‘It would be sad if this destroyed 20 years of joy it’s brought’ Strictly pro Janette Manrara says as scandal rumbles on
For 20 years, Strictly Come Dancing had seemed untouchable, with its biggest scandals relating to the bedroom rather than the dance floor.
But now, as controversy over the treatment of celebrity contestants reaches fever pitch, speculation is rife that the once-bulletproof show could be axed.
Already, Giovanni Pernice has stepped down after accusations of mistreatment by his former partner Amanda Abbington, which he denies.
While pro Graziano Di Prima has been accused of kicking and spitting at Zara McDermott during last year’s series, and has said he “deeply regrets” some of his actions (though he denies spitting).
The female professionals have not been without criticism, either.
Paralympian Will Bayley, who took part in 2019, claimed a jump he did was branded “rubbish” in rehearsals by pro partner Janette Manrara, before he went on to severely hurt his leg trying to perform it better.
He added that he felt she was under pressure from the show’s bosses.
The story breaks the day of our cover shoot with Janette, the current co-host of Strictly’s sister show It Takes Two.
But the 40 year old doesn’t shy away from addressing the accusations.
“I think sometimes people get frustrated. It was an unfortunate incident and obviously had repercussions. You never control people’s emotions and reactions,” she says.
“I messaged him [Will] because we are really good friends. He immediately said: ‘I’m so sorry, it’s not meant to look like that. I don’t want you to feel like it’s you,’ and I [responded]: ‘It’s OK.’ “I enjoyed dancing with him so much. It’s the only time I’ve actually ever cried on Strictly, when we did our Couple’s Choice. It was a dedication to Great Ormond Street Hospital.”
‘It’s just such a shame that sometimes the Strictly matches don’t work’
Strictly is more than just a job to Janette, who was born to Cuban immigrants and brought up in Miami.
She joined the show in 2013 with boyfriend and fellow dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, now 34, who she married four years later.
The pair have one-year-old daughter Lyra together, and with their loved ones abroad, have come to think of the Strictly squad as more than just colleagues.
“[Aljaž and I] have no family here. The Strictly lot are our family – the [dancers] and the people behind the cameras, the producers, the hair and make-up are our extended family. So, for me, it’s always been a beautiful thing. I think there is more of that in the show than negativity.
“For a lot of the celebrities, it’s their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something special. The professionals know that. They want them to have the best time. It’s just such a shame that sometimes the matches don’t work. You don’t always get along with everybody that you work with, and things happen.
“I can only speak for myself and my experience, but you have to be a bit of a chameleon. You have to really pay attention to the needs of your partners and play to their strengths and watch for their weaknesses.
“I can’t speak for the people involved [in the current scandal]. Of course, they should speak out. You should never feel like you can’t say something, especially as a woman. Maybe the mix of people didn’t work and maybe some lines were crossed in the desire to win, but ultimately the essence of the show is still there.
“It would really be sad if a couple of incidents destroy the 20 years of happiness that Strictly’s brought. All of my [celebrity]partners and I are still really good friends. Aljaž is still really great friends with his partners. There are a gazillion stories of all the happiness that Strictly has brought, not just to the contestants but to the fans, too. They’ve been posting on social media saying: ‘Oh, I really hope the show carries on.’ And it will carry on, because it brings so much joy to people.”
So was Janette shocked when the revelations came to light?
“Yes and no. I was shocked, because you just never want to hear that. But it is a dance show, it gets physical and it is a competition. There is intensity that sometimes happens in the rehearsal rooms. Everybody wants to do their best. Every professional pushes themselves, but it should always be in a positive way,” Former pro Ian Waite, who danced from 2004 to 2009, recently claimed that the female pros would push their celebrity partners harder than the men, because they could get away with it.
But Janette is not convinced. “It doesn’t matter if [professionals] are male or female, they stem from a competitive background. All they’ve ever known is to compete to win, and then they are trying to deliver the best from the celebrity. It’s just such a fine line. Aljaž and I have always had that mentality too, but we try to remember it’s also an entertainment show. It’s about showcasing that anyone can dance, while making people smile on a Saturday night.”
So does Strictly need to go back to basics?
“I don’t know,” Janette says.
“Everybody has a goal. They want to get to Halloween week, then Blackpool, then they want to get to the final. But we need to bring the warmth back – I don’t think it has ever really gone, but maybe it’s got lost in the mix of things.”
With Aljaž returning after leaving the show to take Giovanni’s place, has she reached out to Gio or to Graziano?
“I’ve tried to steer clear,” she sighs.
“It’s complicated and I’m a bit of a girl’s girl. I just don’t know. They were both really great friends and I feel very saddened by everything that’s happening, not just to them but to the [celebs] involved. It’s such a messy time right now…”
‘Our relationship is not perfect, but we climb the hills together’
Meanwhile, Janette has praised the quick reactions of the BBC, which has introduced plans to have a member of the production team in all future rehearsals as a chaperone.
There will also be two new dedicated welfare producers as part of a string of extra measures.
She says: “It’s great to see that they stepped in immediately and said: ‘Right, let’s do this.’ It’s important that people feel they have a voice. And every year the show can become stronger.
“I don’t even want to say it’s going to ‘recover’ – I don’t think the show needs to have that word associated with it. Unfortunately, there were some incidents that may have not been the best for any of the parties involved. They need to be dealt with of course. But that is not a reflection of what the show is about.”
It’s clear to see how conflicted Janette is talking about this.
But she breathes a sigh of relief and breaks into her famous megawatt smile as chat turns to Aljaž returning to the show.
She says: “I had left to do It Takes Two, and he felt like: ‘I’ve won the show. I’ve made two finals.’ We really wanted to have a family, so we felt it was time to focus on that. He wanted to be a super-involved dad, and if he did Strictly that would have been difficult. So he said: ‘Let’s start a new chapter.’ He had no expectation of coming back. They’ve never had anyone return.
“Then we had Lyra and it worked out so beautifully, because he was there for me for the entire pregnancy, anything I needed. He’s been with Lyra basically every single day for the first year of her life. Then his feet started getting itchy and Strictly came calling, asking if he wanted to come back. It was probably the easiest and fastest ‘yes’ of his life. You should have seen his face! We both cried. He’s honestly so happy. They’ve started rehearsals and he’s FaceTimed me going: ‘I’m loving it, baby. I’ve got a dad body, but it’s OK! I’ve never felt better.’ He’s buzzing.”
Having brought daughter Lyra to our shoot today, it’s evident how much Janette dotes on her.
“They say: ‘The days are long but the years are short.’ I feel like I blinked and she’s one! Motherhood is the deepest feeling of love. You are exhausted and you have these bags, but none of it matters. I’ve always been very career-driven and I love to travel, so although
“I knew I wanted to be a mum, I was kind of putting the brakes on, because I thought: ‘Oh, I want to do what I want to do first.’ Little did I know how much I would be obsessed with my daughter!”
Lyra really was a little miracle for Janette and Aljaž, who were embarking on IVF when she became pregnant naturally.
“Aljaž and I were trying the natural way for two years, but it just wasn’t happening. I was nearing 40 and I was getting nervous, so we started the IVF process. I started the pills and then I was waiting for my next period to come and it just never came!”
Parenthood has brought her and Aljaž closer, too. “You wouldn’t survive this industry if you weren’t a team and had real trust and friendship. He is my best friend. We communicate a lot. Our relationship is not perfect, but we climb the hills together. I could not have asked for a better partner in terms of parenting. I’ve fallen in love with him on a whole different level now, because it reminds me of the connection I have with my dad. It is really special. Plus, he has always wanted to be a dad. On our first date, it was one of the first things he talked about, and I was like: ‘Whoa can we get to know each other first?’ He was ready for it from day one.”
‘Aljaž, Gorka and Neil are the three Strictly dads – our kids will grow up together’
Janette previously admitted her delay in having a baby was partly due to fears over what it would do to her body, but how does she feel now?
“[After] Strictly I wasn’t dancing eight hours a day, but I needed to move. I love going to the gym now. I needed to do something physical otherwise mentally I won’t be in a good place. I started weight training and it gave such good results. After I fell pregnant, I did a lot of research and was still training at six months. I think because I was so physically active during the first part of my pregnancy, when Lyra came it was OK.”
Should Janette ever need it, she’s got plenty of #Gymspo in pal Gemma Atkinson, who’s the partner of Strictly’s Gorka Márquez.
Along with dancers Neil Jones and his fiancée Chyna Mills, the three couples have kids of similar ages, live nearby and hang out regularly, getting together to watch the Euros final.
Janette chuckles: “Aljaž, Gorka and Neil are the three Strictly dads. Hopefully the kids will grow up mates. Gemma’s been amazing, because this is her second, so she has the experience and advice. She’s better at weight training, too!”
Away from dancing, Janette is about to tip her toe into writing, with Tiny Dancer, Big World.
“I’m so nervous! It’s not an autobiography, [but] I wanted to write something to help people. Before Covid, I was on the verge of burnout, but it forced us to stop. I couldn’t cope with the pause, so I tried meditation and breathwork. I’ve put everything I learned in the book, as well as my own experiences.
“I want people to understand life is not perfect, but it’s how you cope in those moments. I’m turning 41 this year, but I’ve never been afraid of ageing. The alternative is not great! I’m happy.”
Tiny Dancer, Big World by Janette Manrara (£18.99, William Collins) is out September 12.
In the make-up chair with Janette
What are your skincare heroes?
New Nordic Collagen Shots have saved me, and I love Elemis Cleansing Balm.
Do you have any beauty bag essentials?
Mascara, moisturiser and lip balm. I’m not fussy about brands.
What do you splurge on?
I’m a Neom Organics candle fan.
Any budget buys?
Rimmel London Sun Shimmer – it’s so cheap and it gives you that extra glow.
Who’s your celebrity beauty icon?
Audrey Hepburn – I love the way she carried herself.
Describe your beauty evolution.
Nowadays, I prefer to be bare-faced, as I think we are all naturally so beautiful, but we forget and think we have to pile stuff on.