Janette Manrara Steps Down As Strictly Come Dancing Pro After Landing New Presenting Role

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Janette at the Strictly red carpet launch in 2019

Janette announced the news on Thursday’s edition of The One Show, revealing: “It’s a dream come true to become part of the It Takes Two team! Although it’s impossible to fill in the shoes of a legend like Zoe Ball, I hope to make her and all of the Strictly fans proud.”

She added: “I will miss dancing on that iconic dancefloor weekly, but forever grateful to continue being a part of the Strictly Come Dancing family!”

Janette will be joining current It Takes Two presenter Rylan Clark-Neal – who first began co-hosting with Zoe in 2019 – on this year’s series.

Lia Toby – PA Images via Getty Images

Zoe Ball will not be returning to It Takes Two after 10 years with the spin-off show

During her time on Strictly, Janette has been partnered with fashion designer Julien Macdonald, EastEnders legend Jake Wood, singer Peter Andre, broadcaster Melvin Odoom, JLS star Aston Merrygold, This Morning’s Ranj Singh, Paralympian Will Bayley and pop star HRVY.

Although she’s never lifted the Glitterball trophy, she has won the Strictly Christmas special on two occasions – with Melvin and Aston – and made it to last year’s final with HRVY.

Strictly Come Dancing is expected to return to our screens in the autumn for a full 13-week run, after last year’s series had to be cut short due to the pandemic.

Janette is married to Strictly pro Aljaž Škorjanec, who will remain with the show in 2021.

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Zoe Ball Quits Strictly Come Dancing Spin-Off It Takes Two After 10 Years

Zoe Ball has announced that she won’t be returning to Strictly Come Dancing spin-off It Takes Two, after 10 years at the helm of the show.

On Monday evening, Zoe shared a statement on her Instagram page explaining her decision to “waltz away” from the BBC companion show. 

“Dance lovers, after 10 joyous years I am waltzing away from It Takes Two,” she wrote.

“As a massive [Strictly] fan I have loved spending my autumn teatimes with the celebrity dancers, the gorgeous & awesome pro dancers, the judges, my girl Vicky Gill, Rylan [Clark-Neal], Gethin [Jones] and of course my main man Ian Waite. Time now for some new cha cha challenges.”

Zoe insisted that she will “continue to support the Strictly family” on her Radio 2 breakfast show, adding that she “can’t wait to watch the Class Of 2021 from my sofa”.

She added: “Huge love & grateful thanks to Tess & Claude & the whole Strictly clan, the ITT fans, my Glam Squad, Eve Winstanley, Alex McLeod, the BBC2 gang, & of course the best telly crew ever. I will miss you all immensely. As Iveta would say ‘Friends for the life’.”

BBC

Zoe Ball has hosted It Takes Two since 2011

Zoe has been the host of the Strictly companion show since 2011, when she took over from regular presenter Claudia Winkleman.

Since taking over the Radio 2 breakfast show in 2019, she has shared presenting duties on the nightly show with Rylan Clark-Neal.

As well as hosting It Takes Two, Zoe was a contestant on Strictly back in 2005, finishing in third place.

She went on to host the show’s live tour in 2011 and 2015. 

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Vernon Kay Reveals The Reason Why He’ll Never Appear On Strictly Alongside Wife Tess Daly

Vernon Kay might have reached the final of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! but you won’t catch him on rival reality show Strictly Come Dancing in a hurry. 

The TV presenter has ruled out taking part on the BBC ballroom competition as he believes it would be too “weird” dancing in front of wife Tess Daly

Despite Tess having hosted Strictly since it began in 2004, Vernon said he has “never” been asked to participate. 

David M. Benett via Getty Images

Vernon Kay and Tess Daly

Speaking to Jamie Laing and Francis Boulle on their Private Parts podcast, Vernon said: “I think it would be weird, I really think it would be weird.”

“Because Tess is pretty much, ‘say what you see’ and I know that if I finished a dance, she would – she wouldn’t be able to help herself.

“She’d say, ‘You did that better in the kitchen.’

“She can’t hide anything, you know,” he added.

BBC

Tess with Strictly Come Dancing co-host Claudia Winkleman

While we won’t be seeing Vernon showing off his moves any time soon, he has reunited with Tess on screen his new ITV gameshow Game Of Talents. 

Tess appeared as a contestant on Saturday night’s series opener, which saw celebrities trying to helping two members of the public win large amounts of money by guessing complete strangers’ talents. 

David M. Benett via Getty Images

The couple are keen to do more TV work together

The couple, who have been married 18 years, previously presented BBC singing competition Just The Two of us together in 2007 and are keen to work together again. 

Vernon recently told The Sun: “When we did ‘Just The Two Of Us’, I had the role where you’re pretty much reactive to what you’ve just seen backstage, so I didn’t really have much to say.

“It was all Tess, and she was front of house. ‘Game of Talents’ was really nice. And after this we thought it’d be great to do something together again. So we’ll just wait and see what happens.”

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