Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec are relishing every moment with their baby daughter Lyra, whom they welcomed in July.
Enjoying everything that comes with parenthood, the professional dancers - who are famed for appearing on Strictly Come Dancing - have opened up about their initial struggles to become parents and why having more children is definitely on the cards – and how it could be very soon!
© Nicky Johnston / Prima UK"Who knows what will happen next year? We'd love for Lyra to have a brother or sister," It Takes Two host Janette teased in Prima's December issue.
"You never know. You pray for it, and hopefully it will happen," added Aljaz. "We obviously want more children, but after the process we went through to have Lyra, you quickly learn there are never any guarantees in life."
On becoming a first-time mother, Janette gushed: "I still can't believe I'm a mum. I remember sitting at It Takes Two a couple of years ago saying, 'Hopefully we fall pregnant, hopefully, we can conceive,' and then I'd take another test and it would be negative again, so it got to the point where we thought we'd have to deal with different ways of doing this.
© Nicky Johnston / Prima UK"We went through the whole process of IVF. I took the hormones, we did the tests and I was about to start the injections – and then Lyra decided to pop up."
Aljaz went on to describe how he always wanted to be a dad one day, saying: "When I was doing Strictly, I'd give it 120% because that’s the only way to do things – and I'm the same with Lyra. She's only this little once and completely dependent on us, so we have to savour every moment."
© Nicky Johnston / Prima UKJanette and Aljaz welcomed Lyra back in July this year and announced news of her arrival with a heartfelt photo from the hospital. Alongside the snap read the words Lyra Rose Skorjanec July 28, 2023," alongside a rose emoji.
Since then, the couple have shared their joy with HELLO!, revealing how they are finding life as first-time parents. "Every single day is a pinch-yourself moment," Aljaz said.
"Of course, it's very demanding, but the beautiful moments make all the sleepless nights worth it, like when I see her happy and smiling and I'm looking at her with such excitement and anticipation to see what she’s going to do next."
Strictly stars and their children
- Strictly pro Gorka Marquez and former Strictly contestant Gemma Atkinson share two children, Mia, four, and baby Thiago.
- Strictly: It Takes Two host Janette Manrara and her dancer husband Aljaz Skorjanec are parents to baby girl Lyra.
- Strictly winners Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley welcomed baby Minnie in January 2023.
- Former Strictly pros James and Ola Jordan share a daughter, three-year-old Ella.
- Former pro Pasha Kovalev and Rachel Riley share two daughters, Maven, three, and Noa, one.
- Strictly judge and ex-pro Anton du Beke and his wife Hannah share adorable six-year-old twins George and Henrietta.
- Former Strictly star Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella became parents to son Matteo in July 2000.
- Professional dancer Natalie Lowe and her husband James Knibbs welcomed their son Jack in December 2020.
- Ben Cohen and former Strictly dancer Kristina Rihanoff met in series 11 and now share a six-year-old daughter, Milena.
- Ex-Strictly pro Brendan Cole and his wife Zoe Hobbs are parents to Aurelia, age 10, and Dante, five.
Meanwhile, Aljaz is taking a career break to look after his daughter after leaving Strictly last year, while Janette is back hosting Strictly: It Takes Two alongside Fleur East.
In another interview with HELLO!, the doting dad revealed: "I can't wait to do daddy daycare – it's my favourite job ever. I have waited to be a dad for so long and I feel very lucky to be able to spend so much time with my daughter."
© Nicky Johnston / Prima UKHe then divulged: "I'm really looking forward to the future and already thinking about our second child." Aljaz added: "Janette is still recovering, but I'm planning to keep the bottles, just in case."
The December 2023 issue of Prima is now on sale
