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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

Janette Manrara shares real reason she quit Strictly Come Dancing after eight years

Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara has shared the real reason why she decided to leave the BBC One show after eight incredible years.

The 38-year-old professional dancer decided to part ways with her Strictly Come Dancing success in order to finally pursue her long-term dreams to become a successful TV presenter.

So, when BBC offered her the chance to co-host It Takes Two alongside Rylan Clark, Janette couldn't turn down the opportunity.

The Miami-born star, who is getting to grips with her second series of Strictly It Takes Two, is lapping up the new job after her husband, Aljaž Škorjanec, also left the BBC show to pursue an acting career.

Lifting the lid on why she decided to call it a day on the dance floor, Janette revealed: "They offered me It Takes Two, that’s what led me to leave. That was the hardest goodbye. Even now, I tear up watching the group numbers."

Janette and Aljaž are both pursuing new careers (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
The loved-up pair performed with one another on Strictly for eight years (Aljaž Škorjanec/Instagram)

And although Janette has finally embarked on her dream presenting job, after 'manifesting it', she felt she bad big shoes to fill after Zoe Ball.

"I felt I had big shoes to fill, taking over from Zoe Ball. I taught myself and really practised. In lockdown, I interviewed 60 celebs on my Instagram just to help me. Before I got the job, I put it out there and manifested that one day I was going to present, one day I was going to host – and it happened," she told OK! Magazine.

Janette believes that she manifested her dream job on Strictly It Takes Two after visualising herself doing the role for years on end.

Janette left Strictly to pursue her presenting career (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for St)
Janette Manrara is the new host of Strictly It Takes Two (Instagram/ @jmanrara)

"I do believe in this kind of acceptance that the universe can provide for you as long as you allow yourself the space to receive it. Aljaž believes it, too. We went into that realm in lockdown – when we couldn’t control everything in life, we surrendered to the realm, the process, that eventually the right things will come as and when they should. And just a couple of months later, I got It Takes Two," Janette added.

While the talented dancer turned presenter is lapping up her new career, Aljaž has also drastically changed-up his job.

The 32-year-old is now hoping to set out on an acting career after taking acting classes over zoom in lockdown.

Rylan Clark has presented Strictly - It Takes Two, which airs every weeknight, since 2019, with Janette joining him in 2021 after hanging up her Strictly dancing shoes.

Previous hosts have included Claudia Winkleman and Zoe Ball.

OK! Magazine's full interview with Jannette and Aljaž, here.

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