Janette Manrara Opens Up About Strictly Come Dancing Rejection as Aljaz Skorjanec Offers Heartfelt Support
Janette Manrara has revealed how her husband, Aljaz Skorjanec, helped her through one of the biggest professional disappointments of her career after she missed out on the opportunity to host Strictly Come Dancing.
The former Strictly professional dancer had hoped to take on the main presenting role and even progressed to the chemistry tests. Although she believed the process had gone well, the job ultimately went to other presenters. Speaking candidly about the experience, Janette described the disappointment as the “biggest rejection of my career” and admitted that she spent a week in tears.
Her husband, however, found a thoughtful way to remind her of her achievements and reassure her that she had every reason to be proud of herself.
Janette Manrara Reflects on Her Strictly Come Dancing Journey
Janette joined the BBC One dance competition in 2013, alongside Aljaz, as one of its professional dancers. She left the main show in 2020 but returned to the Strictly Come Dancing family the following year in a different role, becoming co-host of its weekday spin-off, It Takes Two.
She initially presented the programme alongside Rylan Clark before continuing with Fleur East.
However, as Strictly underwent a series of changes ahead of its 2026 series, Janette announced in June that she would be leaving It Takes Two as well as stepping away from the main show.
In a video shared on her YouTube channel, she explained that the change would give her an opportunity to explore projects she had previously been hesitant to pursue.
“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,” she said.
She added that, after spending 14 years closely associated with Strictly, moving on to something different felt like entering an unfamiliar world.
The transition marked a significant turning point in her career, opening the door to new opportunities while requiring her to adjust to life beyond a programme that had been such a central part of her professional journey.
The Strictly Hosting Role That Got Away
Despite leaving her previous presenting role, Janette put herself forward for the main Strictly Come Dancing hosting job. She later discussed the experience with Jamie Laing on his Great Company podcast, revealing how confident she had felt after completing the chemistry tests.
“I was in the chemistry tests and I did really well in the chemistry tests. At least that’s what I was told. So I assumed I did a great job,” she recalled.
Ultimately, the presenting duties went to Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
The vacancy arose after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their departures at the end of the 2025 series. The pair had presented Strictly together for 11 years, taking over from the late Sir Bruce Forsyth following his retirement.
For Janette, who had spent so much of her career connected to the programme, missing out on the opportunity was particularly painful.
“I remember coming home and it was a really hard pill to swallow … I sobbed for a week. I’m not going to even begin to lie. I was devastated,” she admitted.
She described the experience as the biggest rejection of her career, making clear just how much the presenting opportunity had meant to her.
Aljaz Skorjanec’s Thoughtful Gesture
During the podcast conversation, Jamie asked Janette what she loved most about her husband, whom she had been married to for nearly 10 years. Her answer revealed the depth of his support during the difficult period.
Janette described Aljaz as the kindest and most thoughtful person she knew, explaining that he understood how deeply she wanted the hosting role.
When she attended the chemistry tests, he recognised the emotional significance of the opportunity and wanted to make sure she knew how proud he was of her, regardless of the outcome.
After one of the tests, Aljaz came home carrying a large bouquet of flowers and a card containing a message that moved Janette to tears.
The note read: “Remember, you’ve already done enough. Brucey would be proud…”
The words struck an emotional chord with Janette, who broke down crying when she read them.
For her, the gesture demonstrated how closely Aljaz understood both her ambitions and the effort she had put into pursuing the role. His message offered reassurance at a moment when she was waiting to discover whether her hopes would become reality.
Janette also recalled how Aljaz had reflected on Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s decision to leave the programme. At the time, he had remarked that Sir Bruce Forsyth would be proud of what the pair had achieved for Strictly.
While Janette had not initially considered the situation from that perspective, Aljaz’s observation stayed with her. It later made the message in his card even more meaningful, as he reminded her of the contribution she had already made and the pride she could take in her own efforts.
“He’s just a gold mine of a human being, really,” she said, praising his ability to find the right words when she needed them most.
Janette Looks Ahead to the Next Chapter
Although the rejection left Janette devastated at first, her perspective has gradually changed. During her conversation with Jamie, she was asked whether she now felt proud of herself for putting herself forward and dealing with the disappointment.
Her response suggested that she had reached a more positive place emotionally and was beginning to embrace the possibilities ahead.
“I feel proud of myself now,” she said.
Janette acknowledged that her answer would have been different just a few weeks earlier, when the disappointment was still fresh and she was struggling to come to terms with the outcome.
Since then, however, she has begun to recognise the importance of moving forward rather than dwelling on the opportunity she missed.
She added that she was proud of herself for overcoming the setback, looking ahead with renewed enthusiasm and becoming excited about the next stage of her life.
Her experience highlights a significant moment of change for the former Strictly dancer and presenter. After 14 years associated with the show, she is now preparing to explore opportunities beyond the programme that helped shape her career.
With Aljaz’s encouragement and a renewed sense of confidence, Janette appears increasingly ready to embrace what comes next, even as she continues to process the disappointment of missing out on a role she had wanted so deeply.