15 August 2023 , 21:55
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Janette Manrara has made a huge Strictly Come Dancing announcement just two weeks after welcoming her daughter.
The Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, 39, has delighted fans by confirming that she will in fact be returning to present the show's spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two, after Rylan Clark announced he would not be returning as the main host earlier this year.
The much-loved Strictly professional previously hosted the show with Rylan, who announced that he would be departing ahead of the upcoming series, and fans have been left wondering if Janette would also be leaving Strictly after the birth of her baby girl with fellow Strictly pro Aljaž Škorjanec.and her continued radio silence on the matter.
Thankfully, Janette took to Instagram this evening to announce that she will be returning when the series makes it's long-awaited comeback next month.
Janette is making a comeback to Strictly It Takes Two (BBC)During a candid Q&A with her adoring Instagram followers, one curious fan asked: "Are you going back on ITT?" To which Janette excitedly replied: "Yes, I am back. I guess there wasn't a huge official announcement but yeah I'm back. Luckily I had more than enough time on maternity leave with Lyra for me to be able to come back and do the show."
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The Strictly professional went on: "So yes, I will be on the couch along with Fleur East interviewing all of your couples and I can't wait actually. I literally can't wait. It was such an amazing year last year but I feel like every year is just as great."
At the end of July, Janette announced she welcomed her baby girl, Lyra Rose, in a sweet Instagram post. Sharing a candid black and white photo of herself lying in a hospital bed with her daughter resting on her chest and a delighted Aljaž resting his hands on them, she wrote: "Lyra Rose Skorjanec. July 28, 2023."
The couple's co-stars and friends rushed to the comments to congratulate them, with Gemma Atkinson writing: "Just wonderful." While James Jordan wrote: "So happy for you both. Sending love from the Jordans."
Janette and Aljaž's sweet choice of name for their baby daughter is of Greek origin and has a touching connection to their love of dance and music. It originates from the myth of Orpheus' legendary lyre - or harp - which was said to have played music so beautiful that it could move all animals, trees and even gods. The lyre was placed into the heavens as a constellation, with the name Lyra considered a gift for music-loving parents as a reminder to their child to reach for the stars.
The Strictly stars married in 2017 and announced their baby news back in February after they had been trying to conceive for more than two years.