Janette Manrara is stepping down as a professional dancer on hit BBC series Strictly Come Dancing, to join Rylan Clark-Neal on its spin-off series It Takes Two. It has been confirmed that Janette will replace Zoe Ball, who has presented the programme for the past ten years.
Because of her new presenting role, Janette will no longer be dancing on Strictly Come Dancing 2021 but has stressed that her passion for dancing will definitely continue. She told the BBC: "I am still going to be seeing my fellow pros all the time and I will keep dancing, as they say. I will find a way to keep dancing.
"My mum and my dad at home and my family back in Miami, they were immigrants from a small Cuban family, they came over and now their daughter is hosting a huge dance show here in the UK."
She added: "They couldn't be prouder. I couldn't feel more privileged to be sharing this with such an awesome group of people."
Janette Manrara (@JManrara) has been confirmed as the new host on @bbcstrictly's #ItTakesTwo! She will share hosting duties with @Rylan across the week on @BBCTwo - https://t.co/Al1Wp8igLC pic.twitter.com/qGpunoDRfpJune 10, 2021
Last month, Zoe confirmed she was leaving the programme and passing the presenter baton to someone else. She remains a huge fan of Strictly and even competed on the series in Season 3, making it all the way to the final.
Zoe shared her departure in an Instagram post last month, where she wrote: "Dance lovers, after 10 joyous years I am waltzing away from It Takes Two."
She added: "As a massive @bbcstrictly fan I have loved spending my Autumn teatimes with the celebrity dancers, the gorgeous & awesome pro dancers, the judges, my girl Vicky Gill, Rylan, Gethin & of course my main man Ian Waite. Time now for some new cha cha challenges.
"I will continue to support the Strictly family on the Breakfast Show & can’t wait to watch the Class Of 2021 from my sofa. Huge love & grateful thanks to Tess & Claude & the whole Strictly clan, the ITT fans, my Glam Squad, Eve Winstanley, Alex McLeod, the BBC2 gang, & of course the best telly crew ever. I will miss you all immensely. As Iveta would say “Friends for the life“ xx"
Strictly Come Dancing is expected to return later this year.
