Searches for “janette manrara sad news” have increased as fans have followed major changes in Janette Manrara’s career and her departure from Strictly Come Dancing and It Takes Two. For many viewers, Manrara had become a familiar face of the BBC franchise, first as a professional dancer and later as a presenter.

The most significant recent development is her confirmation in June 2026 that she was no longer part of either Strictly Come Dancing or its companion programme It Takes Two. She described the show as having changed significantly, while also making clear that she intended to pursue other opportunities.

That news understandably felt sad to longtime fans. However, it is important to distinguish a difficult career transition from unverified rumours about someone’s personal life. Recent developments also show that Manrara has continued working, including a new West End theatre role.

This article explains what the Janette Manrara sad news refers to, why her Strictly departure mattered, and what she has been doing since leaving the BBC shows.

Key Takeaways

• Janette Manrara confirmed in June 2026 that she was no longer part of Strictly Come Dancing or It Takes Two.
• Her departure followed a wider restructuring of the Strictly Come Dancing franchise.
• Manrara has continued working in entertainment rather than stepping away from the industry.
• In August 2026, she was announced as part of the cast of Affluenza at Riverside Studios in London.
• Recent reports do not establish that the phrase “sad news” refers to a personal tragedy; much of the discussion concerns her professional transition.
• Manrara remains active as a dancer, presenter, performer and content creator.

Biography Table

What Does the Janette Manrara Sad News Refer To?

The phrase “janette manrara sad news” is primarily associated with the emotional reaction to her departure from Strictly Come Dancing and It Takes Two.

On June 4, 2026, Manrara confirmed that she was no longer part of the main Strictly programme or It Takes Two. Her announcement came during a major period of change for the long-running BBC franchise.

For viewers who had followed her career for more than a decade, the announcement represented the end of an important chapter.

Manrara had joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2013. After leaving the professional dance lineup, she moved into presenting and became a host of It Takes Two in 2021.

Her departure therefore wasn’t simply the loss of a television appearance. It marked a significant change in the career path she had built within the Strictly family.

Why Her Departure Was Emotional for Fans

Manrara became closely associated with the programme over many years. She competed as a professional dancer, developed relationships with fellow performers and later became one of the recognisable presenters connected to the franchise.

Her move into television presenting was particularly notable because it represented a transition from performing routines on the dance floor to interviewing contestants and discussing the competition from a different perspective.

In April 2026, before her departure was confirmed, Manrara had said that she would have to “wait and find out” about her future presenting role. At that point, there was uncertainty surrounding the programme’s new lineup.

The eventual confirmation made the situation clearer.

Why Did Janette Manrara Leave Strictly?

Manrara explained that Strictly Come Dancing had changed significantly and that she was no longer part of either the main show or It Takes Two. She also indicated that the change could give her the freedom to pursue projects she had previously wanted to explore.

The departure happened during a broader transformation of the franchise.

The BBC programme underwent changes involving its presenting lineup and professional dancers, while It Takes Two was also being refreshed. Reports at the time described a substantial overhaul rather than an isolated change involving Manrara.

This distinction matters because it places her departure within the wider context of the programme rather than suggesting that it was simply an individual setback.

Janette Manrara’s Strictly Come Dancing Career

Manrara’s connection with Strictly Come Dancing began in 2013, when she joined the show as a professional dancer.

Before arriving in Britain, she had already developed an international dance career. Her professional background included appearances on the US television programme So You Think You Can Dance, performances with major artists and work in theatre and television.

Her Strictly celebrity partners included:

• Julien Macdonald
• Jake Wood
• Peter Andre
• Melvin Odoom
• Aston Merrygold
• Dr Ranj
• Will Bayley
• HRVY

Her partnership with HRVY was particularly memorable because the pair reached the grand final.

Although her competitive dancing career eventually came to an end, Manrara’s relationship with the programme continued through presenting.

From Professional Dancer to It Takes Two Presenter

Moving from professional dancing to television presenting was a major career development for Manrara.

She joined It Takes Two as a presenter in 2021, initially working alongside Rylan Clark and later Fleur East.

The role allowed her to use skills beyond dance. She was able to interview contestants, discuss performances and provide viewers with behind-the-scenes access to the competition.

Manrara has previously spoken about how meaningful the transition was. Her background gave her an understanding of what the show’s dancers and celebrities experience, while her television work allowed her to develop another side of her career.

That makes her 2026 departure especially significant: she wasn’t simply leaving a job but closing a chapter that had connected her with Strictly in several different roles.

Is There Any Confirmed Personal Tragedy?

There is an important distinction between sad career news and a confirmed personal tragedy.

The available recent reporting about Manrara focuses heavily on her Strictly departure and the changes surrounding her professional career. There is no reliable evidence in the sources reviewed for this article establishing that the current “sad news” search refers to a major personal tragedy.

Readers should therefore be cautious with social-media posts or headlines that imply something more serious without providing verifiable information.

Celebrity searches can quickly become distorted when rumours are repeated without context. In Manrara’s case, the confirmed story is her professional transition away from the BBC’s Strictly programmes.

What Is Janette Manrara Doing Now?

Leaving Strictly has not meant leaving entertainment.

In August 2026, Manrara was announced as part of the cast of Affluenza, a new play scheduled for Riverside Studios in London. The production is set to run from September 26 to November 21, 2026, with Noah Schnapp among the previously announced cast.

The development is important because it demonstrates that Manrara is continuing to expand her career beyond television presenting and professional ballroom dancing.

Her stage career has also included musical theatre. Her professional profile notes work in productions including Chicago, while her wider career has involved theatre, television and dance performance.

This new chapter could give Manrara an opportunity to explore different forms of performance and storytelling.

Janette Manrara’s Family and Personal Life

Manrara was born in Miami, Florida, to a Cuban family and began performing at a young age. Her professional biography describes her early involvement in musical theatre and later formal dance training.

She is married to fellow dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. The couple have a daughter, Lyra Rose.

Family has remained an important part of Manrara’s public story, but it is useful to separate verified personal information from sensational claims that can circulate online.

When readers encounter searches such as “Janette Manrara sad news,” the safest approach is to look at the underlying reporting and determine whether the story concerns her family, health, career or another subject rather than assuming the phrase describes a specific event.

What Happens Next for Janette Manrara?

The most obvious next step is her theatre work.

Her involvement with Affluenza gives her a new professional platform at a time when she is moving beyond the Strictly brand. The production is scheduled to open at Riverside Studios in September 2026.

She has also continued to maintain a presence through digital content and other entertainment projects.

Rather than viewing her Strictly departure as the end of her career, it may be more accurate to see it as a transition from one highly visible role to a broader collection of opportunities.

Her background already spans:

1. Professional ballroom and Latin dance
2. Television presenting
3. Choreography
4. Musical theatre
5. Live touring
6. Digital content
7. Stage acting

That range gives her several possible directions following her BBC exit.

Why Fans Continue to Search for Janette Manrara

Manrara has built a loyal audience through a combination of professional achievements and a personable television presence.

Her journey is also relatively unusual. She moved from Miami and a finance background into professional dance, eventually performing internationally before becoming part of one of Britain’s best-known entertainment programmes.

That career history helps explain why changes involving her continue to attract attention.

For longtime Strictly viewers, her absence represents a noticeable change. For Manrara herself, however, the next phase appears to be about using the experience she has gained to explore different creative opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Janette Manrara sad news?

The phrase largely relates to the emotional reaction to Janette Manrara’s confirmed departure from Strictly Come Dancing and It Takes Two in 2026.

Has Janette Manrara left Strictly Come Dancing?

Yes. Manrara confirmed in June 2026 that she was no longer part of the main Strictly Come Dancing show or It Takes Two.

Why did Janette Manrara leave It Takes Two?

Her departure occurred as part of significant changes to the Strictly Come Dancing franchise. Manrara said the show had changed considerably and that she was now free to pursue other projects.

Is Janette Manrara still dancing?

Yes. Although she is no longer part of the Strictly lineup, dance remains an important part of her professional background, alongside presenting and stage work.

Is Janette Manrara joining a new show?

She has been announced as part of the cast of Affluenza, a new stage production at Riverside Studios in London. The play is scheduled to run from September 26 to November 21, 2026.

Who is Janette Manrara married to?

Janette Manrara is married to Slovenian professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. The couple have a daughter, Lyra Rose.

How old is Janette Manrara?

Janette Manrara was born on November 16, 1983, making her 42 years old in September 2026.

Is the Janette Manrara sad news about a personal tragedy?

Current reliable reporting reviewed for this article does not establish a major personal tragedy behind the phrase. The main confirmed recent development is her departure from Strictly and It Takes Two, followed by new professional opportunities.

Conclusion

The Janette Manrara sad news searches largely reflect the disappointment felt by fans after she confirmed that she was leaving Strictly Come Dancing and It Takes Two. After many years connected with the franchise, her departure understandably marked the end of an important era.

However, the story does not end with her BBC exit. Manrara continues to work across entertainment and has secured a role in Affluenza, demonstrating that her career is moving into a new phase.

For fans, the most useful way to understand the current situation is to separate confirmed developments from rumours. Manrara has left the Strictly programmes, but she remains active as a performer and presenter, with new opportunities ahead.

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