There were birthday smiles and wishes all around in the Strictly It Takes Two studio, as host Janette Manrara was surprised with 40th celebrations.
The professional dancer, who celebrated the milestone birthday today, was filled with emotion as Bobby Brazier, Dianne Buswell, Nigel Harman and Katya Jones sneaked onto camera just before the Puttin' on the Glitz' fashion segment, wearing party hats and wheeling in a giant cake on a trolley, on Thursday, 16 November.
The impressive glitterball cake was adorned with a gigantic 40 and an icing figure of Janette.
Anne-Marie's Birthday song started playing as Janette's face was superimposed onto a dress with cartoon balloons, seen by viewers on the background screen. Janette squealed with surprise as her guests joined her and laughed at the cake, and said: "I finally got a glitterballl everybody!"
Dianne did a little speech saying how much both the Strictly family and Janette's family love her, before admitting that they wanted to send her something.
Janette was shown a special recorded message from her husband Aljaž Škorjanec and their baby daughter, Lyra.
At home, as they cuddled in together in front of the camera, as Aljaz said: "Hello mummy, we want to wish you a Happy Birthday with lots of love and happiness. We're so proud of you. You're an amazing mum and beautiful wifey.
"40 has never looked better – sorry, I shouldn't have said the age – and we can't wait to have you home to give you a cuddle but go and smash the show and don't forget… keep dancing!"
Baby Lyra, who was born on July 28, looked sweet in a soft lilac outfit as she smiled happily with dad, surrounded by balloons.
Janette, who looked pretty in a pink suit, was clearly over the moon and hugged her guests as she claimed that this was "the best way to spend her birthday – talking about Strictly and this cake! Thank you everybody!"
Earlier in the show, the birthday girl chatted to Bobby Brazier and Diane Buswell about Blackpool this weekend with Diane happy that Bobby is now "leading her around the dancefloor."
Dancing a Jive in the seaside town to Wham's Wake Me Up, Dianne admitted there has been more pushing him and lifts but Bobby was happy to take the lead, and responded: "That's what I want to hear!"
There's one thing Bobby is excited about in Blackpool that he hasn't experienced on the dancefloor yet too – backing dancers.
He said: "It feels like a party – I say the more the merrier! I can't believe how fast they learn the moves though – it takes me days."
The whole Strictly gang will head to Blackpool Tower this weekend for the infamous show in the seaside ballroom.
Source: Read Full Article
