Janette Manrara has defended Shirley Ballas, insisting she has a "tough job" as head judge on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
Ex-Strictly Come Dancing dancer Janette Manrara defends head judge Shirley Ballas
The ‘Strictly: It Takes Two’ presenter - who worked as a pro dancer on the BBC One star-studded Latin and ballroom competition between 2013 and 2020 - has voiced her support for the 62-year-old dancer after she was criticised by some for previously saying she would have sent home singer Fleur East in a dance-off, and for praising a dance move by former England footballer Tony Adams, who opted to leave the show on medical grounds last weekend.
Janette, 39, told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "She has got a really tough job. I would not want to be the one who decides who goes and who stays and for it to all fall in my hands as a head judge.
"Everyone is so brilliant in this series that I think the judge's job is very tough. I don’t think anyone knows better than her the specifics of each dance we do on 'Strictly'."
Janette - who is married to fellow ex 'Strictly' pro Aljaz Skorjanec, who left the show in March 2022 - feels dance is "so subjective”, so she insisted it is hard for Shirley and the other judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.
She said: "It's not that there is bias. For me, dance is so subjective. There is no right or wrong answer."
The West End star - who co-hosts the BBC Two companion show alongside Rylan Clark - acknowledges there is no “one way system” to critique a dance.
Janette said: "There are things technically that you can really point out but in terms of - did you like the concept? Did you like the song? Did you like wardrobe? Did you like the choreography?
"That all becomes highly, highly subjective so there is no right or wrong or one way system for anyone."
Tagged in Anton Du Beke Rylan Clark Fleur East