Producers reportedly said 'boring' spin-off needed a revamp

Ellie Taylor is to host the Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two,It has been reported.

The comic took part in the 2022 edition of the BBC One dance competition, where she and pro Johannes Radebe finished in seventh place.

It Takes Two was last hosted by Fleur East – also a 2022 contestant  – and pro dancer Janette Manrara – both of whom are leaving. Claudia Winkleman, Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark previously hosted the show.

The Sun On Sunday today reports that 42-year-old Taylor will be taking over, with an unnamed source telling the newspaper: ‘Ellie was hugely popular with viewers when she appeared as a contestant on Strictly in 2022, and her infectious personality was also a hit with the senior production team.

‘She very much featured in the discussions when they were looking to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the main show, and although she didn’t get that job, she remained in the executive team’s thoughts.

‘They were very keen to get her on It Takes Two which they felt was too boring and needed a major revamp.’

However, a BBC spokesman declined to comment on speculation.

Taylor's previous presenting work includes Snog Marry Avoid?, The Great Pottery Throw Down and Bake Off: The Professionals .

Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Radebe wil be the new presenting team when the  main show returns later this year/.

Meanwhile, It Takes Two’s executive producer Eve Winstanley is standing down after 16 years on Strictly, writing on LinkedIn I couldn’t be prouder of being part of this iconic brand, but earlier this year I knew it was time to hang up my dancing shoes (in my head I’m a pro dancer) and hand over to a new team to freshen things up.’

The contestants so far announced for the 2026 series of Strictly are  House of the Dragon actress Bethany Antonia;  Love Island winners  Cach Mercer and Dani Dyer; celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton; singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem; actresses Jaime Winstone and Lacey Turner; 

Paralympic cyclist  Sarah Storey; England footballer turned pundit  Shaun Wright-Phillips; and TV and radio presenter Will Best.

Published: 2 Aug 2026