Janette Manrara has spoken about her husband Aljaž Škorjanec after he became the latest celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing. The former professional dancer on the BBC show shared how Aljaž is feeling after he and his celebrity partner Melanie Walters were not saved by the judges during Sunday's results show (October 11).
Balancing motherhood and career
Appearing on This Morning to speak with Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley about her role in a new play, the 42-year-old discussed balancing motherhood alongside her demanding career, particularly while Aljaž features on the BBC programme. The couple are parents to three-year-old daughter Lyra.
After praising their family and support network, she said of combining work and home life: "As long as you plan, if you've got a plan and you need the village. Between the two things, you can make it work. Aljaz has no clue, by the way, he just says, 'Where is she today and who's got her?'"
Aljaz's reaction to leaving the competition
She continued: "He's an amazing dad. At the moment, obviously, he's left the competition now with Melanie (Walters). He's sad about leaving the show, but he's also super happy because he's going to spend so much time with her (Lyra) now, which is nice."
Although Aljaž is no longer in the running to lift the Glitterball trophy, he will still appear in the professional group dances. Elsewhere, Janette spoke candidly about her feelings upon missing out on the presenting role on the BBC show, reports Wales Online.
Missing out on the presenting role
When veteran hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman departed from their positions on the BBC programme, speculation was running wild about who might step into their shoes. While many had tipped Janette as a frontrunner — having previously been a professional dancer on the show before leaving to front spin-off programme It Takes Two — it emerged that she had auditioned for the role but was unsuccessful. The presenting duties ultimately went to Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
Ben noted that Janette had previously been forthright about feeling 'heartbroken' at being overlooked for the role. She responded: "Yeah, I've talked about it on Jamie Laing's podcast, it was (tough) because Strictly was such a huge part of my life, I was there for almost 14 years.
"Aljaz is still in the show, so I just hoped that it would go in that way for me. But, it didn't, and that's ok because I think life finds a way of still giving you that magic that is needed for you. I really wanted to act. I had been working on my acting skills for the last couple of years, actually."
She continued: "Then, I did Roxie Hart in Chicago on tour, and I got the bug for serious acting, so I really started to push that narrative. I think life has a funny way of closing one door and opening another, and that's exactly what happened."
"Now I watch Strictly and watch Aljaz and everybody on the show, and I'm just buzzing for them. I've been there, and I know how exciting that feeling is."
This Morning continues weekdays on ITV from 10am. Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays on October 17 from 6:15pm.
