Janette Manrara thinks it would be "really sad" if 'Strictly Come Dancing' was "destroyed" by scandal.
Janette Manrara has defended Strictly Come Dancing
The 40-year-old dancer - who is married to fellow professional Aljaž Škorjanec - is worried the recent allegations of bullying and abusive behaviour towards some celebrity contestants from their partners will overshadow the "20 years of happiness" that the Latin and ballroom programme has brought to viewers.
She told Fabulous magazine: "It would really be sad if a couple of incidents destroy the 20 years of happiness that Strictly’s brought. All of my [celebrity] partners and I are still really good friends. Aljaž is still really great friends with his partners.
"There are a gazillion stories of all the happiness that Strictly has brought, not just to the contestants but to the fans, too. They’ve been posting on social media saying: ‘Oh, I really hope the show carries on.’ And it will carry on, because it brings so much joy to people.”
The show has seen Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima dropped from the professional line-up amid claims of abuse, and Janette admitted she hasn't been in touch with either of them.
She said: “I’ve tried to steer clear.
“It’s complicated and I’m a bit of a girl’s girl. I just don’t know. They were both really great friends and I feel very saddened by everything that’s happening, not just to them but to the [celebs] involved. It’s such a messy time right now…”
Janette herself was drawn into the scandal after Paralympian Will Bayley told how he severely hurt his leg trying to perform a jump better when he competed with her in 2019 after she branded his efforts "rubbish", but he also stressed he felt she was under pressure from show bosses.
But the 'Strictly: It Takes Two' host insisted the "unfortunate incident" didn't damage her relationship with him.
She said: “I think sometimes people get frustrated. It was an unfortunate incident and obviously had repercussions. You never control people’s emotions and reactions.
“I messaged him [Will] because we are really good friends. He immediately said: ‘I’m so sorry, it’s not meant to look like that. I don’t want you to feel like it’s you,’ and I [responded]: ‘It’s OK.’ “I enjoyed dancing with him so much. It’s the only time I’ve actually ever cried on Strictly, when we did our Couple’s Choice. It was a dedication to Great Ormond Street Hospital."
Janette thinks 'Strictly' needs to bring back its "warmth".
She said: “Everybody has a goal. They want to get to Halloween week, then Blackpool, then they want to get to the final. But we need to bring the warmth back – I don’t think it has ever really gone, but maybe it’s got lost in the mix of things.”