Janette Manrara admits feeling ‘devastated’ and ‘sobbing for weeks’ after BBC Strictly host role rejection
Janette Manrara has opened up about the heartbreak of being passed over for the Strictly Come Dancing presenting role, describing it as “the biggest rejection of my career.”
The 42-year-old, who spent over a decade as part of the BBC show’s fabric, first as a professional dancer for eight years, then as host of the spin-off programme It Takes Two for five years, had auditioned for the main presenting gig earlier this year.
The position ultimately went to Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and fellow former Strictly professional Johannes Radebe, who replaced long-standing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Speaking on Jamie Laing’s Great Company podcast, Ms Manrara admitted the decision left her reeling, saying it “was a really hard pill to swallow” given her 13 years dedicated to the programme.
Janette Manrara has opened up about the heartbreak of missing out on Strictly Come Dancing’s presenting role
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YOUTUBE/GREAT COMPANY PODCAST
The dancer revealed she had been feeling confident throughout the extensive audition process, having been told she performed well in the chemistry tests.
“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,” she told Mr Laing.
With her track record, which also included hosting the Strictly Live tour for five years, where she performed the roles of both Ms Daly and Ms Winkleman, she believed she “was a front runner” and felt “all the pieces were there.”
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe ultimately landed the roles
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BBC
When BBC bosses eventually contacted her agent with the bad news, the emotional toll was immediate.
“I remember coming home, and it was a really hard pill to swallow… I sobbed for a week. I’m not going to even begin to lie. I was devastated,” she said.
She found comfort in connecting with others who had gone through the same experience, particularly former It Takes Two co-hosts Zoe Ball and Fleur East, both of whom have publicly discussed their own unsuccessful auditions.
“We’ve been speaking a lot, and we all feel like we’ve gone through the seven stages of grief,” Ms Manrara said.
The former Strictly star described the snub as the ‘biggest rejection’ of her career
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BBC
“But ultimately I have to understand I’m in an industry that is very, very fickle.”
She also expressed pride at having held her own against some of the biggest names in British television, noting she was in the running alongside the likes of Ms Willis, Rylan Clark and Ms Ball.
Ms Manrara received minimal explanation from show bosses, who told her: “You were brilliant. We loved you. I can’t tell you why.”
Despite her positive outlook, insisting “I’ve done a bloody good job in the last seven years with honing my craft” and that “another job will come”, Ms Manrara has now severed all connections with the Strictly franchise.
Both she and Ms East were dropped as It Takes Two presenters as part of the programme’s sweeping revamp, with Ellie Taylor stepping in as the new host of the nightly companion show.
Ms Manrara is now turning her attention to acting, set to appear in the play Affluenza at London’s Riverside Studios alongside Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp, Bridgerton’s Rupert Young and EastEnders actress Juliet Cowan.
Ms Manrara’s husband Aljaž Škorjanec remains a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing
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BBC
Meanwhile, her husband Aljaž Škorjanec remains on Strictly, partnered in this series with Gavin & Stacey’s Melanie Walters.
The new presenting trio’s debut on Saturday drew 4.8 million viewers, a notable drop from last year’s 6.2 million opening night.
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