Janette Manrara has recalled feeling like a 'single mum' during husband Aljaz Skorjanec's time on Strictly Come Dancing as the pair open up about juggling their successful dancing careers with being first-time parents.
The couple, who are best known for appearing in the BBC One dance contest, with Janette starring as one of the show's professional dancers from 2013 to 2019, while Aljaz also joined in 2013, welcomed their first child, daughter Lyra, into the world back in July 2023.
It was then last month that Janette and Aljaz shared an emotional look into their life as a new mum and dad, while also touring the country with their own dance show, in their very own film.
On Mother's Day, which fell on March 30, Janette revealed the raw film about her and Aljaz's early period as new parents, which also saw them juggling their busy careers as they headed back on tour shortly after Lyra Rose's arrival.
The dancer and presenter said alongside a personal video: "Happy Mothers Day! This photo was taken in a hotel room while we were on tour w/ @rememberingtour, while #ItTakesTwo was also on, and Lyra was only 3 months old.
"In celebration of Mothers Day, such a special day of the year, we are thrilled to be releasing a short film for all to see. (Visit the link in our bio to view it on our @youtube channel).
"It has been a passionate topic for us for quite some time; this short film is about empowering parents, and about breaking stereotypes. It’s not easy to co-parent when both are working… but it’s not impossible. This film means a lot to us, and we were nervous about when and how to release it."
She continued: "We are hoping us sharing our reality will give some support to parents out there who need a reminder that there is no one way system to raising a child, and that we are all doing our best.
"That you can have a career, and still be a good parent. This is for all the mothers who constantly doubt, for the fathers who want to let go of stereotypes, and for all the children that we are raising to see both parents working together as a team, in whatever way that looks like, to provide the best possible future for them. There is no one way system, there is only love."
Janette and Aljaz, who returned to Strictly as a pro last year after a two-year hiatus, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday (April 28) to chat about the film and preparing to be on the move again with Lyra in tow as they head out on a new tour in the summer.
Susanna Reid spoke about Janette's return to work shortly after Lyra's arrival while Aljaz took on the bulk of baby duties. Referring to him as being a 'stay at home dad', Aljaz replied: "I love it. It's like my favourite thing now. 'Strictly professional?' no, 'stay at home dad' is first.
"I got that bonding time with the little one that I didn't think I'd ever get. I had this lovely conversation with my dad just before she was born and the one thing he said he'd change going back was that he'd spend more time with me when I was little."
He added: "I know so many men don't get that option or possibility and I felt like I had it. At the time, I was still on Strictly as a pro but I felt like, 'You know what, this is the maybe the moment that I can take [that time] and be with the baby every day, all day,' and it's the best thing I ever did..."
They then moved on to speak about their recent move. Ahead of Lyra's birth, the couple headed up north to live in Cheshire with their new baby girl but recently made the move back down to the south.
"It was really hard because the schedule on Strictly is quite intense so we don't really know Aljaz's schedule at all until basically the night before. So I kept saying to my friends, I felt a bit like a single mum those few months because I had to assume Aljaz wouldn't be around so it was just me and Lyra.
"And travelling back and forth to get down to It Takes Two [the Strictly spin-off she co-hosts] didn't seem fair anymore on her and us as a family. We didn't get to spend a lot of time with Aljaz last series so we've moved back down closer to London which I think has been a really great decision for us as a family. I think because first and foremost it's Lyra's wellbeing and making sure she's comfortable."
