, she had made a firm rule for herself: “I’m not going to go out with anyone from the industry.”
But love rarely follows carefully written rules.
“You can’t help what happens,” she later reflected.
That unexpected relationship grew into something lasting. The couple became engaged last year, announcing the news with the same playful humour they have now brought to their pregnancy reveal.
“Got bored … so we’re getting married. Cheers!” Joanne joked while showing off her engagement ring.
Now, before they have even reached the altar, another extraordinary chapter has begun.
A baby is on the way.
For longtime fans, the announcement feels especially touching because they have watched Joanne’s life evolve far beyond the ballroom.
She joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 and quickly established herself as one of the programme’s most memorable professional dancers. Then came the moment that defined her time on the show.
In 2016, Joanne and celebrity partner Ore Oduba lifted the Glitterball trophy.
It was the ultimate ballroom triumph.
Rather than remaining in the competition indefinitely, Joanne left after reaching that extraordinary high and pursued new challenges on stage, building a successful musical theatre career and continuing to prove that her talents stretched far beyond competitive dance.
But behind the performances, Joanne has also faced physical challenges.
She has spoken openly about living with osteoarthritis in both knees, a condition that can make even ordinary daily activities difficult.
For someone whose identity and career have been built around movement, such a diagnosis could have felt devastating.
Yet Joanne refused to allow it to define her future.
She continued working. She continued performing. She kept moving forward.
And now, at 42, life has delivered a completely different reason to look ahead.
Motherhood.
There is something beautifully fitting about the simplicity of her announcement. Joanne has spent much of her professional life surrounded by glitter, elaborate costumes and huge television moments, yet one of the biggest announcements she will ever make required nothing more than a small badge.
“Baby on Board.”
Three simple words, but an entirely new life behind them.
The months ahead are set to be transformative for Joanne and AJ. They already have a wedding to look forward to, and now they are preparing to welcome their first child together in December.
There will undoubtedly be plenty of changes ahead, but judging by the humour running through their announcement, the couple are approaching this new adventure very much as themselves.
For Joanne, the Glitterball will always represent one unforgettable victory.
But this December, she is preparing to hold something infinitely more precious.
Her first baby.
From ballroom champion to bride-to-be and now mum-to-be, Joanne Clifton’s next chapter may just be her most beautiful and unexpected one yet.
