Strictly curse? Hardly, it saved our marriage, say stars Janette and Aljaz
STRICTLY Come Dancing is famed for splitting up marriages ...but one couple say it has actually strengthened theirs.
Professionals Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec say the BBC show kept their love alive.
American Janette and Slovenian Aljaz, who met on a dance show in the US, said if Strictly producers had not offered both of them jobs in 2013 they would have had to move to separate countries.
But instead, they get to work and live together in the UK.
Janette said: “It saved us in every way. Aljaz and I were at a point in our relationship where he was possibly going to have to move back to Slovenia and I was going to go back to LA.
“So when we got that phone call to join Strictly it didn’t only give us stability work wise, it saved our relationship.
“We got engaged on Strictly, we got married on Strictly. For us it has always been the biggest Strictly blessing instead of a Strictly curse.”
The couple have also done touring productions together.
Janette added: “They gave us a platform to take things like Remembering Fred and Rememberingthe Oscars, and showcase them to the UK and the world. If it wasn’t for Strictly, we wouldn’t be able to do things like that.
“We’re extremely grateful and are going to be part of it for as long as we can. As long as our legs keep going, we are going to keep dancing.” Relationships that have fallen to the Strictly curse include Louise Redknapp, who divorced from husband Jamie after competing in 2016.
Newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky’s marriage broke down at the same time her pro dance partner Brendan Cole split from his partner.
More recently, 2019 winner Stacey Dooley broke up with her long-term boyfriend and is now in a relationship with her Strictly partner Kevin Clifton.
Aljaz, 31, and Janette, 37, who married in 2017, say lockdown gave them time to get to know each other even better after live shows were postponed. Janette joked: “I learned Aljaz is good at doing nothing. I learned I cannot keep my feet still.”
● For tickets to Remembering The Oscars and In Conversation With Aljaz and Janette, visit: rememberingtheoscars.com/ stream. The show runs online until April 17.