Strictly's Janette Manrara 'saddened' as she tries to avoid pals Graziano and Giovanni

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Janette Manrara has expressed her disappointment over the recent Strictly Come Dancing controversy. The seasoned professional, who has transitioned to hosting the programme's companion show It Takes Two, chose not to contact her "great friends" and fellow professionals Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima after allegations from their 2023 celebrity partners Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott led to their departure.

In a heart-to-heart with The Sun's Fabulous Magazine, Janette disclosed her sentiment about the entire ordeal, reflecting on her decision to stay out of the fray by stating, "I've tried to steer clear." She continued, expressing her mixed feelings, "It's complicated and I'm a bit of a girl's girl.

I just don't know. They were both really great friends and I feel very saddened by everything that's happening, not just to them but to the [celebs] involved." Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, she remarked, "It's such a messy time right now.." Janette also shared her initial reaction to the allegations, noting, "I was shocked, because you just never want to hear that.

But it is a dance show, it gets physical and it is a competition." She pointed out the intensity that can build up behind the scenes, saying, "There is intensity that sometimes happens in the rehearsal rooms." Giovanni has strongly denied Amanda's claims of "unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean" behaviour in rehearsals for the show, and says he looks "forward to clearing [his] name" amid an ongoing BBC investigation.