First picture of Ben Cohen and Strictly star Kristina Rihanoff's baby girl in Northampton town centre

There was the pitter patter of tiny dancing feet for Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff and partner Ben Cohen as they were pictured for the first time with their baby.
England world cup winning rugby star Ben Cohen and his Strictly Come Dancing girlfriend Kristina Rihanoff with their new baby in Fish Street, Northampton. Picture via SWNS. NNL-160714-105354001England world cup winning rugby star Ben Cohen and his Strictly Come Dancing girlfriend Kristina Rihanoff with their new baby in Fish Street, Northampton. Picture via SWNS. NNL-160714-105354001
England world cup winning rugby star Ben Cohen and his Strictly Come Dancing girlfriend Kristina Rihanoff with their new baby in Fish Street, Northampton. Picture via SWNS. NNL-160714-105354001

The couple were snapped walking through Northampton town centre with a pram at lunchtime on Monday.

In the first public photo of the couple with their baby girl, Ben, 37, can be seen pushing the navy blue buggy which has two large white bags in a low compartment.

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The couple’s daughter was sleeping soundly snuggling up next to a pink blanket.

Former Strictly dancer Kristina, 38, who was dressed all in black with her long blonde hair worn down, appeared to be looking at her phone while walks alongside Ben.

One onlooker who spotted the couple strolling through the town centre said: “I was just popping out for a coffee when I saw them strolling with the pram.

“I had to do a double take at first because they were dressed very casually and Kristina’s baby bump looked like it had gone and she didn’t have much make-up on.

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“I’m a big Strictly fan so I knew she was pregnant but I didn’t know their baby had been born so I was shocked when I saw the pram and the little pink blanket.

“You usually expect to see a celebrity baby in a glossy magazine not in the middle of the town centre.

“Someone I was with said they could have been heading to register the birth.

“They both looked extremely happy and kept checking their baby was okay.”

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Russian Kristina, who met Cohen on Strictly in 2013, was last pictured in public looking heavily-pregnant at her intimate baby shower in central London last month.

The professional dancer was snapped wearing silver wedge sandals which she was also wearing as she walked through Northampton with the couple’s first baby together.

Kristina, who is leaving Strictly after eight years on the BBC show, announced she was pregnant in January after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother.

In an interview the same month, she said: “It was a surprise but I am obviously delighted.

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“My mother was with me over Christmas and when we found out she put her arms around me and she cried with joy.

“It is her lifelong dream for me to have a child and it was lovely to see her so happy.”

The new baby is Kristina’s first child but former England winger Ben has eight-year-old twin daughters Isabelle and Harriette with his ex-wife Abby.

Abby and Ben announced their separation in September 2014 and the rugby star then went public about his relationship with Kristina becoming last year.

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The high profile couple have always insisted they didn’t start dating until after his split from Abby - who he met as a teenager in 1997 and married in 2003.

But last December, Abby - whose divorce to Ben was finalised in March this year - posted a lengthy statement on her Twitter page referring to her difficult year.

On Wednesday the couple said in a statement: “Ben and Kristina are delighted to confirm they are the parents of a beautiful baby girl.

“They would like to thank friends and family for all their kind wishes at this happy time.”