Strictly Come Dancing professional Janette Manrara has opened up about her marriage to fellow pro Aljaž Škorjanec, crediting the series for "saving" their relationship.
Upending the usual 'Strictly curse' narrative, Janette – who married Aljaž in 2017 – has revealed that the BBC series "saved" the couple "really, in every way".
The pair explained that they were offered roles on Strictly Come Dancing at a point when they thought they would have to live apart from each other.
"He was going to possibly have to move back to Slovenia and I was going back to Los Angeles, and we were going to try the long-distance thing and see what happened," Janette said (via The Sun).
Offering them not only "stability workwise" but in their relationship, the couple now see the competition as an important part of their time together.
"We got engaged on Strictly, we got married while being on Strictly," Janette continued. "For us it's always been the biggest Strictly blessing instead of a Strictly curse, and we owe everything to the show really."
Speaking earlier this year, Janette opened up about her plans to start a family with Aljaž, revealing that although they're not ready to start trying for a baby just yet, she has "always looked forward to becoming a mother".
"I think what Aljaž and I kind of discovered in the first lockdown and being separated is how much we really are a team, and that when we do decide to have children we are more than ready," she said.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One. It's due to return later in 2021.
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