Strictly’s Janette Manrara has opened up about her ‘struggles’ over being away from daughter Lyra and said she had ‘never wanted to be home more’ amid her ‘manic’ schedule.
The It Takes Two host, 41, who shares the two-year-old with husband and fellow show dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, 35, has been busy hosting Strictly’s Live tour, starring in a production of musical Chicago and will soon embark on a string of shows with her husband.
Speaking about her worries she told The Mirror: ‘So it was more about Lyra. Is she going to be okay? Is she going to be at home? Is she going to be with Aljaz? What’s the plan with Lyra?’.
‘Although I am still doing those things, I have had to really kind of consider the schedule and while this year is manic, I’ve never wanted to be home more now she’s in my life. I want to be home now more than ever’.
Janette also said she had her ‘fingers crossed’ to return as host of the Strictly spin-off alongside Fleur East as the job gave her more time at home, while Aljaz rehearsed with his celeb partner.
She told the publication: ‘If I’m back, I’ll have It Takes Two two or three days a week and then the rest of the time I can be at home with Lyra. That’s like my time to be mummy!”.
Strictly ‘s Janette Manrara, 41, has opened up about her ‘struggles’ over being away from daughter Lyra and said she had ‘never wanted to be home more’ amid her ‘manic’ schedule
The It Takes Two host shares the two-year-old with husband and fellow show dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, 35 (pictured as a family)
Speaking about her worries she said: ‘So it was more about Lyra. Is she going to be okay? Is she going to be at home? Is she going to be with Aljaz? What’s the plan with Lyra?’.
Last month Janette wiped away tears in an emotional Instagram post, as she prepared to bid farewell to her husband and their daughter.
She joined the touring cast for the musical Chicago and was heading to Ireland for a string of shows, after her performances at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Janette then headed to Belfast for shows at the Grand Opera House.
The star had previously shared that she won’t see Aljaz or Lyra for those two weeks, and instead they’re planning to spend time with his family in Slovenia.
In a video posted on her Instagram Stories, Janette revealed she had bid farewell to her family ahead of her tour shows, and shared a message for other working parents.
She said: ‘Hi gang. Just said my goodbyes to Aljaž and Lyra, and I won’t see them for two weeks now but sharing is good because it makes us all feel better.
‘And I miss them a lot. It’s the longest I’ll be away from Lyra so just starting to count down to the day I see her again.’
‘But in the mean time, I’m gonna stay strong and know that mommy is making her proud. And she is gonna have the best time with her cousins and her nan in Slovenia.
‘Anyways, to all the parents that have to say goodbye to their kids for work or for whatever reason, it’s always tough but we’ve got this! We’ve got it.’
‘Although I am still doing those things, I have had to really kind of consider the schedule and while this year is manic, I’ve never wanted to be home more now she’s in my life’
She has been busy hosting Strictly’s Live tour, starring in a production of musical Chicago (pictured) and will soon embark on a string of shows with her husband
Janette also said she had her ‘fingers crossed’ to return as host of the Strictly spin-off as the job gave her more time at home, while Aljaz rehearsed with his celeb partner
Alongside the clip, Janette shared another message for her followers, writing: ‘It always makes me feel better to share. Hope this also helps other working parents out there. It’s hard but we got this.’
Janette previously spoke about being away from Lyra during an appearance on The One Show.
She said: ‘I think that’s what kind of not worries me but scares me a little bit y’know it’s a long contract and to be away from her.
‘So Aljaž is gonna come to as many venues and cities as he possibly can, Blackpool being one them. We’re gonna go back to Blackpool with the show.
‘I’ve been there only with Strictly so it’ll be interesting to go now with Chicago. But yeah they’re gonna come with me as much as possible and I am flying home on days off to just cuddle with her as much as I can.’
It comes after Janette and Aljaz made a major move while he also dropped a hint about his own future on the BBC show.
The couple moved into their ‘dream home’ in Cheshire two years ago after deciding to leave London to start a family, before being forced to relocate back down south.
The lovebirds opened up about the ordeal, with Aljaz – who returned to Strictly last year – describing the move as ‘absolutely awful’.
Last month Janette wiped away tears in an emotional Instagram post, as she prepared to bid farewell to her husband and their daughter
The star had previously shared that she won’t see Aljaz or Lyra for those two weeks, and instead they’re planning to spend time with his family in Slovenia
He told the Mirror: ‘Moving home is one of the last things you want to do, let’s be honest, and it doesn’t matter how you do it, if you get someone to help you with it, if you do it yourself.
‘The reality is you’re going to be looking at cardboard for a foreseeable amount of time.’
While Janette explained: ‘We tried it this year with me commuting to London for It Takes Two and Aljaz staying down in London for the whole series of Strictly. In retrospect, we spent some very, very minimal time together as a family.
‘Lyra and I were traveling up and down twice a week, staying in hotel rooms to try and make it work.’
Janette said Aljaz’s show return and her own bi-weekly work commute during the autumn and winter made it incredibly challenging to maintain a balanced family life.
She also hinted that he is keen to return to Strictly once again this year but said he is still waiting to hear whether he will be in the 2025 line-up.
Janette said they have decided to move back to London for the sake of Lyra’s well-being, predicting that Aljaz will soon be returning to Strictly.
Aljaz is currently anxiously waiting for the announcement of the 2025 Strictly line-up with his fellow professional dancers.
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