Strictly It Takes Two returns to BBC Two at 6.30pm on 25 September with hosts, Janette Manrara and Fleur East.
Fleur will bring her infectious energy to the Strictly It Takes Two stage. With her unique perspective as a Strictly finalist, Fleur is poised to offer insightful commentary and exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses alongside Janette, a former professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing.
Janette’s wealth of experience on the dance floor has made her a popular figure amongst contestants and viewers alike and she is ready once more to offer engaging interviews with this series’ celebrities and professional dancers.
Q&A with Janette Manrara
Janette, it’s officially Strictly season again! How does it feel to be back!?
Genuinely buzzing. I feel like it’s going to be an incredible year just by looking at the line-up. The professional dancers are at the top, top of the game, they’re all absolutely amazing and it’s so wonderful to have our judges back, along with Tess and Claudia. And as we always say, it marks the lead up to Christmas, so whenever Strictly starts back up, I think everybody, not just myself gets super excited.
What would surprise viewers most about hosting the show? Any BTS secrets you can reveal?
I think what would surprise viewers the most about It Takes Two is the genuine excitement that comes from the entire team, about the couples and the dances. There’s a respect and admiration for dance and excitement for Strictly that is tangible. It’s very, very real. I think that’s really refreshing to know that a TV show is created with so much love at its heart.
What is your favourite thing about hosting Strictly It Takes Two? And can you share any of your favourite moments from over the years?
I think now hosting It Takes Two, I get to be the couples shoulder to cry on and I get to celebrate with them as well, I just love being there for the couples more than anything. And as for my favourite moments on It Takes Two – there’s too many to remember! But just being there on the weekdays and meeting everyone is so special.
What are you most excited for in terms of working with your new co-host, Fleur?
I loved watching Fleur’s journey last year and every single dance that she brought to Strictly was just absolutely incredible so I’m really excited to have her join the team. She’s already really engulfed herself in the whole world of Strictly so having her by my side and having her excitement and genuine love for the show and understanding for what it’s all about is really special. I can’t wait to get started.
Have you given Fleur any tips and tricks on how to be the best for It Takes Two?
Fleur does not need any tips and tricks on how to be the best, I think she’s going to be absolutely sensational! The audiences are going to love her. She’s got such a good eye when it comes to the dances as she has already done the show in the past so she doesn’t need any tips or advice. She just needs to be herself and enjoy!
Are there any themed weeks you are particularly looking forward to?
I always look forward to Blackpool because the venue is such an iconic space. It’s the way the show is filmed since the dances go bigger, there’s extra dancers, there’s bigger props and there’s more hair and makeup and wardrobe. And it always lands around my birthday so it’s a celebration in many ways for me to be in Blackpool!
What can audiences at home expect from Strictly It Takes Two this year?
It’s just more fun, more entertainment, also more genuine involvement in the couples and their journey! Empathising with what they’re going through and getting to show everyone the behind the scenes stuff that really happens when the couples are learning their dances. It Takes Two always goes above and beyond to make every couple feel extremely special, so I think more of the same, apart from bigger and better and more glitzy!
If you were a dancer on Strictly again, what type of dance would you like to do and with who?
Well, that’s a really tough question, I feel like I’ve done it all on the show. I had some incredible dances with my celebrity partners, amazing performances with Aljaž and of course all the epic pro dances that we did throughout the years so it’d be really hard to top any of those things. So I would say to just come back dance with Aljaž alongside all the professionals one more time, that would be pretty brilliant.
Has Rylan wished Fleur and yourself good luck for this series?
Rylan did reach out and say good luck to myself for the series and Fleur. It was so special to do the first two years of me hosting It Takes Two with him because he’s such an incredible professional. He’s such a good presenter. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s got the biggest, kindest heart. And I couldn’t have asked for anyone to be a better partner to me, and to show me the ropes when I joined the show, so I’ll miss him but I’m super excited to be with my girl Fleur.
Q&A with Fleur East
Fleur, Strictly season is officially upon us. How does it feel to be part of the strictly family again?!
It’s an incredible honour honestly because I had such an amazing experience on the show. Now it’s like a continuation of my Strictly journey which was such an important experience for me, so I’m really grateful I get to carry this on.
This time last year you were in training, are you feeling a little relief to be donning the presenter hat rather than the dancing shoes?
Most definitely. I know that when they’re performing on a Saturday night, there will be a bit of envy from my side because that was the bit that I loved the most. But I have to say I’m grateful that I won’t be anxious every week about performing live and I can just enjoy the experience.
How would you say your experience as a contestant on Strictly will influence your presenting of It Takes Two?
I will just have so much empathy for all the contestants because I’ll know exactly what they are going through. I’ll know week on week, how their bodies will be feeling, depending on what dance they’re doing, because it’s ingrained in my brain, every muscle that was affected based on that dance I was doing each week.
Are there any themed weeks you are particularly looking forward to?
So many, it’s hard to pick! But it’s got to be Halloween Week because of the incredible costumes. I also feel like this week tests everybody and the celebs really get to experiment and push themselves. It also happens to be my Birthday week!
What can audiences at home expect from Strictly It Takes Two this year?
Expect a lot of laughs, a lot of honesty and of course, a lot of backstage action. I’m looking at it with a different lens as a former contestant. Just everything we all love about It Takes Two.
How do you plan to put your unique stamp on the programme as a new host?
Well, I’ve got the unique viewpoint of having experienced it all myself and within the last year so it’s still super fresh in my mind and I’ll be able to identify with the celebs every single week. I think I’m just going to be very honest and just try to connect with them on a human level and get real emotions from their experiences.
Have you received any tips from Rylan?
As soon as it was announced that I was taking on the role, Rylan sent me a message and said he was so excited and that I was going to have so much fun. I’ve worked with Rylan in the past and he’s an incredible presenter so I have got some big boots to fill but he’s really been so supportive.
Do you have any pre show nerves? And if so, how do you plan to tackle them?
Definitely. I do have nerves, but I think nerves are good because it shows that you care about what you’re about to do. The good thing is that I know all the pros and I’ve met a lot of the celebs already so that will keep me relaxed. I also know the It Takes Two team from being on last year so it already feels like a family.
What are you most excited for in terms of working with your co-host, Janette?
Well, we’re both Scorpios so we’re really fiery and we both have a lot of energy. We also worked together on the Strictly tour and any time I saw her we would just end up laughing non-stop. So I’m looking forward to just enjoying the experience and having lots of fun and lots of laughs.
Strictly It Takes Two returns to BBC Two at 6.30pm on 25 September 2023
