Janette Manrara, the beloved It Takes Two presenter, recently took to Instagram to share some heartwarming photos of her baby daughter, Lyra. The photos were posted in honor of her husband, Aljaz Skorjanec’s birthday. In one of the images, Janette and Aljaz could be seen on a grand flight of stairs, with Janette wearing a stunning thigh-split dress and Aljaz looking dapper in all black. Little Lyra, dressed in a sweet green-and-white ensemble with a matching bow in her hair, was cradled by her parents. Another picture captured Aljaz and Lyra feeding a bird, with Lyra looking slightly skeptical. The photos were taken during a celebration at Longleat hosted by former Strictly contestant Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath.
The fun family gathering came after Janette’s stint as the host of the Strictly live show, touring the country. Despite no longer dancing on the TV show, Janette took on the role of hosting the stage version this year, while Aljaz took on the role of a stay-at-home dad. The couple welcomed little Lyra in July 2023, and Janette returned to work in September to co-host It Takes Two alongside Fleur East.
In an interview with HELLO! magazine last year, Aljaz expressed his excitement about spending more time at home with his daughter, saying, “I can’t wait to do daddy daycare – it’s my favorite job ever.” He added, “I have waited to be a dad for so long and I feel very lucky to be able to spend so much time with my daughter.” Aljaz also hinted at the possibility of expanding their family, sharing, “I’m really looking forward to the future and already thinking about our second child.” Janette, on the other hand, shared her surprise at discovering she was expecting a girl, as she had always thought she would be a boy mom. Despite finding out the sex during pregnancy, the couple kept the news to themselves until Lyra’s arrival.
Explaining the thought process behind their daughter’s name, Janette revealed, “I always loved Rose as a middle name, so I wanted to find a name that was powerful and punchy to go with that aspect of femininity.” After researching various options, including constellations of stars, the couple settled on the name Lyra. Janette shared, “When I saw Lyra, I really loved the sound of Lyra Rose and felt it embodied the qualities we wanted for our daughter.”
Janette Manrara’s recent Instagram post celebrating Aljaz Skorjanec’s birthday not only showcased their adorable daughter, Lyra but also gave fans a glimpse into their family life. The couple’s journey into parenthood and the meaning behind Lyra’s name add a personal touch to the heartwarming photos shared online.