Janette Manrara calls missing out on Strictly presenter job her ‘biggest rejection’
Janette Manrara has spoken about her ‘heartache’ at missing out on the top job as a host of Strictly Come Dancing (Getty Images)
Janette Manrara has said missing out on the Strictly Come Dancing presenter job caused her “heartache”, calling it the “biggest rejection of [her] career”.
The 42-year-old spoke about the disappointment while appearing on Jamie Laing’s Great Company podcast, reflecting on what she thought could have been her next step within the Strictly franchise.
Manrara became a familiar face to UK audiences through the BBC ballroom competition, first as one of its professional dancers and later as a presenter on Strictly companion show It Takes Two.
What did Janette Manrara say about the Strictly presenter job?
Manrara described the moment as a rare, career-shaking blow. She said the snub left her with “heartache” and was the “biggest rejection of her career”.
She also said she had spoken with Fleur East and Zoe Ball about the “grief” they all felt at missing out on the job.
In the same conversation, Manrara said she felt like a frontrunner to replace long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the main show.
Where does this leave her in the Strictly franchise?
Manrara was a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing before moving into the companion show It Takes Two, where she co-hosted alongside Fleur East.
She and East were later axed from It Takes Two, with Ellie Taylor replacing them.
