Former contestant Ellie Taylor has been named as the new host of Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show It Takes Two ahead of the 2026 series.
Emma Willis, 50, who hosts a Saturday lunchtime show on BBC Radio 2, was the first to share the news publicly after months of speculation. Taylor joined Willis on her programme for a Strictly special on Saturday, where Willis revealed her new role and expressed delight that they were in it together.
Willis told listeners: "With me right now is the brand new host of It Takes Two! Mystery host of It Takes Two..." before revealing Taylor. Earlier in the broadcast, Willis teased the announcement, telling listeners: "It's a Strictly special. Because I'm going to introduce you to the brand new host of It Takes Two, they're in the building and coming into the studio!"
Taylor shared her reaction on air, saying: "I am over the moon! I feel giddy. So nice to get the secret out. I've had the theme tune in my head since I found out... I was like 'stop it woman!'" She added: "It was the same when I found out I was a contestant. I am so thrilled to be back in the Strictly world. I found out a month ago, but I've been a good girl. I told mummy and my partner. I didn't tell the kids."
In an official statement, 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."
She added: "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.)"
Show revamp and producer discussions
Taylor was hotly tipped to take over the hosting role earlier this month following the departure of Fleur East and Janette Manrara. East and Manrara hosted It Takes Two during the 2025 series before producers decided to replace them as part of a major overhaul ahead of the 2026 series.
A source told The Sun: "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." The source added: "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."
Taylor previously appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 alongside professional partner Johannes Radebe, who was recently named as one of the new main show hosts.
Main show presenters and press day
The host announcement comes amidst a broader overhaul of the main Strictly Come Dancing series. Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have been replaced by Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Radebe, while several professional dancers have also been removed from the show.
In October, Daly shocked viewers by announcing her decision to step down from hosting after 21 years alongside Winkleman. Following months of speculation, the BBC announced in May that Willis and Radebe, 39, would join Widdicombe to host the main show, following a lineup overhaul among the professional dancers, of which Radebe was previously included.
Willis returned to her regular BBC Radio 2 slot after taking a few weeks off on holiday, telling listeners she was ready to kickstart the Strictly season. She revealed that Friday marked her first full work day with co-hosts Widdicombe and Radebe as the trio completed a day of press coverage. The previous day, Willis and Radebe were seen arriving for a photoshoot alongside the stars of this year's series.
Willis arrived for her radio show wearing an androgynous ensemble comprising a cropped, unbuttoned waistcoat layered over a sleeveless shirt and trousers, with her trademark cropped hair slicked back, minimal makeup, and thin wired glasses. Radebe also arrived for work wearing a slick white jumper.
Celebrity lineup and viewer demographics
While the new presenting team expressed excitement, the announced celebrity lineup has generated significant public debate, with some commentators branding the cast the worst to date. Prominent names in the lineup include Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Jaime Winstone, Will Best, and Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters, though viewers have described many other contestants as unrecognised.
Strictly Come Dancing remains one of the BBC's most popular broadcasts, drawing millions of viewers every weekend and transforming professional dancers into household names. However, critics note that this year's professional dancers possess higher public profiles than their celebrity partners.
For example, contestant and YouTuber John Nellis does not have a Wikipedia page. However, producers reportedly focused on recruiting celebrities with large online followings. Contestant Chris Appleton, who works as Kim Kardashian's hair stylist, has 4 million Instagram followers, while Nellis has 15.7 million YouTube subscribers.
Despite their social media reach, loyal viewers have expressed confusion online, with many comments on Strictly social media posts asking who the celebrities are. While producers aim to attract Gen Z viewers aged 14 to 29, the majority of Strictly viewers belong to Gen X aged 46 to 61 and Baby Boomers aged 62 to 80.
