THE One Show’s Alex Jones suffered an awkward blunder as she congratulated Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec on their pregnancy after misunderstanding their “baby news”.
The 43-year-old presenter was left red-faced as she admitted she’d started to wonder about whether or not 37-year-old Janette would be able to compete on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
The couple appeared on the BBC chat show via video link this evening, where Alex confessed to her gaffe.
She said: “Last week, all I saw – because I sort of skim-read – was ‘baby news, Aljaž and Janette!’ and I was like: ‘Oh they’re having a baby, that’s lovely news.’
“But you’re not having a baby, they tell me?”
Aljaž, 30, chuckled as he explained it was actually his sister who’d given birth – and he and Janette had sparked confusion after sharing snaps of the newborn.
He laughed: “No, my little sister gave birth to a beautiful little niece so that’s the baby news.”
Sheepish Alex continued: “I sent a little message saying congratulations, which would have been okay as it still makes sense with the sister… But I was like: ‘Oh my god, is Janette going to do Strictly? How will it work?’
“I was way ahead – slightly awkward!”
Emma Willis was also a guest on The One Show tonight, and the mother-of-three advised the couple against having children of their own as she reflected on her homeschool experience.
She exclaimed: “Avoid at all cost! Babies are amazing, but homeschooling… Teachers are just my heroes at the minute.”
Janette and Aljaž have been together for 10 years, and last month the Strictly favourite admitted that she’d been too scared to take the plunge into motherhood because “her body is her job”.
However, after enduring 2020 Janette decided that there is no such thing as the “perfect time” to become a mum.
She explained: “We always wanted to have a baby, but 2020 has definitely made me say to myself: ‘You know what, Janette, it’s never going to be the perfect time but it’s always going to be the right time’.
“As a woman who’s a dancer, my body is my job so it’s scary to make that decision about the perfect time to start a family.
“I always thought there would be a perfect month and year, but what 2020 has made me realise is that perfect time is never going to come along.”
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But Janette has no doubts about whether she and Aljaž are ready to be parents – saying that the hunk will be the “best dad”.
She added: “We’re definitely ready to be parents so we will see when that moment comes – you can’t plan it.
Both stars are professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing and the most recent series saw them forced apart as they isolated from each other so that they could train with their celebrity partners.
Aljaž was paired with DJ Clara Amfo, whereas Janette made it to the final with singer HRVY.