BREAKING NEWS: Strictly host in huge return after being axed from BBC show
The former professional dancer was dropped from the BBC spin-off show, It Takes Two.
Janette Manrara is returning to the world of Strictly Come Dancing (Image: YouTube/Janette Manrara)
Janette Manrara is returning to Strictly Come Dancing in a different capacity. It comes after the professional dancer, 42, was dropped as host of the BBC spin-off show, It Takes Two. She announced her departure in June and has since been replaced by comedian and actress Ellie Taylor.
Strictly have since announced that Janette will return next year as the host of the Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour. She will be joining judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood on the road. The tour is set to last for three weeks, with 29 shows taking place from January 22 to February 14.
Speaking about the tour, head judge Shirley says: “I just love the Strictly tour and all the banter that I have with Anton and Craig! It’s the best way to start the year and I can’t wait to see our incredible fans all over the country.”
Janette originally starred on the BBC show as a pro dancer when she made her debut in 2013 until her departure from the dancefloor in 2020.
Janette Manrara is hosting the Strictly tour (Image: BBC)
She then presented the Strictly spin-off show It Takes for five series but announced her exit earlier this year.
Speaking in a video shared to her YouTube channel, the presenter said: “Strictly Come Dancing 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?’.”
Janette’s co-star Fleur East was also dropped from It Takes Two.
Several well known professional dancers were axed from Strictly including Luba Mushtuk, Gorka Marquez, Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe have also stepped in to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as the show’s hosts.
