Janette Manrara breaks silence as she hits back at Will Bayley's 'lifelong' BBC Strictly injury claim
Strictly's Janetta Manrara has broken her silence on Will Bayley's injury claims
PA/Channel 5
Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara has responded after her former celebrity partner, Paralympian Will Bayley, claimed she made him redo a jump that left him with a lifelong injury.
It comes as the family programme has been thrown into chaos, with ongoing accusations made about the professional dancers on the BBC series.
Table tennis player Bayley, 36, has said he sustained the injury while jumping during a performance on the show, noting Manrara, 40, had made him redo the move.
Manrara starred as a professional dancer for eight series before going on to host Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two, in 2021.
A representative for Manrara has now responded to Bayley's claims, telling MailOnline: "Janette had a great time dancing with Will and one of her favourite moments on the show was doing their contemporary couples choice.
"Her celebrity partner's safety and enjoyment was always the priority throughout her time on Strictly.
Will Bayley reflected on his 2019 injury which happened during Strictly Come Dancing training
BBC
"Janette has never received any complaints and has maintained friendships with all her partners, including Will."
A resurfaced clip from Bayley's injury in 2019 shows the moment he was left curled up on the floor in agony following the jump.
The Paralympian didn't perform that week and it was later announced he would be withdrawing from the show.
Speaking to The Sun, Bayley commented: "We practiced a few times and I was really careful.
Janetta Manrara was a Strictly professional dancer until 2021 when she stared hosting It Take Two
BBC
"But then Janette said my jump was 'rubbish' and I needed to smile more and go for it and show a bit of passion."
He went on to explain he then "went for it," but subsequently experienced "the most horrific pain".
"I was lying on the floor thinking my whole career was over. I heard my leg crack, I couldn’t breathe," he recalled.
"I'll never get over that injury — you have it for life. I've already got a limiting disability but this on top of it.
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Paralympian Will Bayley suffered a 'lifelong' injury from Strictly Come Dancing
Getty
"I wake up in the morning and it hurts. I can now only train for a couple hours before it’s sore."
He noted he "didn't have an issue with Janette," but felt she had been under pressure from the show's bosses.
They have remained friends since they took part in the series.
It comes as the show has been shrouded in darkness this year, with claims coming out frequently after Amanda Abbington's accusations against Giovanni Pernice sparked a BBC investigation.
A BBC spokesperson told GB News in response to Bayley's claims" "We have longstanding protocols for dealing with injuries if they occur and that includes contestants receiving all necessary treatment and support as required."