Janette Manrara has opened up about how she felt when she did not get the hosting role on Strictly Come Dancing. When long-running presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down from their roles on the BBC show, speculation was rife about who would replace them.
Although many thought it could be Janette, who was a professional on the programme before leaving and hosting spin-off show It Takes Two, it was revealed that she did not get the job after auditioning for the part. Instead, it went to Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
Janette's reaction to the snub
On Thursday's instalment of This Morning (October 15), Janette spoke to Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley about how she felt about the snub while detailing her new career path in acting. She left It Takes Two this year, which is now presented by Ellie Taylor.
Ben highlighted how Janette has been open about how 'heartbroken' she was at not being offered the role in the past. She replied: "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 career path in 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 spoke about how she juggles raising her three-year-old daughter and her busy career, especially with Aljaz being on the BBC show. She told the This Morning presenters that she has an "amazing" family that supports them.
She added: "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 left the BBC show last weekend after failing to impress the judges in the dance-off when they went head-to-head with Shaun Wright-Phillips.
This Morning continues weekdays on ITV from 10am. Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays on October 17 from 6:15pm.
