Strictly's Janette Manrara reveals why 2024 launch show brought tears to her eyes

The It Takes Two presenter watched launch show with her daughter Lyra.

Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec attend the UK Premiere of
Janette Manrara had tears in her eyes watching husband Aljaz Skorjanec's Strictly comeback. (Getty Images)

Janette Manara has revealed watching her husband Aljaz Skorjanec's return to Strictly Come Dancing made her cry.

The Strictly: It Takes Two host and former pro dancer watched the launch of the 2024 series with her one-year-old daughter Lyra. Manrara told The One Show how emotional she had been seeing her husband back on the show after two years away from the dancefloor. And she admitted how proud she was to show her daughter what her father does for a living.

Strictly - It Takes Two,Generics,Fleur East; Janette Manrara,*NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 00:01HRS, TUESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2023*,BBC,Ray Burmiston
Fleur East and Janette Manrara were on The One Show to chat Strictly. (BBC)

Manrara and her It Takes Two co-host Fleur East appeared on The One Show sofa to tell Alex Scott and Roman Kemp who they were most excited about seeing in the new series of the BBC dance show.

Manrara said: "It is incredible to see him back on the show. It is nice to have him on the telly. I'll tell you what, it was really nice to watch him with Lyra. I had tears in my eyes cos it was just so special to sit with our daughter watching Daddy on the telly, doing what he loves to do. It was amazing."

But Manrara promised she will not be showing any favouritism to Skorjanec and his celebrity partner, Love Island's Tasha Ghouri. She said: "I'll be honest, I am not allowed favourites as host of It Takes Two. So I'm gonna be looking at him the same way to look any other professional and celebrity on the show."

East and Manrara also joked they are not allowed to host the show at the same time as they behave too badly. East said: "It's probably for the best, to be honest, 'cause we're like these kids that the teachers will go, 'Do not sit them together.' We enable each other, we egg each other on. There's too much energy."

Manrara added: "It's probably for the best. We're doing the first one together. And then the final show together."

British actress Lesley Manville at the 81 Venice International Film Festival 2024. Queer Photocall. Venice (Italy), September 3rd, 2024 (Photo by Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
Lesley Manville was trained to dance by Arlene Phillips. (Getty Images)

Lesley Manville revealed she would consider taking part on Strictly 2025 if she was asked. The Oscar-nominated actor is a big fan of the show and was taught to dance by former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips.

She explained: "Well, listen, long story short. I was taught to dance when I was at the Italia Conti stage called by Arlene Phillips, no other than. And she said to me, 'I'm gonna start a dance group. Will you be a founder member of Hot Gossip?'

"And I thought about it, and I decided no, because she said it's gonna be quite risky, you know, there's gonna be maybe not a lot of clothes worn. And I just thought I was 16, and I just thought,' No, no, that might be a bit embarrassing. And my dad might be a bit embarrassed, so I said, No."

Manville said she was "absolutely" a fan of Strictly, adding: "I watch it all the time."

Asked if she would take part in the show she said: "I mean, I'm always ready to surrender. You've all done it." She asked Kemp, "You've done it?" When he tried to move on, Manville said: "Come on, I will if you will."

The One Show airs on BBC One at 7pm on weekdays.