Strictly's Aljaž: I left show to become a dad

Dancer Aljaž Škorjanec has said helium took a interruption from Strictly to go a father, amid allegations helium near pursuing an altercation with a pistillate professional.

On Friday, the Sun reported the Slovenian dancer agreed to permission the amusement successful 2022 aft an incidental with different dancer.

But speaking successful an interrogation with BBC News earlier the allegations were published successful the Sun, Škorjanec said helium near successful bid “to beryllium a large dada and a large husband”.

In effect to the allegations, Škorjanec's typical said it was "untrue to accidental oregon suggest helium was forced retired oregon that helium acted successful an assertive mode astatine immoderate time".

"Aljaž has the utmost respect for everyone helium works with. He chose to permission the amusement successful 2022 of his ain accord but helium has ever loved Strictly and was delighted to beryllium asked back," the typical said.

"He is excited to marque his instrumentality to the dancefloor this year."

In the Sun article, a root alleged determination had been "a beauteous shocking altercation with different pistillate dancer" connected a nighttime retired during the Strictly Come Dancing unrecorded circuit successful 2022.

BBC Studios declined to remark connected the alleged incident.

Škorjanec joined Strictly arsenic a nonrecreational dancer successful 2013. He took a two-year interruption starting successful 2022, and successful July it was announced helium would beryllium returning to this year’s show.

In a wide-ranging interrogation earlier the Sun published its story, Škorjanec said helium and his wife, It Takes Two presenter Janette Manrara, were “desperate to go parents”.

“It was ever thing that we some really, truly wanted,” helium said.

“I asked myself, I really consciousness similar I person a prime here. I wanted to beryllium a hands-on hubby to a large wife. I wanted to beryllium a hands-on dad, to a small baby.

“So it was a no-brainer really. I truly wanted to beryllium there.”

The couple's girl Lyra was calved past year, and Škorjanec said that helium felt "so lucky" that helium had been capable to walk clip with her.

"It’s the bonding clip I could ne'er get back," helium said.

He added that it had "worked retired perfectly" due to the fact that helium is present going backmost to the show.

"After 2 years of doing that, I get to spell backmost connected Strictly and bash thing I emotion truthful overmuch and I’m very, precise fortunate and I’m precise fortunate that it worked retired that way."

Manrara, who was besides a nonrecreational dancer connected Strictly, stepped backmost from the amusement successful 2021 too.

Her creation partners included TV property Peter Andre, This Morning doc Dr Ranj Singh, and erstwhile JLS vocalist Aston Merrygold.

But the mates inactive bask dancing, and person worked unneurotic to choreograph a caller jive regular inspired by dogs, capturing their tone astatine their favourite clip of time - meal time.

"As dancers we instrumentality inspiration from tons of antithetic things, usually a communicative we privation to tell, oregon a painting, oregon a costume you've seen," Manrara said.

"But to spot doggies dancing, that was beauteous cool, arsenic we've ne'er done thing similar that before," she added.

Škorjanec is present gearing up for the caller play of Strictly, which starts aboriginal this month.

He said helium was "really excited" to get backmost to choreographing and teaching, but added that helium was besides feeling a fewer nerves, having been distant from the amusement for 2 years.

Rehearsals are already nether way, but with a difference. This year, the BBC has introduced chaperones successful each grooming country rehearsals, pursuing allegations implicit the attraction of immoderate erstwhile personage contestants connected the show.

"I deliberation it’s a large thing," Škorjanec said of the chaperones.

"I deliberation we request to spell up with the astir happiest, the astir palmy escapism for 2 hours each azygous Saturday erstwhile the amusement is connected for millions of people.

"Strictly changed my life; it’s been the champion happening that’s astir apt ever happened to maine successful presumption of my career. I deliberation whichever measures are taken are the close ones."