Janette Manrara confirms departure from It Takes Two

Janette Manrara, a longtime fixture of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, has confirmed she will not return to host the companion show It Takes Two this year. The announcement, made in a video posted to her YouTube channel, marks a significant departure for the dancer who has been associated with the program for 14 years.

Manrara, 42, joined the main show as a professional dancer in 2013 and continued in that role until 2020. She then transitioned to co-presenting It Takes Two alongside Fleur East in 2021. In her video, she stated that the show has changed significantly and she is no longer part of It Takes Two or the main series. She described the career shift as navigating a different world but expressed excitement about pursuing other projects. Manrara added that she would remain involved with Strictly in unspecified ways.

The news prompted an outpouring of disappointment from fans on social media, with many expressing sadness at her exit and support for her future endeavors.

Her departure is part of a broader series of changes for the long-running dance competition ahead of its 2026 season. Earlier this year, the program confirmed that five professional dancers—Nadiya Bychkova,...