COUNTING DOWN TO BECOMING PARENTS: JANETTE MANRARA AND ALJAZ SKORJANEC TELL US THEY'RE DANCING ON AIR AS THEY LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING THEIR FIRST CHILD

Cradling her baby bump and looking every inch a glowing mummy-to-be, Janette Manrara is calm, relaxed and filled with happiness as she and husband Aljaz Skorjanec count down the days to the arrival of their first child

- TRACY SCHAVERIEN

The former Strictly Come Dancing professionals are due to become parents later this month and can’t wait, with Janette – and her bump – literally dancing with joy as she poses for HELLO!’s exclusive photoshoot.

“I am really enjoying being pregnant,” says the 39-year-old Strictly: It Takes Two presenter. “I love having a bump and watching my body change and grow.

“I’ve felt really good the whole time – and I count my blessings because I know it’s not the case for every woman.”

On the day they chat to HELLO!, the couple have just returned from an appointment with their midwife, who has reassured them the pregnancy is progressing as expected.

“The baby is doing great,” says Janette. “It is slowly making its way down and getting ready to come out.

“And it’s moving a lot. Every time the baby moves, I grab Aljaz’s hand so he can feel it, too.”

Aljaz adds: “Babies can hear you and can feel your hand, and it has been really nice to put my hand on Janette’s belly and feel our baby move.”

THE NAME GAME 

While they aren’t revealing the baby’s gender, Janette and Aljaz have already chosen a name, which they use when they talk to the bump.

Aljaz tells us: “We settled on a name about eight years ago, but then as soon as we fell pregnant, we completely erased that one from the options!

“Then, not that long ago, Janette suggested a name and that was the one that we kind of stuck with. Now, whenever we caress the bump, we say the name.

“People say that you need to see the baby before you solidify it, but I feel like we do have a name.”