Featured Image Credit: Cameron Smith / Stringer / Instagram/ @jjmanrara
Topics: Parenting, Celebrity, Strictly Come Dancing, TV And Film
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Parenting, Celebrity, Strictly Come Dancing, TV And Film
Strictly Come Dancing stars Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec have taken to social media to reveal the arrival of their first child.
Manrara and Škorjanec - both best known for being professional dancers on BBC dance show Strictly Come Dancing - welcomed their first child on Friday (28 July).
They revealed their daughter's arrival with a sweet post to Instagram.
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The couple have previously spoken out about their struggles to conceive after being left unable to fall pregnant for two years.
They were about to start IVF treatment when then found out Manrara was pregnant in December last year.
Manrara told Hello! Magazine: "I know that IVF can be really strenuous on a woman’s body and there is no guarantee it will work, so to know that this little miracle just came from a wonderful night we had together is amazing.
"I think the baby decided to make mum and dad panic a bit before saying, 'Ok, fine, I’m coming up now'."
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Two weeks ago, Manrara took to Instagram to express how excited she was to get to meet the pair's baby soon.
Alongside a post of her and her baby bump, she wrote: "Left to London today for the last weeks/days of pregnancy to be near our doctor. Felt quite emotional leaving our house as I knew next time we were home, we would be three of us!
"I cannot wait to meet you. What will you be like? What will you look like? What kind of things will you be into? Such a beautiful and exciting new chapter of our lives. Not long now little one…. Not long."
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The pair shared the news of their daughter's arrival with a black and white photograph of them in hospital with their newborn.
Manrara can be seen in a hospital gown lying on a bed, holding the pair's daughter while Škorjanec leans over from behind them - both new parents beaming at the camera.
The caption reads: "Lyra Rose Skorjanec. July 28, 2023."
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Friends, family and fans of the Strictly stars have flocked to the post to congratulate them on their new arrival.
Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor commented: "Yay!! Welcome to the world, Lyra. Congratulations! Xx."
"Ah congratulations guys!!!!!!!! So happy for you both," Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh wrote.
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Fellow Strictly pro Dianne Buswell said: "Yay so so exciting."
And Dr Punam Krishan added: "Huge congratulations… hope you’re well and welcome to parenthood, enjoy every second. Gorgeous name too."
Congratulations Manrara and Škorjanec!