Janette Manrara has confirmed she will be leaving Strictly Come Dancing after 14 incredible years with the BBC, following her earlier departure from the spin-off show It Takes Two. The 44-year-old professional dancer and presenter opened up about the emotional impact of the change in a heartfelt YouTube video.
The beloved Strictly star, who co-hosted It Takes Two for five years alongside Fleur East, revealed:
“Strictly Come Dancing has changed hugely, and I am no longer part of the main show or the spin-off. Reality has started to hit.”
Janette added that while she will still be involved with Strictly in some capacity, this new chapter gives her freedom to explore projects she’s always wanted to try:
“Strictly has been my world for 14 years, so now it’s like stepping into a different space. How do you navigate that? I’m making a huge shift in my career and want to take you on the journey with me.”
Despite the shock of leaving, she remains optimistic and plans to continue sharing her life through YouTube as she adapts to the change. She joked that the reality of it all “will hit when I come back from my holiday.”
This year, Strictly is undergoing a major overhaul. Following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the hosting duties will now be shared by Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe. The professional dancer lineup has also been shaken up, with notable pros including Luba Mushtuk, Gorka Marquez, Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, and Michelle Tsiakkas leaving the show.
Janette’s husband, Aljaz Skorjanec, is set to return as a professional dancer and recently finished a nationwide tour alongside Janette. He shared a throwback snap of the couple from 2013, writing:
“Little did I know then how being a part of @bbcstrictly would change my life for the better FOREVER. Back for my 12th season! Bring it on!! My mission is to look exactly like I did in this photo by the time you see me on your screens this autumn.”
