Janette Manrara has shared an emotional message with fans over a 'night to remember' with her husband Aljaž Skorjanec.
The presenter and dancer took to social media on Thursday (May 15) after she and Strictly Come Dancing pro Aljaž returned to the stage together.
The pair kicked off their A Night To Remember tour in Swansea on Wednesday night (May 14) after previously announcing their 19-date tour which will see them performing at venues up and down the country.
The show is said to promise to be the dance stars' biggest show to-date, featuring a sensational ensemble of some of the UK’s very best dancers and singers.
In addition, Aljaž and Janette will take to the dance floor to perform stunning routines to an eclectic array of music - spanning the Great American songbook through to modern day classics - backed by their very own big band, fronted by boogie woogie star Tom Seals.
Following their first show, Janette shared a video on Instagram in which she, Aljaž and their fellow cast could be seen in a huddle before heading out on stage.
Captioning the post, Janette wrote: "Last night we opened @rememberingtour #ANightToRemember and it was honestly magical! Really taking it back to basics w/ just great music, singing, and dancing. Our incredible band playing live music…. there is no better feeling than dancing to all those beautiful instruments being played right with you! Such a magical synergy!
"Then you add the awe-inspiring cast we have! I feel so humbled to have them on stage. They are all stars in their own right and shining on stage as they should be @missnatashamould (associate choreographer) @kiera_brunton (dance captain) @tonyescottobene @nickgodfrey04 THANK YOU for being part of this with us!
"@jillmariecooper who’s voice is just insane! I could listen to her all day! Thank you for being a part of this with us! I cannot wait for you all to hear her! @tomseals for believing in this crazy idea of coming together w/ us to create a show that celebrates not just dancing but music as well! The moment we saw you performing, we knew you were something special and we are so happy that you’re showing everyone just how super talented you are. THANK YOU for joining us and making this show as special as it is!"
She continued: "To our creative team and our crew who are simply the best always! We call it “The Dream Team” and that’s because we could not have a more collaborative, supportive, creative, and kind group of people to do this with. THANK YOU for always believing in us and allowing us to do what we love most which is to entertain and to connect with people. @fierce_gw @stevenrhoward @davideshep @curtisbrowntalent
"And the BIGGEST thank you to YOU, those that have always supported us and watched our shows, those that are just jumping on the 'Aljaz and Janette' train and coming to watch, and to anyone that just appreciates and loves dance and live music as much as we do.
"If you’re coming along, we hope you enjoy the show! Swansea was incredible and we cannot wait to come all of you at a city near you over the next few weeks. It really will be 'A Night to Remember'."
And fans were quick to respond to the update. @ilovejanettex said: "This has made me so emotional. So proud of everybody involved !!!!!! Can’t wait to see you in London, Glasgow and Gateshead." @soph079 wrote: "We went to see this show last night, exceeded expectations! If you haven't bought tickets, do it!
@strictly.emily posted: "Congrats on opening night!! can't wait to see the show in a few weeks." @mandy_seals added: "Have an amazing tour, can’t wait to see you all."
Aljaž first joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, starring in the following nine series to become one of the longest-serving male dancers in the show’s history. In his first series, Aljaž was partnered with model Abbey Clancy, with the pair going on to lift the coveted Glitterball trophy.
His other celebrity dance partners included Dragon’s Den star Sarah Davies MBE, model Daisy Lowe, TV presenter Alison Hammond and actress Gemma Atkinson, who he reached the final with in 2017.
After leaving Strictly in 2022, Aljaž made his hugely popular return to the show earlier this year, partnered with Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, with the pair making it all the way to the final.
Janette also joined Strictly Come Dancing’s cast of professional dancers in 2013, starring in eight series, before announcing in 2021 that she would be stepping down as a competitor to co-host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.
During her time on Strictly, Janette’s celebrity dance partners included actor Jake Wood, singer Peter Andre, JLS star Aston Merrygold, doctor and TV presenter Ranj Singh and Paralympian Will Bayley MBE. For her final series in 2020, Janette was partnered with singer and TV presenter HRVY, where they finished the series as runners-up in the final.
