Strictly's Janette Manrara admits first year of BBC show was ‘hardest of her life’
EXCLUSIVE: Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manara explained that she suffered from imposter syndrome in a 'very emotional' year on the BBC show.
Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara has admitted that her time on the BBC show hasn't always been plain sailing. She candidly opened up sharing that she initially suffered from "imposter syndrome" in a very emotional and tough year, when first signing up to be a professional dancer.
Speaking at the Southport Flower Show, the 40-year-old, who is now better known for hosting It Takes Two, discussed the release of her book - Tiny Dancer, Big World.
She said: "I'm very, very vulnerable and honest in the book which made me nervous, because I think a lot of people see me as happy go lucky, which I am. But that doesn't mean that I haven't had hardship and tough times.
"One of the things that comes up in the book, and I get asked about it a lot by the people that have been reading it, is that my first year of Strictly was one of the hardest times of my life."
She explained: "I felt massive imposter syndrome and had a lot of self doubt. I was part of a show competing against professional dancers that had titles in the world of dancing, and I didn't. Aljaz went on to win it, whereas I was in the dance off for four weeks in a row, so it was tough.
"Obviously living in a new country and then Aljaz left to do the Strictly Live tour and I couldn't do it that year, so it was a very lonely, very difficult and very emotional time.
"But I came out of the other end of it stronger and learning a lot about myself, and I talk about that in my book."
Janette joined the BBC as a professional dancer on Strictly back in 2013. Her first celebrity partner in the 11th series was fashion designer Julien Macdonald but sadly they were the third couple to be eliminated from the competition.
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The Cuban dancer's second year was much more successful, as she was partnered with EastEnders actor Jake Wood. They made it to the semi-finals, finishing in fifth place overall.
As well as her main series appearances Manrara has also taken part in one-off specials of the show, before landing a presenting role on It Takes Two in 2021.
She took over from BBC Radio 2 host Zoe Ball as her role of professional dancer came to an end on the show.
