After significant changes in the lineup of professional dancers on the popular show Strictly, Janette Manrara has spoken out about speculations regarding her potential departure along with her colleague Fleur East from the companion show It Takes Two. Speculations arose following the removal of four professional dancers from the Strictly Come Dancing spin-off.
Although the BBC refuted claims of Janette and Fleur being dropped as “factually incorrect,” the rumors persisted. Janette has now addressed this uncertainty, stating that the truth will be revealed in due time.
During an interview on BBC Breakfast, Janette was questioned about her presence on It Takes Two in the upcoming season. She responded, “I’m not sure, we’ll have to wait and see. Currently, everyone is on standby, so we’ll have to see how things unfold… That’s the nature of show business!”
Addressing speculations about the show’s future, Janette assured fans that Strictly would continue despite recent controversies and the departure of long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. “Strictly will definitely return,” she affirmed. “That’s a guarantee.”
In a light-hearted tone, the dancer added, “I assume there will be some new professionals and presenters too.” In addition to the exits of Tess and Claudia, Strictly Come Dancing bid farewell to four professional dancers. The first to depart was Karen Hauer, the show’s longest-serving female professional.
Following Karen’s exit, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas also left the show. Speculations suggest that more departures are imminent, with Gorka Marquez and Neil Jones rumored to be the next professionals to announce their exits.
Reportedly, BBC executives are scouting for new talent from the United States as they prepare for the upcoming season. Discussions have allegedly taken place with American dancer D’angelo Castro, who impressed during a recent UK visit. With prior experience on the American show Dancing With The Stars and a strong social media following, the 25-year-old has caught the producers’ attention.
According to The Sun on Sunday, insiders close to the show revealed,