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Former Strictly star confirmed as host of spin-off series It Takes Two
Ellie Taylor will be hosting the companion show when it returns in September.
BBC
- James Hibbs
Published: Sunday, 16 August 2026 at 10:31 am
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The changes keep coming at Strictly Come Dancing.
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After three new presenters of the main show were announced earlier this year, and a refreshed line-up of professional dancers was also confirmed, it has now been confirmed that a new host will be taking the reins of companion show Strictly - It Takes Two.
That new host will be none other than Ellie Taylor, the comedian and actress who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2022. She was paired with Johannes Radebe - who is now part of the new main series hosting line up, and was eliminated in week 10.
Now, Taylor will be hosting the companion show every weeknight after the show starts airing in September, offering a peek behind the curtain at everything that goes into making the series.
Taylor said in a statement: "What a total joy to return to Strictly in this new role. I feel incredibly honoured to follow in the footsteps of the phenomenal line-up of hosts who've made Strictly - It Takes Two so loved over the years.
"I can’t wait to immerse myself in all the gossip and sequins flying out of the ballroom in order to bring my fellow Strictly fans everything they need to know. I’m so excited, I could cha cha! (But I won’t - don’t worry… no one needs to see that again.)"
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Taylor takes over from previous hosts Janette Manrara and Fleur East, who themselves followed in the footsteps of Claudia Winkleman, Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark.
Helen Munson, BBC Commissioning Editor, said: "We'd like to say a huge thank you to the brilliant Janette Manrara and Fleur East, who've been a massive part of It Takes Two's continued success over the years.
"It Takes Two is a joy to make and we're so proud to have it on the BBC every autumn. As we embark on what will be an incredibly exciting new series of Strictly, we can't wait to be there every step of the way."
Taylor is known for appearing on entertainment and comedy shows such as Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Mash Report and Bake Off: The Professionals, as well as for playing Sassy and Ted Lasso.
Despite some reports suggesting that the new-look show would take the form of a visualised podcast, this has been confirmed not to be the case.
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Instead, the show will include all new features, such as in-depth discussions among groups of celebs and groups of professionals, and a new Strictly alumni panel to revisit the ballroom for a unique insight into each weekend's show.
The BBC Two series will continue to feature all of the training room VTs, exclusive interviews, announcements, reveals and insights from costume designer Vicky Gill that it is known for.
Taylor's new role was officially confirmed by new Strictly Come Dancing host Emma Willis, on her Radio 2 show on Saturday 15 August.
From September, Strictly Come Dancing will be hosted by Willis, Radebe and Josh Widdicombe.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
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Authors
James HibbsDrama Writer
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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