Strictly Come Dancing season is officially upon us, which means a couple of months of cozy weekend nights in front of the telly soaking up all that feel-good Strictly goodness. We genuinely can't wait for such wholesomeness – we Brat Summered a little too hard this summer.
And, of course, with the arrival of a fresh batch of Strictly celebs for 2024 – including TOWIE icon Pete Wicks and Love Island finalist Tasha Ghouri – comes the return of the dancing professionals who will be paired up with the celebs during the launch show on Saturday 14 September 2024.
One of those professionals is none other than Alja Skorjanec, who returns for the show's 20th anniversary season after a two-year hiatus.
His return was announced in July, when he told the BBC, 'I could not be more ecstatic to be back with the Strictly family. This year is such a special one for this legendary show, I can’t wait to be a part of it and make my return to the dancefloor. I had an absolute ball during my nine year stint on Strictly, during my time away I became a parent, which has been an exciting challenge in itself and now I’m ready to experience the Strictly magic again. It feels so right to be coming back, I missed the fun, glitter and the judges of course and I hope to make my daughter Lyra proud!'
Alja famously won the show during his first series in 2013 when he was partnered with model Abbey Clancy and quickly became one of the most popular professionals on the show amongst the fandom.
Who is Alja korjanec?
Professional dancer and choreographer Alja is best known for being a professional on Strictly. He recently returned to the series after a two-year hiatus.
When did Alja korjanec join Strictly?
He joined in 2013 and won the show alongside Abbey Clancy that very year. He remained a part of the show until 2022 before leaving to be a dad. Alja then returned to the show in 2024 for the 20th anniversary series.
Where is Alja korjanec from?
Aljaz is from Slovenia.
Does Alja korjanec have a wife?
Yes, he does. Alja has been married to dancer and singer Janette Manrara since 2017. The two first met in 2010 when the two of them were on a dancing tour called Burn the Floor, where multiple other Strictly pros joined them.
The couple had not one, but three wedding ceremonies around the world with the first one taking place in London.
Does Alja korjanec have children?
Yes, Alja and Janette announced they were expecting their first child in February last year. Their daughter Lyra was born on 28 July 2023.
How old is Alja korjanec from Strictly?
Alja is 34 years old. He was born on 19 February 1990.
Why did Alja korjanec leave Strictly?
Alja left Strictly in 2022 after nine years.
He took to Instagram to announce his departure saying, 'A little while ago I made the tough decision that Strictly 2021 would be my last.
'The show has given me an opportunity and freedom to create and express myself in front of millions of people every weekend for the last 9 years.
'I have lots of exciting stuff planned that I will fill you in on soon. I can't wait to see what the future holds.'
According to reports, the professional agreed to leave the show in 2022 following an alleged incident while on a boozy night out during the Strictly 2022 tour. Alja has vehemently denied these claims, stating that he made the 'tough decision' to leave the series to focus on being a dad full-time.
However, a source recently told The Sun, 'The older members of the team who worked with him the first time around are fuming he’s back and it’s causing big problems.
'After the incident on tour, some of the female dancers are livid he’s been reappointed and just don’t want to be around him.'
What has Alja korjanec said about returning to Strictly?
He recently told the BBC, 'This is my 10th year so I’ve done half of them and the show has changed my life. Changed my life for the better, and it gets better every single year.
'And I think on the 20th anniversary it’s going to be even more special. I was there when Bruce was presenting. It’s a testament to how good it is that it’s been running for 20 years.'