Strictly's Janette and Aljaz's life - baby joy to unusual living arrangement

27 December 2023 , 17:45

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As Strictly Come Dancing couple Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec appear on a special celebrity episode of Escape to the Country, we take a look at their love life away from the ballroom.

The two professional dancers first met back in 2010, while performing live dance show Burn The Floor. Sparks flew and, in 2017, the pair said 'I do' in not one but three beautiful wedding ceremonies, held in London, Slovenia, and Miami.

It hasn't always been smooth sailing for Janette, 40, and Aljaz, 33, who have previously spoken candidly about their journey to parenthood, including their fears that it wouldn't happen for them.

Janette and Aljaz are now hoping to welcome a second child

Baby joy

Speaking with Hello! back in February, Janette and Aljaz announced they were expecting their first baby, learning the happy news just as they were about to start IVF treatment. The couple shared how they'd 'cried and hugged' upon seeing the positive pregnancy test, having tried for a baby for two years.

Miami-born Janette revealed: "I turn 40 later this year and the NHS offers really good services to women under 40. The doctor said that as soon as I got my period we would start injections, but my period never came. I know that IVF can be really strenuous on a woman's body and there is no guarantee it will work, so to know that this little miracle just came from a wonderful night we had together is amazing. I think the baby decided to make Mum and Dad panic a bit before saying, 'OK, fine, I'm coming up now'."

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In July, the new parents were overjoyed to welcome baby Lyra Rose, and have since documented their first few precious months of parenthood via Instagram. Over the Christmas period, Jannette and Aljaz have been sharing more of Lyra's milestones, including meeting her Slovenian great-grandmother, Hedvika. In one sweet festive snap, Lyra could be seen wearing an adorable pair of red shoes that once belonged to Janette, in what the proud mum described as 'such a beautiful full circle moment'.

During a recent interview with Prima, the dancers described adorable Lyra as their 'Christmas miracle', and expressed their hopes of one day expanding their family. Slovenia-born Aljaz said: "You never know. You pray for it, and hopefully it will happen. We obviously want more children, but after the process we went through to have Lyra, you quickly learn there are never any guarantees in life."

The couple describe their daughter Lyra as a 'Christmas miracle' (DIGITAL/EROTEME.CO.UK)

Unusual living arrangement

Jannette and Aljaz, who usually live in Cheshire, had to temporarily relocate down south ahead of their Dancing in a Winter Wonderland dance tour, and have previously opened up about their unusual living arrangement. Offering a little insight into their approach to juggling parenting with their dance careers, Jannette told her Instagram followers: "Basically, what's happened is we have rehearsals in London for three weeks before we open Dancing in a Winter Wonderland. So we got an Airbnb down in London and moved everything with us – everything for Lyra, Aljaz, and I."

She continued: "Aljaz's sister came for the first week – and now Aljaz's mother is here this week. Then my mother arrives next week and she'll be joining us for the tour. It's quite a manic schedule because we've got rehearsals all day. I've still got It Takes Two, and so our time with Lyra is limited at the moment."

Fortunately, it appears the busy family has found time to create plenty of special memories over the festive period, celebrating alongside loved ones in Slovenia.