Strictly's Janette Manrara misses hugging husband Aljaz Skorjanec in COVID bubble
Strictly Come Dancing’s Janette Manrara has revealed she is not allowed to touch her husband Aljaz Skorjanec because they are living in separate social bubbles on the show.
In order for the BBC dance show to go ahead during the coronavirus pandemic, contestants and professional dancers are living in quarantine with their on-screen partners, and are not allowed within two metres of those outside their bubble.
Manrara, 36, is paired with 21-year-old CBBC presenter HRVY, while her fellow dancer husband Skorjanec, 30, is dancing with Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo for the contest.
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Manrara told The Sun: “I do see him around the studio. The hardest bit is when I do see him, my instinct is to run and hug him, but, of course, I can’t touch him.
"We’ve been together 10 years almost, so it’s a good thing those butterflies are still there.
"But it’s so frustrating I can’t do anything with those butterflies.
“Thank God for FaceTime. I put the phone up on the side of the bed and we just chat while I give my legs a rub – because they are sore from the jive.”
Manrara and Skorjanec got engaged in 2015 and married in 2017.
Strictly Come Dancing has become famous over the years for the so-called Strictly curse, which has seen contestants’ relationships end after they take part in the show, in which they spend huge amounts of time getting close to their dance partners.
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HRVY contracted COVID-19 in the rehearsal stage of this year’s dance series and was forced to self-isolate for two weeks.
But earlier this month he confirmed he was free from the virus and allowed to take part in the show.
he’s free from Covid, he’s a free elf now... thank you for all the kind messages, I tested negative today so I’m back, love you guys and see you all soon 🖤 pic.twitter.com/CW2phX6d5s
— hrvy (@HRVY) October 8, 2020
Strictly bosses have said if that contestants contract coronavirus during the competition stages they will be forced to drop out.
Watch: Craig Revel Horwood discusses filming Strictly in lockdown