A new face for the spin-off
The BBC has confirmed comedian and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ellie Taylor as the new host of It Takes Two, the long-running companion programme to the flagship BBC dance contest. The announcement was made on 15 August during Emma Willis's BBC Radio 2 show and covered across British entertainment outlets on 16 August, ending months of speculation about who would succeed Janette Manrara and Fleur East in the role. Taylor is best known as a panel-show regular, presenter of Bake Off: The Professionals, and a cast member of Ted Lasso, and she previously competed on the 20th series of Strictly in 2022, paired with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, finishing eighth.
Format changes teased
Taylor indicated that It Takes Two will keep the format viewers recognise but with a refresh, including splitting celebrities from their professional partners and interviewing them in groups to showcase the camaraderie between contestants. She also pointed to more viewer involvement and what she described as a slightly more candid tone, comparing the feel to a WhatsApp group chat. Earlier in the summer, unverified reports suggested the programme could be reimagined as a vodcast, with episodes filmed for television and recorded for podcast listeners, though Taylor made no reference to that plan on air.
A revamped Strictly universe
The It Takes Two unveiling is part of a wider reshuffle around the BBC dance franchise ahead of the 2026 run. The main series is itself gaining three new presenters in Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, replacing outgoing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, with the new line-up set to return to screens in September. Pro dancer Vito Coppola said rehearsals had already begun two weeks before the announcement, describing them as "full-on," while Willis noted that 14 August marked her first full work day on the series.
Reaction and supporting cast
Taylor told Willis she was "over the moon" and "giddy" that the news was finally public, having kept the secret from everyone except her partner and mother, and joked that she especially avoided telling her children. In a BBC press release she called it a "total joy" to return to Strictly in a new capacity, and said she could not wait to "immerse myself in all the gossip and sequins flying out of the ballroom." The broadcaster also confirmed that costume designer Vicky Gill will remain a fixture on the programme and that a "new Strictly alumni panel" will return to offer expert takes on each weekend's performances.
Background on the host change
The Independent reports the appointment comes amid months of rumours about the exits of Manrara and East. East, who competed on Strictly in 2022 and joined It Takes Two in 2023, expressed upset in May after being turned down to present the main show. Reports in April suggested both hosts had been dropped from the spin-off, though the BBC told The Independent last month that it was "factually incorrect to claim that either has been axed."
What to watch next
It Takes Two is scheduled to return alongside the main Strictly Come Dancing series in September, with Taylor taking over as host and the alumni panel and Vicky Gill back in their roles. Further announcements, including the full celebrity line-up, are expected as the launch approaches.
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