Strictly stars admit they need to 'dance harder' as they 'can't afford' dream home

Escape to the Country: Guests complain that kitchen is too small

Strictly Come Dancing favourites Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec candidly revealed their budgetary constraints on Celebrity Escape to the Country when faced with a dreamy yet pricey Cheshire home.

The dance pros, who are seeking a family-friendly abode in Cheshire where they currently rent, joined forces with presenter Sonali Shah to tour potential properties. However, they were taken aback by the £925,000 price tag of a lavish residence complete with a gym and private stream.

Upon learning the steep cost, Aljaz quipped: "I think we just need to dance a little bit harder. That's what we need to do, dance a little harder and better."

Janette, sharing a laugh, concurred: "So we can afford it!" With a budget set between £700-900,000, the couple acknowledged that house number two was beyond their financial reach.

This episode of Escape to the Country, featuring the Strictly pair, originally aired in December 2023. Its initial broadcast sparked controversy among viewers, with some criticising the celebrity edition for showcasing a budget far exceeding that of the average participant on the BBC programme, reports Wales Online.

Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec were blown away (Image: BBC)

One particularly incensed viewer expressed their frustration at the time, exclaiming: "Our licence fee is paying for their house in the f*****g country!!! Talk about rubbing it in our noses! Who the f*** commissioned this?!!"

Another incensed netizen exclaimed: "Just because you can make a celebrity version doesn't mean you should!" In a similar vein, another viewer criticised the celebrity special as being "out of touch".

window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20240903.min.js"

The stunning house was not within the couple's budget (Image: BBC) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

We 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

As the show drew to a close, with three exceptional properties showcased, presenter Sonali was eager to discover the couple's next move. Janette, detailing their predicament, acknowledged that while the houses were impressive, older homes tend to require extensive upkeep.

She noted that they weren't in a position to handle any significant maintenance issues that might crop up, leading them to decide to extend their hunt for more contemporary properties in the vicinity.

Strictly stars admit they need to 'dance harder' as they 'can't afford' dream home

Strictly stars admit they need to 'dance harder' as they 'can't afford' dream home

Strictly stars admit they need to 'dance harder' as they 'can't afford' dream home

Strictly stars admit they need to 'dance harder' as they 'can't afford' dream home

Strictly stars admit they need to 'dance harder' as they 'can't afford' dream home