Yahoo News Strictly Come dancing's Aljaz Skorjanec reveals dancing plans for baby
The professional dancers welcomed a baby girl at the end of July 2023 and are already prepping her for the dancefloor.
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Aljaz Skorjanec has revealed he hopes his new baby with Janette Manrara will follow in their dancing footsteps.
The Strictly pro and the It Takes Two presenter welcomed their first child – a baby girl named named Lyra Rose – on 28 July.
Skorjanec, 33, shared a picture of their daughter wearing pink socks which said "Dancing feet!" captioned: "These feet ain’t made for walking…"
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The ballroom and Latin champion and Manrara are professional dance partners. They became engaged in 2015 and married in 2017.
Manrara, 39, shared a video of her parents meeting Lyra for the first time saying: "Such an emotional moment. My parents meeting their granddaughter Lyra Rose for the first time."
She added: "They say babies grow fast and to enjoy the newborn stage as much as possible. We’re doing exactly that! Happy 1 week Lyra Mami and Ati are so in love with you."
Skorjanec announced earlier this year he was quitting the BBC dance show.
Over his nine years he danced with celebrity partners including Dragon's Den star Sara Davies and model Abbey Clancy, with whom he won the glitterball in 2013.
Manrara is due to return to screens in the autumn hosting spin-off show It Takes Two with new co-host Fleur East, after Rylan quit the show.
The couple proudly announced the arrival of their first child on 31 July on Instagram.
Their celebrity friends and Strictly colleagues were quick to offer congratulations.
Judge Motsi Mabuse commented: “A start of a very very special and unique time. I am certain this little angel has chosen the perfect parents.”
Gorka Marquez, who recently became a father for the second time after welcoming son Thiago with partner Gemma Atkinson, wrote: “So gorgeous!!!”
Fellow pro Dianne Buswell called the news as “so so exciting”, and Strictly 2022 champion Hamza Yassin said: “Congratulations you both you guys, I am very happy for you both.”
Amy Dowden posted that Lyra Rose was “Utter perfection” and former Great British Bake Off star John Whaite, who reached the Strictly final in 2021 with Johannes Radebe, shared: “Congratulations you lovely humans.”
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Corrie star and former Strictly contestant Kym Marsh commented: “Omg!!!! This is EVERYTHING!!!! Huge congrats xxx.”
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