Strictly's Neil Jones and Chyna Mills: A timeline of their whirlwind romance as couple welcome baby

Congratulations are in order for Strictly Come Dancing star Neil Jones, who has welcomed his first baby with his fiancée Chyna Mills.

Read more: Strictly's Neil Jones: Homeless past pushed me to pursue dance career

TV worlds collided when Strictly’s Neil fell head over heels for Love Island bombshell Chyna. Their whirlwind romance is the stuff of fairytales as within their first year of dating the couple have fallen in love, gotten three dogs, and got engaged and had a baby.

We take a look at all their key moments together, this is their story...

August 2022: Instagram DM and first meeting

Neil first set his sights on Chyna when she caught his eye during her appearance on Love Island last year. The smitten dancer sent her an Instagram DM before they met for the first time at the Reality TV Awards.

Sparks were flying when Neil and Chyna were first spotted together at the after-party in Chelsea, London. Having crossed paths at the red carpet event earlier on, the pair really hit it off at the after-party where they were seen holding hands and leaving together. It was the start of a beautiful love story.

August 2022: First holiday

Swept up in the new romance, the couple took their romance to the next level just weeks later when they jetted off on their first holiday together.

Paris, the city of love, was of course the perfect choice where the lovers enjoyed seeing all the sights including the Eiffel Tower and Arc De Triomphe. Love was in the air as the couple were seen holding hands and kissing while exploring everything the city had to offer.

Read more: Strictly fix: Does dancing experience give stars an advantage?

September 2022: Red carpet debut

Their love continued to blossom. Neil and Chyna made their first official appearance as a couple at The People’s Pet Awards 2022.

November 2022: Moving in together

Just two months into their love story, Neil and Chyna decided to take the leap and move in together.

April 2023: Surprise engagement and baby news

Seven months together, the couple accelerated their romance with two major milestones. First, the happy lovers found out they were expecting their first baby together.

A romantic proposal shortly followed. With the backdrop of Bali’s verdant rice terraces, Neil asked Chyna to marry him and she said yes.

Speaking about their double joy, Neil told HELLO! Magazine: “I’d already planned to ask Chyna to marry me before we knew she was pregnant. Then we found out and I was like, ‘Oh this is brilliant, everything is coming together.’”

June 2023: Baby’s gender reveal

The exciting news came as Neil was performing the Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals tour at the London Palladium. Surrounded by their Strictly friends, the couple cut a gender reveal cake to reveal they were having a baby girl in the autumn.

August 2023: One year

Wedding bells are ringing and a baby on the way, Neil and Chyna have been swept up in the throes of love as they celebrated one year together.

September 2023: Ready to be parents

As Neil returns to Strictly, he revealed the couple were ready to expect their baby’s imminent arrival. The expectant parents had the nursery ready at home and even a car seat in the back of their car.

Days before the birth, he told The Mirror: "I'm excited. We're both like, 'Come on let it happen'. She's at home at the moment on her little yoga ball bouncing around hoping she might come out soon. I honestly can't wait… Nursery's ready, everything’s there, car seat in the back of the car we’ve got everything we need to go."

October 2023: Baby is born

Neil and Chyna announced their baby had arrived with a sweet photograph of their little girl’s feet. "Our hearts are so full," they wrote alongside the post.

Watch Strictly's Neil Jones talk about what spurred him onto pursue a career in dancing...