# Aljaž Škorjanec

Aljaž Škorjanec (born 19 February 1990) is a Slovenian dancer and choreographer, who is known for appearing on the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer from 2013 to 2021, and from 2024 onwards.

## Career

Aljaž Škorjanec was born in Ptuj, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia. He is a 19-time Slovenian champion in Ballroom, Latin and Ten Dance. Between 2000 and 2008, his professional partner was Valerija Rahle Mbanwi.

## Strictly Come Dancing

In September 2013 Škorjanec became a professional dancer on the eleventh series of the British television show, Strictly Come Dancing. He was partnered with model Abbey Clancy. On 30 November, they received the series' first perfect 40 for their Saturday Night Fever-themed Salsa. On 21 December, they won the series. He was the fourth professional to win in his first series of the show. The following year, he returned for the show's twelfth series, where he was partnered with This Morning presenter, Alison Hammond. They were the sixth couple to be eliminated from the competition. For the show's thirteenth series, he was partnered with Call the Midwife actress, Helen George. They were eliminated on week 11 of the competition, leaving in sixth place.
For the show's fourteenth series, he was partnered with model Daisy Lowe. They were the seventh couple to be eliminated from the competition, leaving in eighth place. For the show's fifteenth series, he was partnered with actress and former model, Gemma Atkinson. The couple reached the finals, but they finished as joint runners-up, behind winners Joe McFadden and his professional dance partner, Katya Jones. For the show's sixteenth series, he was partnered with BBC newsreader and journalist Kate Silverton. The couple were eliminated on week 9 in Blackpool, leaving in eighth place.
For the seventeenth series, he was partnered with socialite and chef, Emma Weymouth. They were eliminated on week 7, leaving in ninth place. For the eighteenth series, he was partnered with BBC Radio 1 DJ and presenter, Clara Amfo. For the nineteenth series, he was partnered with Dragons' Den entrepreneur and TV personality, Sara Davies. In March 2022, Škorjanec announced he would be leaving the show after nine years.
In July 2024, it was announced that Škorjanec would be returning as a professional for the twenty-second series. On 7 September 2024, amid speculation suggesting Škorjanec left Strictly due to an altercation with a female colleague in 2022, he said he had taken a break from Strictly to become a father. He was partnered with Love Island finalist Tasha Ghouri. She was the 2nd deaf contestant to compete after series 19 winner Rose Ayling-Ellis. The couple reached the final and finished as joint runners-up behind Chris McCausland and his professional dance partner, Dianne Buswell. They broke the record for the highest-ever average in the history of the show and Anton Du Beke described Ghouri as "the best dancer we've ever had on Strictly".
| Series | Partner | Place | Average Score |
| 11 | Abbey Clancy | 1st | 35.6 |
| 12 | Alison Hammond | 10th | 24.6 |
| 13 | Helen George | 6th | 33.0 |
| 14 | Daisy Lowe | 8th | 31.8 |
| 15 | Gemma Atkinson | 2nd | 31.0 |
| 16 | Kate Silverton | 8th | 25.0 |
| 17 | Emma Weymouth | 9th | 27.0 |
| 18 | Clara Amfo | 7th | 27.0 |
| 19 | Sara Davies | 8th | 28.5 |
| 22 | Tasha Ghouri | 2nd | 37.3 |
Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance
| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
| American Smooth | Tasha Ghouri | 40 | Alison Hammond | 26 |
| Argentine Tango | Tasha Ghouri | 38 | Kate Silverton | 23 |
| Cha-Cha-Cha | Abbey Clancy Tasha Ghouri | 30 | Sara Davies | 17 |
| Charleston | Tasha Ghouri Clara Amfo | 39 | Alison Hammond | 27 |
| Couple's Choice | Tasha Ghouri | 39 | Sara Davies | 23 |
| Foxtrot | Abbey Clancy | 35 | Alison Hammond | 22 |
| Jive | Gemma Atkinson | 30 | Alison Hammond | 21 |
| Paso Doble | Tasha Ghouri | 39 | Abbey Clancy Daisy Lowe | 33 |
| Quickstep | Abbey Clancy | 38 | Gemma Atkinson | 29 |
| Rumba | Tasha Ghouri | 34 | Kate Silverton | 20 |
| Salsa | Abbey Clancy | 40 | Gemma Atkinson | 26 |
| Samba | Abbey Clancy | 39 | Kate Silverton | 20 |
| Showdance | Tasha Ghouri | 40 | Gemma Atkinson | 37 |
| Tango | Sara Davies | 36 | Emma Weymouth | 22 |
| Viennese Waltz | Helen George | 39 | Clara Amfo | 23 |
| Waltz | Abbey Clancy Tasha Ghouri | 40 | Gemma Atkinson | 26 |

### Abbey Clancy

On the eleventh series, Škorjanec was partnered with model Abbey Clancy.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Waltz / "Kissing You" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | No elimination |
| 2 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Let's Get Loud" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive / "Can't Buy Me Love" | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 4 | Tango / "Spectrum" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 5 | Foxtrot / "Dear Darlin'" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 6 | Rumba / "Stay" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Bottom two |
| 7 | Charleston / "Cabaret" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | Safe |
| 8 | Quickstep / "Walking on Sunshine" | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 37 | Safe |
| 9 | Paso Doble / "You Got the Love" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 33 | Safe |
| 10 | Salsa / "You Should Be Dancing" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | Safe |
| 11 | Viennese Waltz / "Delilah" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 37 | Safe |
| 11 | Swing-a-thon / "Do You Love Me" | Awarded | 3 | extra | points | 40 | Safe |
| 12 | Samba / "Faith" American Smooth / "Sweet Caroline" | 9 9 | 10 10 | 10 10 | 10 10 | 39 39 | Safe |
| 13 | Waltz / "Kissing You" Showdance / "Sweet Child o' Mine" Quickstep / "Walking on Sunshine" | 10 9 9 | 10 10 10 | 10 9 9 | 10 10 10 | 40 38 38 | Winners |

### Alison Hammond

On the twelfth series, Škorjanec was partnered with television personality Alison Hammond.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Bussell | Osmond | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "I'm Every Woman" | 6 | 6 | – | 7 | 7 | 26 | None |
| 2 | Foxtrot / "I Just Want to Make Love to You" | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | 6 | 22 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive / "Footloose" | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 28 | Safe |
| 4 | Samba / "Bootylicious" | 6 | 7 | – | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 5 | Tango / "Addicted to You" | 5 | 6 | – | 6 | 6 | 23 | Safe |
| 6 | American Smooth / "Wuthering Heights" | 5 | 7 | – | 7 | 7 | 26 | Bottom two |
| 7 | Charleston / "Friend Like Me" | 6 | 7 | – | 7 | 7 | 27 | Eliminated |
* Note: Donny Osmond was a guest judge for the third week

### Helen George

On the thirteenth series, Škorjanec was partnered with actress Helen George.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Waltz / "With You I'm Born Again" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | No elimination |
| 2 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Uptown Girl" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
| 3 | Foxtrot / "I Wanna Be Loved by You" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 4 | Salsa / "Dr. Beat" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Safe |
| 5 | Quickstep / "You Can't Hurry Love" | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 6 | Samba / "Take Your Mama" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 7 | Rumba / "Hello" | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 8 | Tango / "Hold Back the River" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 9 | Charleston/ Anything Goes | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 10 | Viennese Waltz/ At Last | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 10 | Quickstep-a-Thon / Sing, Sing, Sing | Awarded | 7 | extra | points | 46 | Safe |
| 11 | Paso Doble / "At The End of The Day" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | Eliminated |

### Daisy Lowe

On the fourteenth series, Škorjanec was partnered with model Daisy Lowe.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Waltz / "Unforgettable" | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 32 | None |
| 2 | Cha-cha-cha / "Forget You" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 3 | Quickstep / "A Spoonful of Sugar" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 4 | Rumba / "Careless Whisper" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 5 | Charleston / "Happy Feet" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Bottom two |
| 6 | Paso Doble / "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Bottom two |
| 7 | Viennese Waltz / "Daisy Bell" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 8 | Salsa / "Groove Is in the Heart" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Eliminated |

### Gemma Atkinson

On the fifteenth series, Škorjanec was partnered with actress and model Gemma Atkinson.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Bussell | Ballas | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 20 | None |
| 2 | Waltz / "Un Giorno Per Noi (A Time for Us)" | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 3 | Charleston / "The Bear Necessities" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble / "Viva la Vida" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 5 | Foxtrot / "Believe" | 8 | 8 | 8 | - | 24 | Safe |
| 6 | Jive / "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 7 | Salsa / "Sun Comes Up" | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 8 | Viennese Waltz / "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 9 | American Smooth / "Downtown" | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 38 | Safe |
| 10 | Samba / "The River of Dreams" Paso Doble-a-thon / "España cañí" | 6 Awarded | 6 3 | 6 extra | 7 points | 25 28 | Safe |
| 11 | Quickstep / "Hello, Dolly!" | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
| 12 | Rumba / "Beneath Your Beautiful" Tango / "My Sharona" | 7 8 | 8 8 | 7 8 | 8 8 | 30 32 | Bottom Two |
| 13 | Paso Doble / "Viva la Vida" Showdance / "Show Me How You Burlesque" American Smooth / "Downtown" | 9 8 9 | 9 9 10 | 10 10 10 | 10 10 10 | 38 37 39 | Runners-Up |

### Kate Silverton

On the sixteenth series, Škorjanec was partnered with journalist and newsreader Kate Silverton.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Bussell | Ballas | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Kiss" | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 20 | None |
| 2 | Tango / "No Roots" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 3 | Foxtrot / "Why Don't You Do Right" | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
| 4 | Samba / "Africa" | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 20 | Safe |
| 5 | Viennese Waltz / "Finally Mine" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8* | 26 | Safe |
| 6 | Rumba / "Skin" | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 20 | Safe |
| 7 | Argentine tango / "Assassin's Tango" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 23 | Safe |
| 8 | Quickstep / "I Want You to Want Me" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 9 | American Smooth / "Everlasting Love" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Eliminated |
* Score was awarded by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro.

### Emma Weymouth

On the seventeenth series, Škorjanec was partnered with model and socialite Emma Weymouth.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / She's a Lady" | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 19 | None |
| 2 | Tango / "Sucker" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 22 | Safe |
| 3 | Foxtrot / "Did I Make the Most of Loving You? | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 4 | Jive / "Kids in America | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Bottom two |
| 5 | Viennese Waltz / “Saving All My Love For You | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9* | 36 | Safe |
| 6 | Charleston / "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 30 | Safe |
| 7 | Samba / "I Don't Care" | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 26 | Eliminated |
* Score was awarded by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro.

### Clara Amfo

On the eighteenth series, Škorjanec was partnered with radio presenter Clara Amfo.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Ballas | Mabuse | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Don't Start Now" | 5 | 6 | 7 | 18 | None |
| 2 | Viennese Waltz / "You Don't Own Me" | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 | Safe |
| 3 | Tango / "Lady Marmalade" | 7 | 6 | 7 | 20 | Safe |
| 4 | Charleston / "Baby Face" | 9 | 10 | 10* | 29 | Safe |
| 5 | Samba / "That's the Way (I Like It)" | 5 | 6 | 7* | 18 | Safe |
| 6 | Jive / "River Deep, Mountain High" | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | Eliminated |
* Score was awarded by guest judge Anton Du Beke.

### Sara Davies

On the nineteenth series, Škorjanec was partnered with businesswoman and Dragons' Den star, Sara Davies.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "The Boss" | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 17 | None |
| 2 | Foxtrot / "Dream a Little Dream of Me" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 3 | Samba / "Best Years of Our Lives" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | Safe |
| 4 | Tango / "Por una Cabeza" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | Safe |
| 5 | Rumba / "You're Still the One" | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 25 | Safe |
| 6 | Couple's Choice / "Queen Of the Night" | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 23 | Safe |
| 7 | Quickstep / "9 to 5" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Safe |
| 8 | Argentine Tango / "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 32 | Eliminated |

### Tasha Ghouri

On the twenty-second series, Škorjanec was partnered with model and television personality, Tasha Ghouri.
| Week No. | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Judges' scores | Result |
| Week No. | Dance/song | Horwood | Mabuse | Ballas | Du Beke | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Espresso" | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 30 | No elimination |
| 2 | Viennese Waltz / "Misty Blue" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 3 | Rumba / "What Was I Made For?" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 4 | Charleston / "Unhealthy" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 5 | Tango / "Dog Days Are Over" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 6 | Samba / "I Like to Move It" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 37 | Safe |
| 7 | Couple's Choice / "What About Us" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 8 | Quickstep / "Fantasy" | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 37 | Safe |
| 9 | Paso Doble / "Torn" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 10 | American Smooth / "Someone You Loved" Samba-thon / "Samba (Conga)" & "La Vida Es Un Carnaval" | 10 Awarded | 10 6 | 10 extra | 10 points | 40 46 | Safe |
| 11 | Argentine Tango / "Ex-Wives" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 38 | Bottom two |
| 12 | Salsa / "Something New" Waltz / "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" | 8 10 | 9 10 | 9 10 | 9 10 | 35 40 | Bottom two |
| 13 | Couple's Choice / "What About Us" Showdance / "Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)" American Smooth / "Someone You Loved" | 9 10 10 | 10 10 10 | 10 10 10 | 10 10 10 | 39 40 40 | Runners-up |

## Dance tours and other professional engagements

In August 2024, Škorjanec and Janette Manrara announced appearances at the 2025 "Dancing With The Stars Weekends".
In 2020, Škorjanec and Manrara announced dates for their 2021 UK Tour "Remembering The Oscars".
In October 2020, Škorjanec announced a 2021 West End Show "Here Come The Boys".
In 2017, Škorjanec took part in the national Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour in 2017 and, with Manrara, announced dates for their 2018 UK Tour "Remembering Fred".

## Personal life

Škorjanec is a fan of FC Barcelona. Škorjanec is married to fellow dancer Janette Manrara. In February 2023, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child in summer 2023. Their daughter, Lyra, was born in July 2023.
In 2020, Škorjanec explained his developing psoriasis at age 18, saying: "It affects my confidence and self esteem massively" and adding that it makes him self-conscious. Aljaz started to use natural skincare products and document his journey to raise awareness.