Janette Manrara says she was convicted for returning to work six weeks after giving birth to daughter Lyra
Real-life star Janette Manrara has revealed she felt judged for returning to television work six weeks after the birth of her daughter Lyra Rose.
Speaking on BBC Morning Live, the 39-year-old host of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two said she had to endure negative reactions online when she first returned to the programme.
She welcomed her daughter Lyra with husband Alijaz Skorjanec, 33, in July, delivery at London‘S Portland Hospital, and made her first appearance on the Morning Live show in the summer, after taking six weeks of maternity leave.
She currently is host of a spin-off show It takes two of Fleur East and this week she appeared on Morning Live to discuss some of the criticism she has faced.
She said having her daughter was a “dream come true” and that she felt “really empowered being a working mother for the first time,” but added that “some people had different views on it.”
Pro dancer and Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two presenter Janette Manrara this week spoke about feeling judged on social media as she returned to work six weeks after giving birth to her daughter Lyra Rose in July.
Sharing the comments she received on her social media posts, she revealed that one person had said: ‘I know moms have to work, but personally I think this is too early,” and another had written, “I wish celebrities wouldn’t normalize moms going back to work when their babies are little.”
The star said the couple had decided that Aljaz would take on most of Lyra’s care so Janette could return to work, but that the negative comments had left them “a feeling guilty about spending time away from Lyra.”
The couple recently hinted that it might not be long before baby number two arrives.
He said: “I can’t wait to do daddy daycare – it’s my favorite job ever. I’ve waited so long to become a father and I feel very lucky to be able to spend so much time with my daughter.’
One of the comments Janette said she received after appearing on BBC Morning Live during her return to her TV commitments
The star appeared on the program on her first day back on the daytime show in the summer
Janette and partner Alijaz Skorjanec pictured with their daughter Lyra Rose shortly after her birth
The presenter said she felt judged by the comments, leaving her feeling guilty about leaving her daughter
“I’m really looking forward to the future and thinking about our second child,” he teased in an interview with Hello! Magazine.
“Janette is still recovering, but I plan to keep the bottles just in case.”
The couple are preparing to go on tour with their new Christmas show Dancing In A Winter Wonderland, with Lyra joining them on their travels.
In July, Janette and Alijaz announced the happy news via Instagram that they had welcomed a daughter.
Janette shared a sweet black and white photo of herself lying in the hospital cradling her newborn daughter as Aljaz stood over her and smiled.
In an accompanying caption, Janette confirmed her daughter’s adorable name as she celebrated her new arrival.
She simply wrote, “Lyra Rose Skorjanec. July 28, 2023′, along with a red rose emoji.
They had announced the pregnancy in February after struggling to conceive for more than two years.
Pregnancy: Janette (pictured in June) announced she and Aljaz were expecting their first child together in February, after struggling to conceive for more than two years
During her pregnancy Janette told Closer: ‘He’s wanted to be a dad since day one and he’s so obsessed that he would breastfeed the baby if he could!
‘He wants to co-parent 100 percent and we will be a real team.”
The dancer also revealed how her husband sends her memes with baby tips and advice he found online, adding, “As a working mom, it’s such a relief to have someone like that by your side!”
She previously said of Aljaz: ‘The most surprising thing to me about Aljaž is just the level of support he has shown throughout the pregnancy.’
‘I knew he always wanted to be a father; I felt in my heart that I knew he would always be a great dad, but to see it come to life with his excitement, his curiosity and his ability to just care for me is amazing.”
She added, “He won’t let me lift a feather! He’s just the most incredible husband and it’s so nice to see how involved he wants to be and how he wants to know everything that’s going on with me and my body.
“I think as a woman it’s so comforting to know that I have a real partner in this whole process, and that he’s with me the whole time. I love that.’