Janette Manrara has spoken candidly about her feelings after missing out on the main presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing. When veteran hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman left the BBC programme, speculation was rife about their successors. Many anticipated Janette would land the role, having previously been a professional dancer on the show before transitioning to presenting the spin-off, It Takes Two, but it emerged she had auditioned and was ultimately unsuccessful. The presenting duties instead went to Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
Reaction to the disappointment
During Thursday's edition of This Morning (October 15), Janette joined Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley to discuss her reaction to the disappointment, while also outlining her new venture into acting. She departed It Takes Two this year, with Ellie Taylor stepping in as her replacement. Ben noted that Janette had previously been candid about feeling 'heartbroken' at being overlooked for the position, reports Wales Online.
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."
New venture into acting
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."
Balancing family and career
The 42-year-old discussed how she balances raising her three-year-old daughter alongside her demanding career, particularly with Aljaz appearing on the BBC programme. She told the This Morning hosts that she has an "amazing" family supporting them.
She continued: "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?'
"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 now, which is nice."
Aljaz and his celebrity partner Melanie Walters departed the BBC programme last weekend following an unsuccessful dance-off performance against Shaun Wright-Phillips, which failed to win over the judges.
This Morning continues weekdays on ITV from 10am. Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays on October 17 from 6:15pm.
