Janette Manrara says 'we have no one to help' as she returns to BBC Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing's cherished star Janette Manrara is mastering the delicate art of motherhood, balancing her role as a mum with a burgeoning career.
Having captivated audiences with her stellar dance moves and since 2021, enchanting them with her hosting prowess on 'It Takes Two', Janette is now navigating the trials of parenting. With her 13-month-old daughter Lyra to tend to, and her husband Aljaz Skorjanec poised for a Strictly return after a two-year hiatus, the challenge is stiffening, especially without nearby kin to lend a hand.
Janette, 42, who hails from Miami, along with Aljaz, 34, originally from Slovenia, are both without their relatives close at hand. Since making her debut on the show in 2013, Janette reveals: "It's very difficult. We have no one to help so it's all about future planning as much as possible. It's a massive juggle. Right now, Aljaz and I are trying to figure out how we're going to make it work with him being back on Strictly full-time. His schedule is basically seven days a week and the hours are here, there and everywhere."
She adds, facing the reality of arranging childcare amidst their hectic schedules: "Lyra goes to nursery a couple of days a week, but planning childcare when Aljaz and I are both working and she is not in nursery can be very complicated, especially with no family around to help. I know how hard it is doing Strictly, let alone doing it when you're a parent, so I'm planning every inch of our lives for the next few months. The most important thing is that Lyra's comfortable and happy. I don't want her to miss Mummy or Daddy too much amidst the madness."
function loadOvpScript(){let el=document.createElement('script');el.setAttribute('src','https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=114945&playerApiId=v114945');document.getElementById('ovp-primis').appendChild(el)} window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v114945"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}});window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',()=>{setTimeout(()=>{if(typeof flagTcfLoaded!=='undefined'&&flagTcfLoaded===!0){loadOvpScript() ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP flagTcfLoaded',new Date())}else{document.addEventListener("tcfLoaded",()=>{loadOvpScript() ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP tcfLoaded',new Date())})}},1500)})Janette has penned a self-help guide titled 'Tiny Dancer, Big World', offering advice on how to achieve life satisfaction. The book shares her personal journey, including her experience with IVF and the joy of becoming a mother after years of trying, reports the Mirror.
Janette's love for motherhood is evident in every reference to her daughter.
In a chat with OK! magazine, she said: "She calls me Mama, she repeats words, she knows how to say 'happy'... she's so magical and inquisitive. She's a curious soul. I'm just enjoying the journey and watching her develop."
Janette at home with 13-month-old Lyra (Image: OK! Magazine / Nicky Johnston)"I really put the foot on the brake to become a mother. I'm a dancer and my body is my tool so the decision to have a child was a big one, as it meant putting me out of work for at least a year, maybe two, who knows? When I became a presenter on It Takes Two, I felt like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders. 'OK, now we can start a family and not stress because now I can work without needing my body physically as much as I used to'. But I am a workaholic."
"I love working as I love what I do. I got nervous about becoming a mother because of that. But my mother and grandmother were working mums, I grew up in a household where women always worked. In that way, I wasn't scared of it either, because I knew I had such great examples of women in my own childhood who made it work."
Janette Manrara, who tied the knot with Aljaz Skorjanec in 2017, gushes that their marriage is stronger than ever, revealing to fans, "He's my best friend," and explaining, "And I think because we're friends before anything else, it works for us. Every marriage is different and every couple needs different things. Communicating with each other and talking to each other in the hard times and celebrating each other in the good times is crucial for us."
window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20240827.min.js"Her view of Aljaz changed for the even better after he embraced fatherhood, with Janette sharing: "When he became a father, I fell in love with him all over again."
However, she confesses that their shared passion for dancing can sometimes cause friction, admitting, "The time we argue the most is when we dance together. But it's only because we're both perfectionists and we're passionate about dancing. He wants to do it one way, I want to do it another way."
He's my best friend, says Janette of partner Aljaz, pictured with baby Lyra (Image: Janette Manrara/Instagram) SUBSCRIBE Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
With Aljaz returning to Strictly Come Dancing, they are no longer dance partners, which has brought a fresh spark to their relationship. Janette fondly says, "And now that he's gone back on Strictly we're not dancing together. So he sends me videos of rehearsals and I'm, like, 'I fancy you all over again! '".
As Aljaz Skorjanec makes his return to Strictly Come Dancing, veteran pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima have taken their final bows amid controversial exits. Claims of complaints from celebrity dance partners which the dancers refute preceded their departure at the ages of 33 and 30, respectively.
Janette's OK! cover, out on Tuesday (Image: OK!)Meanwhile, the BBC is on the brink of releasing findings from an investigation into bullying allegations on the beloved dance show. When questioned about the unfolding drama, Janette Manrara expressed her dismay: "It breaks my heart because I know how hard everybody works to make it a wonderful show. When you see the headlines and the things that have come out, it does hurt because the whole team is like an extended family to us. It's honestly such a beautiful place to work... the people make it."
Yet, Janette stands in solidarity with anyone who may have felt aggrieved during their stint on Strictly, emphasising the importance of a voice for all. She insists: "Nobody should feel like they're not enjoying their experience on the show.
"Hopefully, now the steps have been put into place so it doesn't happen again.
Janette says she put her foot on the brake to become a mother (Image: OK! Magazine / Nicky Johnston)Reflecting on her history with Strictly, Janette Manrara admits that prioritising her partners might have cost her the coveted Glitterball Trophy.
"I can only speak from my experience, and Aljaz's, and for us, the priority has always been for our celebrities to enjoy themselves. It's probably why I never won. I always wanted my celebrity to have the best time... obviously get them to dance well, get them to do good routines, but I wanted every single one of them to walk away and say, 'Wow, that was amazing'.
"There was a competitiveness to it for sure, but the number one priority is, it's a TV entertainment show."
Janette Manrara says 'we have no one to help' as she returns to BBC Strictly Come Dancing
Janette Manrara says 'we have no one to help' as she returns to BBC Strictly Come Dancing
Janette Manrara says 'we have no one to help' as she returns to BBC Strictly Come Dancing
Janette Manrara says 'we have no one to help' as she returns to BBC Strictly Come Dancing
Janette Manrara says 'we have no one to help' as she returns to BBC Strictly Come Dancing
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