TV

Strictly star reveals truth behind hospital dash

Injuries and Strictly quite often go hand in hand

Strictly fans were concerned earlier this series when reports surfaced that Janette Manrara had narrowly avoided a nasty injury.

It was alleged that JLS star Aston Merrygold had dropped Janette on her head while they were training. Ouch!

But in a new interview with OK! magazine, pro dancer Janette insisted nothing of the sort happened.

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She said: “I never went to any hospital. The story was that Aston had dropped me and I needed hospital treatment. But it never happened.

“I came in on the Saturday morning and everybody was asking me if I was alright.

“I didn’t know why they were asking me!

“It was so bizarre!”

Janette and Aston’s time on Strictly came to an end in week seven, when they were sent home following a dance-off with Mollie King and AJ Pritchard.

It was a huge shock for viewers, as many felt Aston was a shoo-in for the final.

Janette admitted to OK! she’s thought for ages what they could have done differently to stay in the competition, but at the end of the day, she can’t change how things panned out.

She said: “I did go round in circles for a long time and thought, should I have done this or that? But you can’t do that to yourself. You’d go mad trying to figure it all out!

“Everything happens for a reason. That was the way the cookie crumbled.

“I felt really sad as although I’ll continue to appear as one of the professionals, for Aston, that was it.

“I really felt for him.”

Aston’s premature exit from Strictly Come Dancing has undoubtedly been the biggest shock of the series so far.

He had been one of the bookies’ favourites to go all the way to the final but his Strictly experience went downhill after Craig Revel Horwood scored him just four of out of a possible 10 points.

And then head judge Shirley Ballas used her deciding vote to send him home after he landed in the dreaded dance-off against fellow popstar Mollie.

It led to complete shock among viewers, contestants and reportedly even Strictly bosses, with claims they were “horrified” to see such a talented dancer go home.

And, naturally, there were the usual cries of ‘FIX! FIX!’ and allegations of favouritism among the judges towards certain contestants.

Ever the gent, however, Aston insisted on It Takes Two earlier this series that although he was sad to leave, he’s just happy he even got to take part.

“I’m honestly gutted but, I mean, you have to take it on the chin as it’s such a brilliant show and, as I’ve said from day one, if I ever was to leave, I’m just happy I got to do it in the first place,” he said.

“And to do it with Janette was such a pleasure. I’m just happy to have done the show.”

Aston and Janette both admitted they were surprised by Craig’s exceedingly low score, with Aston saying he initially laughed because he was so shocked.

Janette added: “Everyone is entitled to an opinion and those scores and the judges’ critiques are just that: opinions.

“I do not agree with the score Craig gave us, but you have to respect his opinion and his number and his thoughts and take it as it comes.”

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Janette suggested Aston’s shock exit meant it was more important than ever for fans to vote for their favourites and not presume anyone is safe.

“More than ever, and especially this season and seeing what happened to Aston, you have to vote for your favourites,” she said.

“You can never assume just because someone is a front runner and getting certain scores that they are safe. If you love them, vote for them!”

Wise words!


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor