Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left gutted by the news that Aljaz Škorjanec has quit the show after nine years.
Much loved pro Aljaz has been a huge hit with viewers from the moment he set foot in the BBC ballroom and won the show in his first series, lifting the Glitterball trophy alongside celeb partner Abbey Clancy.
Talking about calling time on Strictly, Aljaz said: "On a beautiful sunny day in May 2013 one phone call changed my life forever!
"It went like this... we would like to offer you a position on @bbcstrictly as a professional dancer. A dream became a reality and it was the biggest opportunity for a 23 year old boy from Slovenia.
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"It didn’t matter how many beautiful ballrooms I performed in during my competitive career, stepping onto the sacred Strictly floor was the most nervous I had ever been.
"A little while ago I made the tough decision that Strictly 2021 would be my last."
Aljaz has just completed the Strictly live tour, winning opening night in Newcastle alongside Sara Davies. He is about to embark on a nationwide tour alongside wife Janette Manrara, who herself quit the show to be a host on spin-off show It Takes Two.
Aljaz's departure from Strictly comes as fans are still coming to terms with two time champion pro Oti Mabuse quitting after switching channels to ITV to become a judge on Dancing on Ice. And at the weekend it was confirmed that she has landed another ITV show - dating programme Romeo & Juliet.
