Janette Manrara has marked a significant personal milestone by passing her UK driving test, sharing the news with fans on Instagram. The achievement comes shortly after the dancer and presenter confirmed her departure from Strictly Come Dancing and its spin-off show, It Takes Two.
Driving Test Success
Manrara, who is originally from the United States, needed to pass both a theory test and a practical driving test to obtain a full UK driving licence. In an Instagram video, she said: "I have been on a LOOOOOONG journey to get to this point of actually being able to take my practical driving test. A whole year! There have been so many confusing moments, delays, bad communication, a lot. Yesterday was my test….. did I pass?"
At the end of the video, Manrara confirmed she had passed and was now looking for a car. Strictly Come Dancing 2025 contestant La Voix, who was partnered with Manrara's husband Aljaž Škorjanec, commented: "Yes yes yes! So proud woohoo road trips please."
British Citizenship Journey
This achievement follows Manrara's success in passing the 'Life in the UK Test' in December, a mandatory multiple-choice exam for those seeking Indefinite Leave to Remain or British citizenship. The test assesses knowledge of UK history, culture, laws, and customs. She announced at the time that she was "becoming a Brit."
Strictly Come Dancing Exit
Earlier this month, Manrara confirmed she is "no longer a part" of Strictly Come Dancing or It Takes Two, 13 years after joining the show as a professional dancer. The announcement came amid a major shake-up for the 2026 series, which begins in September. Long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman left at the end of 2025, and professional dancers Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas have also been cut.
In a YouTube video, Manrara said: "Strictly Come Dancing has changed hugely, and I am no longer a part of It Takes Two or the main show. I'll still be involved in other ways. But that just means that I'm free to pursue and do many other projects that I've always wanted to do and never really thought about doing. Strictly is all I've known for the last 14 years so it is a bit like, 'Oh, we're going into a different world, a different space, how are we going to navigate that?'"
Personal Life
Manrara and her husband Aljaž Škorjanec have been together for over a decade. They met at Dance Attic in London in 2010 while performing in Burn the Floor. After a long-distance relationship between Slovenia and Los Angeles, they were reunited in 2013 when both joined Strictly Come Dancing. Aljaž proposed in 2015 at the same dance studios where they met, and they married in London in 2017, with Strictly co-stars in attendance. In 2023, they welcomed their daughter Lyra.
