Strictly's Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec share who they are still in touch with since leaving main show

"They really are our family here in the UK."

By Sam Warner

19 Oct 2022

Strictly Come Dancing stars Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec have revealed who they have stayed in touch with since leaving the main series.

Janette stepped down as a professional on the BBC show last year to host spin-off It Takes Two with Rylan Clark, while Aljaž's final series as a pro was last year.

Speaking to OK!, the couple were asked who they still stay in touch with from the main show, with Janette replying: "To be honest, all the pros and even some of the production team. They really are our family here in the UK.

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"Katya [Jones] and I are really close, and Nadiya [Bychkova], Karen [Hauer] – I’m also friends with Dianne [Buswell]. Whenever we’re in Manchester, we see Gorka [Márquez] and Gemma [Atkinson]."

Speaking further about his own decision to step away from the show, Aljaž revealed: "I made the decision a while ago but I never knew when was the right time to do it. Everyone advised me not to leave, but life is too short and you have to go after things."

With time freed up now, the couple are set to embark on a Christmas-themed live dancing tour called A Christmas to Remember, which is set to hit venues across the UK in November and December.

aljaz skorjanec, janette manrara, strictly come dancing

Guy Levy

"We want to invite everybody to join us for the classiest, sparkliest Christmas party that you will have ever been invited to," Janette said upon the announcement last month.

"We will be going on a magical journey, celebrating the twelve days leading up to Christmas, with some great songs and fabulous routines, with our amazing cast of singers and dancers."

Aljaž added: "We will be sharing our childhood Christmas stories, exploring what we both love most about this special time of the year. We will be making merry and dancing with all the joy of what Christmas is truly all about."

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One, while spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows also stream on BBC iPlayer.

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