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Privacy Notice Paralympian star Will Bayley, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2019, has revealed his true feelings about dance partner Janette Manrara on This Morning, saying she was “unbelievable,” following reports detailing the injuries he suffered during the series that caused him to drop out. The table tennis player, 36, who is currently in Slovenia preparing for the Summer Paralympics in Paris, suffered a serious injury to his knee ligaments following a jump from a table during a routine in rehearsals. Will appeared on This Morning on Tuesday 23 July where he described the accident that occurred while Janette was watching from the sidelines. It comes after he opened up on the injury in an interview with The Sun saying: “We practised a few times and I was really careful. But then Janette said my jump was rubbish and I needed to smile more and go for it and show a bit of passion. I was really determined, so I went for it and smiled at the camera. When I landed I just had the most horrific pain. I still have flashbacks now,” he said. However, Will did not blame Janette, and in his This Morning interview with Alison Hammond and Joel Dommett, he clarified that he is only critical of the BBC’s lack of duty of care for participants in the show, and shared his hopes that both disabled and able bodied celebrities on the show be better supported in the future. Sign up to OK’s TV newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Janette and Will were partnered on Strictly in 2019
(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
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Asked about the accident, he spoke in more detail about how it happened to the presenters. “We were practising the dancing and it was my favourite dance, I was so gutted I didn’t get to perform it, I was Casper the Friendly Ghost, and it was a jive,” he said. “I knew there was going to be a jump but we didn’t practise it in rehearsal, and then I did it in the dress rehearsal and that’s when the accident happened. It was traumatic for me because having a disability anyway, having Tokyo [the Olympics] coming up, though it got delayed so I was lucky that I got a chance to compete, but it was really hard for me at the time. I’ve been through a lot worse, but it was very challenging.” Will was able to compete in the Tokyo Paralympics as they were delayed from 2020 to 2021, giving him more time to recuperate. Will went on to explain his true feelings about his professional partner on Strictly, Janette Manrara, and to set the record straight. “One thing I really want to get out there is Janette was unbelievable, I worked so well with her, we’re both so fiercely determined and we both wanted to win,” he said. “We gave it everything and she eeked everything out of me she could have done, because I was rubbish at dancing, and she made me feel so good.”
Will had to leave Strictly following an injury
(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
“Overall it was good,” he continued. “Some things have been taken out of context a little bit, there are a lot of things to learn from my injury, from jumping off the table, and I don’t think that is on her at all.” Janette’s spokesperson previously told OK!: “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. Janette has never received any complaints and has maintained friendships with all her partners, including Will.” The BBC also told OK!: “We have longstanding protocols for dealing with injuries if they occur and that includes contestants receiving all necessary treatment and support as required.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnJanette ManraraJoel DommettAlison HammondStrictly Come DancingThis Morning
