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Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Aljaz Skorjanec, 33, has revealed the true reason behind his departure from the show, and told his wife, Janette Manrara, 39, that there “is nothing” he’d go back and do again.
On Monday, Aljaz and Janette’s podcast, Twist and Shout, returned after taking a two-year hiatus.
During the recent episode, the mum-to-be told her husband that it was time to discuss the “elephant in the room” and for him to reveal the reason he exited the BBC show.
Janette said: “The elephant in the room is Strictly. We’ve both left it, in different ways.
“But I think we should start with your story because, actually, your last year on Strictly was with the amazing Sara Davies.”
Read more: Janette Manrara admits Strictly exit caused struggle in relationship with husband Aljaz
The mum-to-be then asked her husband: “But it was your last series, wasn’t it? Do you remember the moment when you said, ‘Right, I think it’s time, I think I’m going to make that decision’?”
Aljaz answered and said that he “remembered that moment very well”.
The professional dancer stated: “It was actually before my last series, probably a couple of seasons before that.
“You get to create so much beautiful stuff on Strictly, you get this blank canvas – I always say this…So I kind of got to the point where my creative juices were not flowing as easily as they did in 2013 when I first started.”
The Slovenian champion then went on to say that choreographing and styling took longer and that it was difficult to come up with songs that “hadn’t been used” on the show.
Aljaz further stated: “I never felt like I left anything on the dancefloor. I don’t have a single inch of me saying ‘I wish I could go back and do this again’… there is nothing.
“I feel like I gave every single bit of love that I had for my celebrities to every bit of rehearsals – which was always my favourite part of Strictly.”
The 33-year-old then admitted that when he was paired with Sara, he “knew” it was going to be his last celebrity dance partner.
“That was probably the moment, because I’ve kind of covered a whole spectrum of people that I have danced with from models, TV presenters, radio presenters, actresses…And once I found out I was going to be dancing with a Dragon!
“Once I met her…I was ready to make that next step and use the platform that Strictly gave me.”
In March 2022, Aljaz announced via Instagram that he wouldn’t be returning to do another season of Strictly.
He wrote: “A little while ago I made the tough decision that Strictly 2021 would be my last.
“I have lots of exciting stuff planned that I will fill you in on soon. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
