Janette Manrara has confirmed she will not be returning to the Strictly Come Dancing team this autumn. The 42-year-old former professional dancer had been a long-time co-host of the BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two, which features interviews with Strictly celebrities between the live shows.
It Takes Two has been a staple of the show since it launched in 2004, with Claudia Winkleman originally hosting before she became a co-host of the main series. However, it was reported earlier this year that Manrara and Fleur East had been axed as part of a sweeping shake-up of the Strictly presenting staff.
The TV presenter has now spoken about this next chapter outside the Strictly bubble in a new YouTube video. She said: “Strictly has changed hugely and I am no longer a part of It Takes Two or the main show. I’ll still be involved in other ways. But that just means that I’m free to pursue and do many other projects that I’ve always wanted to do and never really thought about doing.”
“Strictly is all I’ve known for the past 14 years so it is a bit like, ‘Oh, we’re going into a different world, a different space, how are we going to navigate that?’” Manrara said. She added that she will be documenting this “big shift and change” in her life via her YouTube videos.
“I’m making a huge shift in my career. I want to bring you on the journey with me and bring you on the ride and guide you on the madness of it all, as it is a crazy shift. Reality is going to hit when I come back from my holiday.”
Who has left Strictly Come Dancing in 2026?
After a massive shake-up at the BBC and Strictly Come Dancing, the following dancers have left the series:
- Karen Hauer
- Gorka Márquez
- Nadiya Bychkova
- Luba Mushtuk
- Michelle Tsiakkas
The following presenters will not be returning for the upcoming season:
- Tess Daly
- Claudia Winkleman
- Janette Manrara
It Takes Two is reportedly set to move away from the classic studio set-up, in favour of a vodcast, much like The Traitors: Uncloaked, which is hosted by Ed Gamble. It’s currently unclear who will be hosting the Strictly spin-off show, but it was announced last month that Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe are the trio replacing Winkleman and Tess Daly as hosts.
It is also not yet confirmed in what capacity Manrara will continue to be involved with Strictly, although her husband Aljaž Škorjanec has been announced as one of the returning pros who avoided the swing of the axe.
The Slovenian champ previously lifted the Glitterball trophy with model Abbey Clancy in 2013 and reached the final in 2024 with Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC this autumn.
