‘I want to make all the Strictly fans proud’

As Janette Manrara waltzes in as the new host of It Takes Two, she talks to Anna Bonet about Strictly memories, starting a family and why no dream is too big

‘I’m definitely nervous, but it’s more like a nervous excitement’

After eight brilliant years as one of Strictly Come Dancing’s professional dancers, Janette, 37, is taking over from Zoe Ball as the co-host of BBC Two’s debrief show

It Takes Two, alongside Rylan Clarkneal. Janette grew up in a Cuban family in Miami and now lives in North London with her husband and fellow Strictly dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. She shares why the pair are excited about this new adventure for more reasons than one…

MY NEW CHAPTER

It’s humbling that I’ve been trusted with It Takes Two. I didn’t put myself forward, I was approached [by BBC producers]. I remember thinking, ‘Don’t get your hopes up; if it doesn’t happen, it’s fine. Strictly is still the most magical job.’ I really tried to keep cool and calm, but the process was relatively quick because I’ve been hosting Morning Live with Gethin [Jones], and they said that was my on-screen test. They’d really enjoyed watching me as a presenter, so knew that I could do it.

I’ve always wanted to present. I like talking to people. I’m really empathetic, and I love listening to people’s stories. That’s what presenting is about, so it’s something that I always knew I wanted to eventually get into – I just didn’t know how or when.

This is my dream job. I remember going on the show for the first time in 2013 as a Strictly dancer, meeting Zoe [Ball] and thinking, ‘Oh my God, what a job; to sit and laugh and enjoy great conversation all about dancing.

If I could do that one day, that would be a dream.’ So when the phone call came in [with the offer to present the show], I screamed for joy. I couldn’t believe it!

I’m definitely nervous, but it’s more like a nervous excitement. I just want to make all the Strictly fans proud and make Zoe proud. She’s been really supportive: she messaged me straight away, wished me good luck and said that if there’s anything I need, she’s there for me. I haven’t taken her up on it just yet – maybe I will on my first day!

How is it going to be different? I’m going to bring me. I’m really overly excited all the time, especially when we’re talking about dancing, so I’m going have to calm that down on the show. But on Strictly I have the nickname Latin Sensation, and that’s what I want to bring to It Takes Two: the Latin Sensation energy. I want to bring me, my happiness and my joy.

The hardest part is saying goodbye to that dancefloor. I’m still going to be dancing professionally when I can, but the realisation that I’m not going to be dancing on Strictly any more was really tough. I cried when it sunk in! But I’m stepping into a new world now, and it’s one I’m really excited to enter into.

STRICTLY SECRETS

I’ve had some amazing highs on Strictly. I will never forget my first salsa with [Eastenders actor] Jake Wood, when he brought the house down. Another standout memory is the contemporary dance I did with

[Paralympian] Will Bayley; that was such a special moment. And of course [pop star] HRVY and I had so many highs together – the whole series was a high! – but what turned out to be my last dance to One Singular Sensation in the gold sequin outfits was incredible. It was the best way to say goodbye without knowing it.

There’s such a buzz behind the scenes, especially on show days.

You spend all day in rehearsals, but you know when that red light goes on the camera, it’s showtime. The whole lead-up to that is insane. We’d normally get there at eight in the morning and you don’t stop, because you’re rehearsing, you’re doing group numbers, you’re doing interviews, you’re doing hair and make-up.

You’re literally pulled in 40 directions, but everyone’s excited. Before Covid-19, we were always celebrating in the green room afterwards.

The pros are like a family. We have a Whatsapp group and we speak all the time. Anton [Du Beke] is the funniest and I think he’s going to be a brilliant judge. Gorka [Márquez] is so cheeky. Loudest is Katya [Jones]; most competitive are Giovanni [Pernice] and Oti [Mabuse]. Karen [Hauer] is the badass. Neil [Jones] is always running around doing pranks… Everyone brings something to the table!

I still keep in touch with every single

one of my celebrity partners. I’ve made the best friendships through the show. Julien [Macdonald, the designer] made my wedding dress. I go over to Jake’s for dinner. Peter Andre and I text loads – he’s been showing me new music. I’ve lucked out with incredible partners through the years.

Sometimes I did get nervous before stepping out on the dancefloor.

I remember worrying about things like the lifts, but as a pro you don’t have time to be nervous because you have to look after your partner. It’s almost like it all bubbles inside, but I don’t show it. You have to learn to control the nerves and just go for it.

I used to be really tough on myself.

The first few years on Strictly, I was always trying to prove myself because I was the only pro that didn’t have a competitive ballroom and Latin career, as I came straight from theatre work. It took a while for me to realise I was there for a reason, too, and slowly I felt more confident, and more at ease.

I’m at peace with not having held

the glitterball trophy. I did win two Christmas specials, but not the main series.

But that’s okay. It was phenomenal to get to the final for the first time with HRVY last year. I feel as though I left on a high. Also, Aljaž won one [in 2013 with model Abbey Clancy], so we have that at home. I like to think we share it!

‘The pros are like a family. We have a Whatsapp group and talk all the time’

DANCING PARTNER

Aljaž and I met before Strictly.

I remember him walking into the room at Dance Attic [a studio in West London], where I was rehearsing with a dance group at the time. I thought he was gorgeous, but he was very shy and didn’t speak much English. Then he went to work in Australia for a few months and when he came back, his English went from zero to a hundred. That’s when we started to get to know each other.

He’s such a beautiful soul. Once, we were sitting down with a friend who had just broken up with his girlfriend, and listening to Aljaž talk about what love is and what relationships should be about was the moment I realised there was so much more to him than I knew. He’s the kindest human being I have ever met. As beautiful as he is on the outside, he’s 10 times more beautiful inside.

Strictly has actually made us

stronger. The pressure of the show is really high and then when you add in the press trying to create the gossip of the Strictly curse, it makes Aljaž and me so much more united in the face of it. It solidifies how much we really do love and trust each other. I trust him with my eyes closed.

We don’t get competitive. We always have each other’s backs. I’m a workaholic, so I used to come home and all I would want to do is watch the video of that night’s dance and get Aljaž’s opinion. He would engage with me for a little bit and then be like, ‘Okay baby, that’s it – no more Strictly talk!’

We had three weddings. My family is in Miami and Aljaž’s is in Slovenia, and we both have grandmothers who couldn’t travel. So, when we married in 2017, we had one wedding in London that was a big party with the Strictly family, one in

Slovenia, which was the dreamy sunset wedding, and a third in Miami, which was also a huge party – there was a conga line the whole night. We called it the wedding tour – it was exhausting, but really special.

We’re hoping to start a family. There’s no perfect time, but knowing that

I don’t have to dance six months of the year doing Strictly gives me more freedom to hopefully now be able to try for a baby. I feel like I can breathe a little bit now; I can do It Takes Two pregnant if I want. That gives me so much peace of mind moving forward.

The UK feels like home to us. I say things like ‘mate’, ‘lift’ and ‘rubbish’. I’m still Janette, the Latina from the USA, but now when I fly into Heathrow, I feel like I’m landing at home. The UK has been so welcoming to us.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

I was raised in Miami by my Cuban

family. I grew up surrounded by dance – my whole family danced salsa. They didn’t dance professionally, just at parties, but it’s part of our culture. I loved it, so I’ve been dancing as soon as I could walk!

It was tough financially, growing up.

My parents worked hard to provide for us, but we didn’t always have the funds. I loved ballet but had to go to class in my bathing suit and barefoot because we couldn’t afford the leotard and shoes.

I worked in a bank for a while before

becoming a dancer. At 18, my parents needed me to pitch in, so I got a job in a bank, but my itchy feet kept wanting to pursue dance. So, after seven years, I took a leap of faith and moved to LA to try to make it. I realise now that you can’t be afraid of chasing your dreams. Life is about having the courage to just go for it.

FEELING GOOD

Aljaž and I are actually really lazy. Our favourite place is on the couch watching Netflix. We loved The Handmaid’s

Tale – I can’t wait for the next series.

I’m learning to keep fit in new ways.

I used to stay strong by dance training every day, but now I’m stepping back from that, I’m having to go to the gym for the first time in my life. I’m starting to enjoy running on the treadmill, and I love yoga and Pilates, too, because they help me feel present.

I try to make time for myself every

day. I did an online course in wellbeing during lockdown and I’m applying those practices to my own life by meditating and doing breathing exercises. They really help when

I feel stressed or upset.

Reminding myself how far I’ve come

keeps me going. I have a such a huge appreciation and gratitude for anything that comes into my life because I’ve had to really graft to get here. To go from that five-year-old girl who couldn’t afford ballet to doing It Takes Two is amazing. That journey is what motivates me every day.

• Janette is a host of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, which will air on BBC Two every weeknight

‘Life is about having the courage to just go for it’