Strictly Come Dancing isn’t just getting three new hosts for the main series this year, but a brand-new host for companion show It Takes Two is also coming. And now, after plenty of waiting and speculation, that host has been confirmed.
On Emma Willis’s show on BBC Radio 2 today (15 August), it was announced that Ellie Taylor will be the new face of It Takes Two, with the comedian taking over from Janette Manrara and Fleur East.
Taylor is of course no stranger to Strictly, having previously danced with Johannes Radebe in the 20th season of the BBC series back in 2022. They were ultimately the eighth couple to be eliminated, with the season being won by Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal.
BBC
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Speaking on BBC Radio 2, Taylor said that she didn’t know that she had landed the job until a couple of weeks ago, and while she told her partner and her mother about it, she kept schtum otherwise.
She joked that she especially didn’t tell her children as they probably wouldn’t have kept it to themselves. When Willis asked if it was “horrible” to keep the secret, Taylor said that she was “over the moon” and “giddy” that it was now out in the open.
The rumours were that It Takes Two had been rebranded as a ‘visualised podcast’ for the new season, but Taylor made no mention of that, explaining that it was “the same as everyone knows but refreshed”.
One of the changes is that the celebrities will be split up from their professional partners and interviewed in groups together, which Taylor said “showcases camaraderie between celebrities we’ve not really seen before”.
On the whole, she said that the focus will be on “slightly more candid conversation” than before, and feature “more involvement from viewers”, with the comedian likening it to a WhatsApp group chat.
BBC
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In a press release from the BBC, Taylor said: “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.)”
The press release also stated that costume designer Vicky Gill will continue to be a big part of the show, while a “new Strictly alumni panel” will return to the dance floor to give their expert opinions on each weekend’s performances.
Guy Levy//BBC
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Meanwhile, Willis — one of the main show’s new hosts alongside the aforementioned Radebe and Josh Widdicombe — revealed that Friday (14 August) was her “first full work day” on Strictly.
That follows on from professional dancer Vito Coppola stating that rehearsals started two weeks ago, and that they were “full-on”. With all these developments, Strictly season really is just around the corner.
Strictly: It Takes Two will return to BBC Two and iPlayer in September, while Strictly Come Dancing will air on BBC One.
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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he’s covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I’m a Fish.