Aljaž Škorjanec has revealed the real reason he returned to the hit BBC show after previously stepping away from the dancefloor in 2022.
The professional dancer, 34, announced his return to Strictly in July after it was confirmed that Giovanni Pernice would not be rejoining the lineup amid his misconduct probe.
The news of his return, which marked the first pro dancer to ever be invited back to the show, also came just days before it was revealed Graziano Di Prima had been sacked by the BBC following claims of gross misconduct towards his former partner Zara McDermott.
However Aljaž has now insisted that he ‘replaced nobody’ as he opened up about his decision to return to the dancefloor.
Speaking to the Mirror he confessed: ‘I replaced nobody. I felt like coming back. I decided myself to step away, and then I came back into my own dancing shoes. And I’m still doing Strictly exactly the same way as I did before I left. And I’m really happy. I’m proud of it.’
Since leaving the show in March 2022, Aljaž and his wife Janette Manrara have welcomed their first child, daughter Lyra, as he explained he wanted time off from the show to embrace fatherhood.
Aljaž Škorjanec has revealed the REAL reason he returned to Strictly as he insisted ‘I replaced nobody’
He confessed: ‘I decided myself to step away, and then I came back into my own dancing shoes. And I’m still doing Strictly exactly the same way as I did before I left. And I’m really happy’
He continued: ‘I sort of made that conscious decision, as soon as she fell pregnant, that I’m going to put everything else on hold.
‘And it was actually advice from someone really close to me, who said that careers come and go, but time doesn’t.’
It was revealed on The One Show in July, Aljaž confirmed his return as he said: ‘What haven’t I missed. I got to look after my beautiful wife, my beautiful baby for two years. But I missed everything about Strictly.
‘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.’
Aljaž and his celebrity partner Abbey Clancy raised the Glitterball in his debut year on the show in 2013 and he came runner up in 2017 with partner, Gemma Atkinson.
And he could be in the running to raise the Glitterball trophy again after he and his celebrity partner Tasha Ghouri achieved the first perfect 40 of the series last week as Craig Revel Horwood finally found is 10 paddle for their American Smooth.
Rushing to X fans gushed over the ‘perfect’ performance, as well as praising Craig for ‘finally’ proffering a much sought after ten points.
Meanwhile back in September it was revealed the Strictly cast and crew were furious over Aljaž’s return after claims he was involved in backstage row with a female dancer.
Since leaving the show in March 2022, Aljaž and his wife Janette Manrara have welcomed their first child, daughter Lyra, as he explained he took time off to embrace fatherhood
Alijaz announced his return to Strictly in July after it was confirmed that Giovanni Pernice would not be rejoining the lineup amid his misconduct probe
The news of his return also came just days before it was revealed Graziano Di Prima had been sacked following claims of gross misconduct towards his former partner Zara McDermott
Alijaz could be in the running to raise the Glitterball trophy again after he and his celebrity partner Tasha Ghouri achieved the first perfect 40 of the series last week
The Sun revealed that Aljaz departed the show after an alleged ‘shocking’ incident with a fellow female professional dancer on the nationwide tour.
The decision to bring back the star to the BBC show has reportedly raised eyebrows, especially given a string of scandals that have beset the show in recent weeks.
A source told the publication: ‘Has the BBC learned nothing from the past ten months?
‘Amid ongoing furore around the behaviour of its male pros, they actively recruited a dancer who left under a cloud.
‘Aljaž was touted as an unproblematic, returning legend but that couldn’t be further from the truth.’
The source claimed the crew and cast were ‘relieved’ to see his departure two years ago and are now ‘aghast’ to see him back on the show
They revealed he allegedly got ‘very drunk’ on a night out on tour two years ago which led him being involved in a ‘very serious, pretty shocking altercation’ with a female.
The incident was said to have made the female dancer feel ‘deeply uncomfortable’.
Aljaž’s scene has been reportedly discussed backstage at length since and the decision to bring him back has ‘baffled’ the crew.
‘Execs would have to be living in a cave not to have heard the rumours’, the source added.
According to the publication, the BBC denied an official complaint was made over the incident, and it had been previously stated that Aljaz left of his own accord.
The BBC declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline, and told The Sun that they did not recognise the claims against Aljaz.
