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Wales Online
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Eve Rowlands

Strictly's Janette and Alijaz discuss pregnancy in first TV interview since sweet baby news

Strictly Come Dancing alumni and firm favourites Janette Manrara and Alijaz Škorjanec appeared on ITV1's Lorraine on Wednesday (March 22), to talk about the 'tiny dancer' they'll soon be welcoming into the world in their first television interview since the news of their pregnancy was announced.

The pair are expecting their first child in August of this year, as Lorraine said on air, and told the 63-year-old Scottish host: "It's been a really interesting process so far, but I've just been amazed by it all really. You read about it, you do your research, you want to be really supportive and want to learn everything you possibly can. But everyday, all I just want to hold [Janette's] belly."

Janette, 39, laughed: "He's actually been sick more than I have, so we keep making the joke that we really are pregnant together. He keeps being sick, and I'm fine! I'm feeling good. I don't take for granted how lucky I've been with this pregnancy. Everything has been so smooth, we got back from the doctors not long ago - the baby's absolutely fine - and it's been very good." For the latest TV and celebrity news sign up to our newsletter here

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Explaining how, until they were ready, they kept their baby news a secret - understandably - the Strictly: It Takes Two co-presenter revealed that the only people they told before the news came out in February, exclusively by Hello! magazine, were their parents, and on Christmas Day too.

"We had to. We were in Miami with my family and I thought 'when am I going to have the chance, on Christmas Day, to give them this news. But everyone else we waited until that 12 week mark."

Janette, who was about to embark on her IVF journey when she found out the delightful news that she was pregnant, has just finished the Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Arena Tour as host and told Lorraine it was tough keeping it hidden.

"Obviously, on the Strictly Live Tour, we're on stage and we're out every night and we're having the best time. So, I made sure to wear this big yellow dress, oversized suit - just in case. All of them started to get a bit of an inch, an idea... [with them saying] 'Are you sure you don't want to have a glass of wine with us tonight?'."

With two professional dancers as parents, Lorraine expressed how their new addition is "obviously" going to be dancing and Aljaz revealed that he's so ready for that day to come that he's prepared a playlist just for the first baby steps - referring to dance steps, he explained how he is a foxtrot fan whereas Janette is more of a Latin dance lover - "It'll be interesting what the first steps will be. Probably what Janette wants," he added with a chuckle.

"We just can't wait to be parents. Whatever they decide, whatever it is, it's just whatever they want to do."

Later in the interview, Aljaz hinted that he wants to return to Strictly Come Dancing but not necessarily in his previous position as a professional dance partner.

He said: "There's so many spots on the show. There's dancers, there's judges, there's hosts. You never know."

Lorraine mused: "Ahh, now judging. That'd be something. I'd like that."

"Me too. Me too!" Aljaz quipped.

Lorraine airs on ITV1 at 9am on weekdays.

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