FORMER Strictly pro Janette Manrara puckered up to EastEnders’ Jamie Borthwick as the pair partied for Shayne Ward’s 40th birthday.
Celebrations raged on at the Strictly hotel bar with It Takes Two host Janette letting her hair down after a tough week of mum duties.
The pint-sized dancer, who is married to Strictly pro Aljaz Skorjanec, beamed beside actor Jamie, 30, with the friends each wrapping an arm around the other.
The fun night came after Janette, 40, broke down in tears on the way to film spin-off It Takes Two.
She posted a clip on Instagram showing her wiping away tears as she made her way to work.
In her honest post, the host opened up about juggling being mum to little girl, Lyra, with her busy life.
She wrote: “It’s tough to balance parenthood and work, but we all do our absolute best.
“It’s getting harder and harder to leave Lyra at nursery as she’s getting older and more aware, and our bond is growing stronger. But I know it’s the best for both of us right now.
“I can get to work knowing she is safe, and she develops social skills and stronger immunity to viruses all while having fun and learning.”
Emotional Janette continued: “She always cries when I leave her, but she is fine after a few minutes.
“It hurts so hard to see her upset and holding on so tight to mami.
“But I remind myself that she is learning from example, a loving mami who protects and cares for her, and also works hard to provide for her family, and make her dreams come true.”
Aljaž returned to Strictly this year after leaving the show in 2022.
It came after Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima both left the programme following serious allegations of training room misconduct.
The Sun revealed last month that not everybody was happy with Aljaz’s return after he allegedly had an altercation with a female pro prior to his departure.
A source said: “Has the BBC learned nothing from the past ten months?
“Amid ongoing furore around the behaviour of its male pros, they actively recruited a dancer who left under a cloud. Aljaž was touted as an unproblematic, returning legend but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
