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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Lucy Domachowski

Strictly's Aljaž & Janette have 'burp ban' to keep romance alive in 'imperfect' marriage

Strictly Come Dancing ’s former pro couple Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec have been making fans’ hearts soar as they've danced together for eight years on the iconic BBC show.

But after 11 years together, the famous boogying duo are learning to live like a normal couple for the first time after they took a step away from the spotlight and quit the show to forge individual careers.

Unlike many couples on the show, the fan favourites have managed to consistently avoid the dreaded Strictly ‘curse’ thanks to their overwhelming love for one another.

And now the couple say they have a “burp ban” to keep their spark alive.

Janette, 38, says she has impressively never burped in front of Slovenian Aljaž, 32, in their more than a decade together.

Janette and Aljaz have both quit the BBC show (Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images)
They are learning to live like a normal couple for the first time after they took a step away from the spotlight (Getty Images)

"I’ve never burped in front of Aljaž. We try to keep that little bit of magic alive," she told OK! magazine.

Aljaž, who quit Strictly 12 months after his wife to train to be an actor, added: “When I see other couples openly farting and burping, I’m like, ‘Why?!’”

The couple are facing the biggest test of their marriage so far after both quitting the show as they no long get to dance together every day. But the duo have claimed to have “fallen in love all over again” as they now get to cuddle on the sofa in their PJs on a daily basis.

Janette explained: “All we’ve ever known is our life together. We’ve toured together, travelled the world together, so to not be dancing together is weird. That was a transition for us.

“I missed him a lot but it was kind of good for us in that way. We fell in love with each other all over again. It was nice to find my own feet but actually feel like I still need him and still want him around all the time.”

The couple first met in 2011 on the Burn The Floor tour (PA Wire/Press Association Images)
Miami-born Janette has revealed the secret to their rock-solid relationship – passing wind (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Janette and Aljaž are both establishing careers post-Strictly, but always make time to comfort each other on down days.

Janette told how they reminisce by watching old dances they have done together on Strictly and before because the nostalgia makes them "feel good".

The pair admit they’ve had “ups and downs” and don’t have a “perfect relationship” but make it work with “communication”.

Janette said they are each other's best friends and always help each other, so they've been able to survive as a couple in a "crazy" industry as a couple.

Loved up Aljaž told how he fell in love with Janette “straight away” when they met on the Burn The Floor tour in 2011, and then travelled the world together.

In 2015, the happy couple tied the knot at three separate ceremonies (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
It Takes Two host Janette and husband Aljaz (WireImage)

He explained that they have grown up now and have more responsibilities but have always done everything together - until now.

Professional dancer Janette decided to part ways with her Strictly success 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.

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

She practised by interviewing 60 celebrities on her Instagram during lockdown and manifested that she would present one day. "one day I was going to host – and it happened," she told the publication.

To see all the exclusive pictures and watch video footage visit OK.co.uk or pick up a copy of OK! magazine

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