{"id":54660,"date":"2024-07-10T15:01:12","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T13:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2069660"},"modified":"2024-07-11T04:20:05","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T02:20:05","slug":"ex-strictly-pro-reacts-to-aljaz-skorjanecs-return-and-what-it-means-for-show","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/ex-strictly-pro-reacts-to-aljaz-skorjanecs-return-and-what-it-means-for-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Strictly pro reacts to Alja\u017e \u0160korjanec\u2019s return and what it means for show"},"content":{"rendered":"

“He’s very popular and he’s one of the nicest guys as well.” <\/p>

By Olivia Garrett\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 10 July 2024 at 12:59 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Ex-Strictly Come Dancing professional Joanne Clifton has echoed the cries of fans and colleagues currently congratulating Alja\u017e \u0160korjanec on his return to the show.<\/p>\n

The Slovenian pro-dancer announced this week that he would be appearing in Strictly 2024<\/a> after a two-season break to help celebrate the show\u2019s 20th anniversary.<\/p>\n

Clifton, in an exclusive chat with RadioTimes.com<\/a>, called the news \u201cbrilliant\u201d and said she was \u201cunbelievably happy\u201d for \u0160korjanec.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlja\u017e was always a big, big favourite,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s very popular and he\u2019s one of the nicest guys as well, so I think it\u2019s absolutely brilliant that he\u2019s going back\u201d<\/p>\n

Clifton also spoke about how special her professional partnership with \u0160korjanec is, having worked with him on and off the Strictly dancefloor.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was my dance partner in Burn the Floor before we did Strictly, and then I danced with him a lot when I was on it because me and him are both specialised in ballroom,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter that we did the Burn the Floor reunion together, so my last bit of proper ballroom dancing was actually with Alja\u017e.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Joanne\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Joanne Clifton.<\/span><\/figcaption> Shane Anthony Sinclair\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Clifton and \u0160korjanec appeared on live dance show Burn the Floor in spring 2014, as it toured in Australia and Japan.<\/p>\n

\u0160korjanec then joined the Stritcly crew in 2013, going on to lift the Glitterball trophy in his very first year with celebrity partner Abbey Clancy.<\/p>\n

He later came runner-up in 2017 with Gemma Atkinson and had other partners in Call the Midwife<\/a> actress Helen George and Dragons\u2019 Den<\/a> star Sara Davies.<\/p>\n

When his return was announced, the dance confessed he was \u201cecstatic\u201d to be back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had an absolute ball during my nine-year stint on Strictly,\u201d he said. \u201cDuring my time away I became a parent, which has been an exciting challenge in itself, and now I\u2019m ready to experience the Strictly magic again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jannette\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Janette Manrara, Alja\u017e \u0160korjanec and Joanne Clifton in 2014.<\/span><\/figcaption> \tKarwai Tang \/ Contributor<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Meanwhile the dancer\u2019s wife Janette Manrara took to Instagram to share her own excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started our @bbcstrictly journey together back in 2013, and now for the 20th year anniversary, we\u2019ll both be back on your screens once again,\u201d she captioned some sweet photos of the couple, as well as one of Alja\u017e with their young daughter Lyra.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so happy the country gets to enjoy the smiliest man in showbiz once again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to our screens in autumn 2024, although no release date has been announced yet.<\/p>\n

Check out more of our\u00a0<\/strong>Entertainment<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0coverage or visit our\u00a0<\/strong>TV Guide<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong>Streaming Guide<\/strong><\/a> to find out what\u2019s on. <\/strong>For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to <\/strong>The Radio Times Podcast<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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