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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Lucy Needham

Strictly's Janette Manrara pregnant with 'miracle' baby with Aljaž after fertility struggle

Strictly Come Dancing's Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec are expecting their first baby.

Going public with the happy news, the professional dancers revealed they have been trying to conceive for more than two years as they shared their fertility struggle.

Janette, who now presents spin-off show It Takes Two, said she feared her dream of becoming a mum was looking even more unlikely as approached her 40 birthday this year.

After consulting doctors, the TV star, 39, arranged to start IVF treatment only to make the shock discovery she was already pregnant.

Sharing the incredible news for the first time, Janette said: "For the past couple of years we hadn’t been using protection but nothing was happening, so we thought IVF was the next best thing for us to do.

Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec are expecting their first baby (Getty)
The Strictly favourites revealed they've been trying for two years (PA Wire/Press Association Images)

"I turn 40 later this year and the NHS offers really good services to women under 40. The doctor said that as soon as I got my period we would start injections, but my period never came," she told Hello magazine.

Showing off her blossoming baby bump for the first time, a thrilled Janette said:" We're so happy to share our special news!"

The pair, who married in 2017, were immediately inundated with sweet messages from their fellow Strictly stars.

Strictly 2022 finalist Fleur East penned, "Ahhhh amazing!!! Congratulations to you both."

Fellow pro-dancers Giovanni Pernice and Vito Coppolo were also among the first to share congratulatory messages.

Former Strictly star Ola Jordan also piped up in the comments writing: "Awww that’s amazing. Congratulations to you both."

Janette described the baby as a 'miracle'.

"I know that IVF can be really strenuous on a woman’s body and there is no guarantee it will work, so to know that this little miracle just came from a wonderful night we had together is amazing. I think the baby decided to make Mum and Dad panic a bit before saying, ‘ok, fine, I’m coming up now.'"

The presenter revealed she broke the news to a speechless Aljaž by handing him a positive pregnancy test - after first speaking to her doctor to confirm the joyous news was true.

The professional dancers say they then broke down in tears and collapsed into each other's arms and sobbed.

Janette has opened up about her fertility struggle (Instagram)

Aljaž said: "I was beside myself. I feel like I've been thinking and dreaming about that moment for so long. We were preparing for IVF mentally and physically and then it was just a relief to finally have that positive test. I have so much respect for any parent that goes through IVF, not just for what it puts them through physically but mentally too."

The couple have been together since 2010, when they met while both starring in a production of stage show Burn The Floor.

They tied the knot in 2017 with many of their fellow Strictly stars attending their nuptials.

The Janette and Aljaž love story goes way back with the Strictly couple meeting in 2010 (Instagram)

Close pals Oti Mabuse, Anton du Beke and Katya Jones watched as they happy couple said their vows.

Janette and Aljaž have been part of the Strictly family since 2013.

In 2021 Janette shocked fans by announcing she would be quitting the BBC dance show - but was later snapped up to present spin off show It Takes Two.

While Aljaž quit the series a year later.

The couple were both hugely successful during their time on the show, making it to the final several times with Aljaž winning with Abbey Clancy in 2013.

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