Ready to face the music... and dance

Strictly Come Dancing couple Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara talk to MARION MCMULLEN about work and family life as they head out on tour

- MARION MCMULLEN

Strictly Come Dancing couple Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara talk to MARION MCMULLEN about work and family life as they head out on tour

Aljaž, how does it feel to be the only professional dancer to ever return to Strictly Come Dancing?

It’s very humbling to say the least. Strictly changed my life when I joined in 2013. I am and forever will be grateful for it.

I've said the best thing I ever did was leave Strictly because I wanted to be home and be a supportive husband to a pregnant wife and then our little baby.

I spent two beautiful years doing the most wholesome things that I am ever going to do in life and time is the one thing you are never going to get back. I was so happy and lucky that I did that and had time to spend with my daughter Lyra.

And going back to Strictly is the second best thing I ever did and I absolutely love it. I have a new perspective on life because of Lyra and I think because of that I do the job better than I did before.

(Laughs) Of course, it gets harder every year because I am not now the youngest professional ever on Strictly, like I was when I first joined, but I have other attributes.

What do you think Strictly will be like without presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman?

Aljaž: It will be strange. They were a massive part of Strictly.

Tess especially has fronted the show for the last 21 years and Strictly will now have a completely new look. Whoever steps into those shoes will have huge shoes to fill.