Strictly Come Dancing’s Janette Manrara (Image: Janette Manrara Instagram)

Janette Manrara has been flooded with messages from delighted fans after they saw her open the Strictly Come Dancing Live 2025 tour over the weekend.

The presenter and dancer is back as the host of the popular arena tour which sees stars of the BBC One dance contest’s previous series hit the road to perform to hundreds of thousands of fans across the country.

The cast of seven celebrities taking part were confirmed last month before the pairings were later revealed to be; professional dancer Michelle Tsiakkas and EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, Kai Widdrington and Olympian Montell Douglas, and Katya Jones with opera singer Wynne Evans.

There is also Aljaz Skorjanec with Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, Vito Coppola and actress Sarah Hadland and Nancy Xu with singer Shayne Ward. Dancers Dianne Buswell, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystal, Robbie Kmetoni and Jake Leigh, are also among the performers.

The tour opened at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Friday (January 17) with a weekend of shows before now moving to Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and London, with the final show taking on February 9 at the O2.

Following the opening string of shows, Janette took to Instagram with a snap in which she could be seen laying in bed without a scrap of makeup on her face but her hair still in stylish curls from the earlier show. She smiled and gave a thumbs up for the camera as she wrote alongside the post: “8 shows in 4 days…. Hence the exhausted, in PJs, non-filtered, make-up free, photo in bed! But with a heart full of gratitude and joy.

“3 rehearsal shows, 5 w/ an epic audience!! Birmingham you never disappoint. You are MAGICAL! But now, vocal rest, cuddles w/ my baby, and a much needed day off. THANK YOU for making our first weekend of @strictlycomedancinglive a special one!”

Janette was also joined by her daughter, Lyra, at the shows in Birmingham (Image: Janette Manrara Instagram)

And her fans and followers were quick to respond having already been to see the show. @ollie.horobin said: “You absolutely SMASHED it!!! thank you for being so lovely & kind.” @moggster_1 commented: “Just home from the show. It was amazing as usual. Enjoy your precious time with your family. And rest that voice. But congratulate everyone on another fantastic show. Enjoy the rest of the tour.”

@strictlycariad wrote: “You were incredible! loved seeing you at the matinée show yesterday (even saw your mum & lyra going to their seats)! enjoy your well deserved day off!!” @clairelwf added: “I went with my daughter on the opening night. You were all amazing and you’re such a great host.”

Janette was also joined by a special guest as her and her husband Aljaz’s daughter, Lyra Rose, joined them in Birmingham with Janette’s mum lending a hand while they’re on the road. Alongside a picture of herself and Lyra backstage, Janette wrote on Instagram: “We had a very special audience member watching the show this afternoon.”