Ellie Taylor was rushed to hospital with a hand injury on Monday just hours before presenting BBC spin-off show Strictly It Takes Two.
The 42-year-old presenter shared a photograph on Instagram showing her left thumb wrapped in a support brace after visiting a minor injuries unit. She reassured fans that her thumb was not broken, confirming she had sustained a strain instead.
Posting on her Instagram Stories, Taylor joked that she hoped the Strictly wardrobe department "has a glue gun and some rhinestones" to decorate her bandage in time for the live broadcast.
She also praised the medical staff who treated her, writing: "Also big thumbs up (It's all I've got) to Nurse Wendy who got me out in time to make my car to the studio."
Despite the late emergency visit, the television and radio star arrived at the studio in time to host the live 6:30pm broadcast, presenting the show on screen without her thumb brace.
New host of BBC spin-off show
Taylor was announced as the new presenter of Strictly: It Takes Two earlier this year following a major lineup change on the nightly BBC Two spin-off show. She joined the broadcast after former co-hosts Janette Manrara and Fleur East were dropped from the show.
Strictly: It Takes Two is the official weekday companion series to Strictly Come Dancing, broadcasting backstage updates, expert panel commentary, and guest interviews with competing couples throughout the series. Taylor, a comedian and actor who starred in comedy series Ted Lasso, previously competed as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022. Manrara previously performed as a professional dancer on the series, while East was a finalist in 2022.
Changes across Strictly main show
The presenter changes on the spin-off come during wider adjustments across the main Strictly Come Dancing broadcast for its 2026 series. Viewers have shared mixed reactions to the main show's new trio of hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, who replaced long-time presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The new presenting trio faced a flurry of criticism from audience members during their first two weeks on air together. Willis previously fronted major UK formats including Big Brother and The Voice UK, while Widdicombe is a stand-up comedian and co-host of panel show The Last Leg. Radebe joined Strictly as a professional dancer in 2018 before taking on his new role on the main presenting team.
Surprise return for Nadiya Bychkova
Amid the ongoing reaction to the main show changes, viewers of Strictly: It Takes Two were surprised by the unexpected return of former professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova on Friday night's broadcast.
The 37-year-old Ukrainian dancer joined singer Kimberley Walsh and former contestant Jay McGuinness as celebrity guest panelists to discuss all things Strictly with host Taylor.
Bychkova was among several longstanding professional dancers dropped from the main show lineup in March as part of a mass Strictly shake-up. Appearing on Friday's panel in a black leather minidress, the dancer discussed the current celebrity contestants and their routines ahead of Movie Week this weekend, showing no hard feelings over her exit.
Guest panelist Walsh rose to fame as a member of pop group Girls Aloud and finished as a finalist on Strictly in 2012. McGuinness won the series in 2015 alongside his music career with boy band The Wanted. Bychkova joined the professional dance cast in 2017 after winning multiple world championships in ballroom dance.
Viewers took to social media platform X to express their excitement at seeing Bychkova back on screen, with one fan posting: "So nice to see Nadiya Byckova back on #ItTakesTwo and still part of the #Strictly family. She was always full of kindness as a pro and hope to see more of her in the future, either as a permanent fixture on It Takes Two or maybe even a future contestant on #CelebrityTraitors."
Other viewers described her as "a classy lady" and expressed delight at her return, while another fan criticized show bosses for deciding to refresh her out of the professional line-up in the first place.
The panel evaluated the dancers' progress as the remaining couples prepare for Movie Week on this weekend's live show.
