Strictly's Janette Manrara opens up on feeling like a 'single mum' over 'intense' schedule
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Good Morning Britain's Ed Balls and Susanna Reid spoke to Strictly Come Dancing stars Aljaž Skorjanec and Janette Manrara on Monday's instalment of the ITV show.
The pair touched on the challenges of their demanding work schedule while raising their daughter Lyra.
In 2022, Aljaz stepped down from the BBC programme, one year before they had their baby.
During the programme, the ITV stars touched on Aljaz being a stay at home dad the majority of the time.
He revealed: "I love it! It's like my favourite thing now, Strictly profession? No, stay at home dad is first!"
However, Ed highlighted that Aljaz returned to the BBC show a year later and was rehearsing for the programme in London, while Janette and Lyra remained in Cheshire.
Ed added: "That's where Lyra started off her life (Cheshire) but it ended up becoming just too hard to commute between the North West."
Agreeing, Janette touched on Aljaz's intense work schedule for Strictly. She said: "You both know the schedule for Strictly is quite intense.
"We don't really know Aljaz' schedule at all until basically the night before really of what the day is going to be like.
"So I kept saying to my friends, I felt a little bit like a single mum those few months. Because I had to kind of assume Aljaz would not be around, so it was just me and Lyra."
The Strictly star confessed it didn't feel fair on her daughter to keep travelling back and forth for work.
(Image: Janette Manrara Instagram)
She added: "We didn't get to spend a lot of time with Aljaz last series, so we've moved back down closer to London, which, I think, has been a really great decision for us as a family."
She told the two GMB stars that their daughter's wellbeing comes first and foremost, ensuring she's comfortable.
This month it was announced Aljaz would be returning to the BBC show as a professional dancer when Strictly hits the screens once again in September this year.
Other stars returning include Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin and Gorka Marquez
Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola will also be making a comeback.
Good Morning Britain continues weekdays on ITV from 6am
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
13 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Helen Skelton reveals she has 'finally found her happiness'
The 41-year-old presenter of Countryfile and On The Farm is no stranger to soaking up the great outdoors. A mum-of-three, she says getting out is always her priority, no matter how long her to-do list is. Speaking to Closer magazine, she said: "I've always loved being outdoors, it's so important to me. We've had lots of new arrivals on the farm over the last few days - one of them being this adorable American Miniature Horse, pictured with mum Pearl! Watch as Farmer Rob checked in on them yesterday: — Cannon Hall Farm (@CannonHallFarm) May 29, 2025 "I grew up on a farm surrounded by fields, and the ability to wake up and look at greenery everyday is something I've never taken for granted - it brings me so much happiness. "I might have a million things to do but I'll still go for a swim, paddle or walk. Even if I've got dishes to do, bills to sort and emails to answer, prioritising being outside and doing something active is as important to me as waking up and brushing my teeth." "I take one day at a time and I don't overthink things. My motto in life has always been, "How do you eat an elephant?" You just go little by little, bit by bit. Recommended reading: "I break it down, and I use that approach with everything. I might have kayaked 2010 miles down the Amazon, but in my head I only ever kayaked 16 miles loads of times. I've run loads of marathons, but in my head I haven't. I've only ever run five miles loads of times. "When I did Strictly Come Dancing, my friends would be thinking about what their next dance was, but I never ever let Gorka [Marquez] talk about the next week. Think about what you need to do today and tomorrow. "That'll get you one step closer to where you'd ultimately like to be."
Telegraph
20 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Richard Wilson's fantastic King Lear is proof that the BBC should be doing more Shakespeare
According to the actor Jonathan Pryce, you should play Lear while your back can still handle it. Pryce played the octogenarian king when he was a mere 65, and still put his back out staggering onstage with Cordelia in his arms. Drama on 4: King Lear (Radio 4, Sunday) gave us a satisfying reminder that radio drama can reach the places other mediums can't, as the 89-year-old Richard Wilson took on the role – becoming the oldest British actor to do so in the process. When he staggers on with Cordelia in Sunday's concluding part, Wilson's back will be safe. Clive Brill's production, while relatively no-frills, is a treat, as well as being a potential blueprint for BBC radio drama. Wilson is the eye-catching name at the top of the bill, but the undercard isn't too shabby either – Toby Jones as Gloucester, David Tennant as Edmund, Greta Scacchi as Goneril, Tamsin Greig as Regan. Renowned cellist Steven Isserlis adds interstitial howls from his bow, which begin a little overbearing but grow in stature as the play increases in intensity. Among the less starry cast, Trevor Fox's Geordie Fool stands out. However, it is Wilson that this production will be judged on. His Lear is a slow-burn, beginning, as he vaingloriously beseeches his daughters to shower him with sycophancy in return for a share of the kingdom, in a stubbornly low gear. It is a little jarring at first, with Lear sounding mildly peeved rather than furious at Cordelia's refusal to play ball. 'Come not between a dragon and his wrath,' he says, sounding more like a sleepy guard dog lazing in the sun. While it's sensible not to start Lear at too high a pitch – he has some serious emotional mountains to climb later – I was, in those very early scenes, left wanting a bit more p--s and vinegar from Wilson. His stolid, pompous statesman act felt like it was going to be overshadowed by Tennant's duplicitous bastard (in every sense of the word) Edmund. Tennant gave the listener a fairground ride of an opening soliloquy ('Why brand they us / With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?') and his slippery chameleon act was matched by an emotionally raw performance from Jones, who reacted to Edgar's invented betrayal with the sort of passion previously missing from Wilson. Perhaps Wilson was to play an anchor role next to the pyrotechnics from his younger castmates. I was, like Lear, too quick to rush judgement and gradually Wilson's haughty, dismissive old king began to take a grip on proceedings. His Lear is a man who has grown used to hearing no dissent, to having his every whim catered to. When things do not go his way, he does not get angry (at first), because he does not need to – he'll still win. At the point Cordelia 'betrays' him, his reaction is not hot anger, but a surprised disappointment followed by a swift execution. He is vain, thin-skinned, completely in love with his own power, and unwilling to brook any kind of dissent or believe the cards will not fall for him. 'Fetch me a better answer,' he says when Regan and Goneril will not meet him. There is, yes, something very Trumpian about this Lear. If there's a sense that Wilson is saving something up for the more explosive events of this weekend's instalment, that's understandable, but it's tricky to truly give a verdict on his Lear before he has wandered the heath and delivered the most memorable lines ('Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!', 'Howl, howl, howl, howl!', 'I don't believe it!' etc). Yet what a pleasure it is to hear him, age 89, delivering the words that presumably he'd long given up imagining he would. The production is also a salute to the power of the older actor – Matthew Marsh (Kent) is 70, Scacchi is 65, Jones and Greig are 58. Yet that cast is significant for another reason – put this production on in the West End, with the same actors, and you'd be paying more than £100 to sit behind a pillar or peer at them dimly from the upper circle. With theatre pricing becoming increasingly eye-watering, the BBC has a chance to remind everyone (ahead of charter renewal) of its essential place in British culture. With the Corporation's sway and reputation, they could put a star-name Shakespeare on once a month, or even once a week, increasing access beyond those who can justify the exorbitant West End fees. Not only can BBC radio drama save Wilson's back, it can save something that should be coursing through the nation's veins.
Daily Mirror
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Jermaine Jenas axed from ITV show after BBC sacking and sexting scandal
Jermaine Jenas has been largely absent from media work since being sacked by the BBC last summer and he will not be involved in Soccer Aid coverage for ITV this weekend Jermaine Jenas will not be part of the ITV team covering Soccer Aid this weekend amid the continued fallout from being sacked by the BBC over allegations of workplace misconduct. The former England international was axed in August over claims he had sent inappropriate texts to female colleagues. Jenas was removed from his role as a presenter of The One Show and a pundit for BBC Sport after an internal investigation was launched. Jenas saw his contract terminated by the broadcaster and ultimately also parted ways with his long-term agents MC Saatchi in addition to being let go from his role presenting Formula E. Previous years have seen Jenas work alongside Maya Jama as part of coverage for the charity match Soccer Aid, with the likes of Dermot O'Leary and Alex Scott taking on presenting duties. The latter pair are set to host once again as England taking on a Rest of the World side with Wayne Rooney and Tyson Fury co-managing the Three Lions at Old Trafford on Sunday. According to Mail Online, Jenas was not considered by ITV to be part of the production. The channel did not want to bring unwanted attention to an event centred around charity, given Jenas' recent controversies. It is claimed that ITV still have a good relationship with the former Newcastle and Tottenham midfielder. Jenas has returned to working in the sphere of football in the aftermath of his sacking by BBC, however. After stepping back from his role as a presenter on talkSPORT, the 42-year-old appeared as a guest and returned to action as a commentator in February. Upon his return, Jenas told the station: "The biggest thing in this whole situation is about taking responsibility and that has been at the forefront of my mind… There's a reason why you're in this position and there's a reason why this has happened. "Once you accept those things, then you can work on yourself and you can work on the other things and you can work on your family and work towards a brighter future. Essentially this is about me looking inwards, making some improvements and coming back a better person.' In March, Ellie Penfold announced her split from Jenas. The pair share four children and Penfold took so social media to confirm the end of her 16-year relationship. "I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary," she 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. "We will remain friends and continue to co-parent. We kindly ask that you respect our children's privacy during this challenging time. Thank you, Ellie." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
