BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Janette Manrara addresses 'emotional' time amid parenting decision

Janette Manrara has spoken to her fans as she spoke of an 'emotional' day for her and Aljaz Skorjanec. The dancer and presenter continues to have a busy time juggling work and being a doting mum to the couple's daughter while her husband compete's in Strictly Come Dancing.

Aljaz delighted fans over the summer when he revealed he was returning to the BBC One dance contest as a professional dancer following a two-year hiatus and he's since been going from strength to strength in the competition with his celebrity dance partner Tasha Ghouri.

Meanwhile, Strictly fans will have seen Janette back fronting spin-off show It Takes Two, a role she shares with former Strictly contesntant and radio host Fleur East.

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Last month, she explained how she and Aljaz are trying to make things work with one-year-old Lyra, saying in a video posted to her Instagram Story: "We are communiting so the plan is that Lyra and I go down to London on Wednesday and we stay Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with Aljaz in London and then we come back home on Saturday."

Now, Janette has spoken to fans about how her parenting decision is also impacting on how much time she has to catch up with them after a quiet period online. In a new video, she said directly to her followers as she sat down with Lyra: "Hi everyone. I know I've been a little bit MIA but it's been a big weekend."

She continued: "I went to watch Strictly on Saturday night in the studio. I really wanted to watch the first 'Icons Week' and it was incredible so I'm so glad I was there for it. Then on Sunday we had Robin's remembrance show, The Final Act. It was quite an emotional Sunday."

Janette was referring to friend and former Strictly star Robin Windsor who tragically died earlier this year. The 44-year-old was best known for having joined Strictly 2010 and in his first year, he was paired with EastEnders star Patsy Kensit. The closest he got to winning was coming in fifth place with Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley, with whom he became best friends.

Months on from his passing on Sunday evening (November 3), a West End show celebrated Robin’s life. Called ‘Robin Windsor The Final Act’, it was organised by Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis with the permission of Windsor's family and all profits from ticket sales went to mental health charity SANE.

The show was hosted by Lisa and Strictly judge Anton Du Beke and featured performances from the latter as well Janette and Aljaz, Kai Widdrington and his Strictly 2023 dance partner Angela Rippon, Janette Manrara, Aljaz Skorjanec, Lauren Oakely, Nikita Kuzmin and Layton Williams.

Janette continued: "So we've just been cuddling all day, [to Lyra] haven't we? I try not to be on my phone when I'm with her because I don't like her seeing me on my phone. I want her to know she's got Mommy's attention so it's a bit harder for me to post and get things done when I'm with her. But we've been having amazing days... I just wanted to pop on and say hello."