Strictly's Janette Manrara Details Devastation After Missing Out on Presenter Role

Janette Manrara has revealed the profound impact of not securing the presenter role on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, describing the experience as "the biggest rejection of my career." The professional dancer, who spent 13 years with the show, said she "sobbed for a week" and was left "was devastated" after learning she would not be taking over the main hosting duties.

Manrara, 42, had competed as a professional dancer on Strictly for eight years before transitioning to host the companion show, It Takes Two, for five years. She also hosted the Strictly Live tour for the same duration, performing duties often associated with the main presenters, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

She auditioned for the main show's hosting position earlier this year, advancing through multiple stages, including chemistry tests, which she believed she performed well in. "I was in the chemistry tests and I did really well in the chemistry tests. At least that's what I was told. So I assumed I did a great job," Manrara shared on the Great Company podcast with Jamie Laing.

Despite her extensive experience and perceived success in auditions, the role ultimately went to a new presenting team that included Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe. Manrara stated she felt she was a "front runner" due to her long tenure and varied roles within the Strictly franchise. "So when you just put it on paper, you assume, okay, I've got a shot because all the pieces were there," she explained.

Following the decision, Manrara received limited direct feedback from Strictly bosses. She recalled reaching out and being told, "You were brilliant. We loved you. I can't tell you why."

Finding solace in shared experiences, Manrara connected with other celebrities who had also auditioned for the role, including former It Takes Two hosts Zoe Ball and Fleur East. "We've been speaking a lot and we all feel like we've gone through the seven stages of grief," she said, acknowledging the emotional toll of such rejections.

Manrara also expressed pride in having competed for the role against established names in British television. "I was putting myself in a room against names like Emma Willis, Rylan Clark, Zoe Ball, like all of them that you've seen that have spoken out about being in the chemistry test. I was one of them," she admitted.

She has since shifted her perspective, focusing on her growth as a presenter. "What I am taking away from it is that actually I've done a bloody good job in the last seven years with honing my craft of presenting and understanding the TV world and the business of how things fun. Another job will come," she stated.

Manrara has now concluded her involvement with Strictly after she and Fleur East were replaced as It Takes Two hosts in a recent show overhaul, with Ellie Taylor taking over the spin-off. Manrara is set to explore acting in the upcoming play Affluenza at London's Riverside Studios, alongside actors Noah Schnapp and Rupert Young. Meanwhile, her husband, Aljaž Škorjanec, continues to compete on Strictly Come Dancing.