Comedian Ellie Taylor has made her first public appearance since reports emerged that she will host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. The 42-year-old Ted Lasso star was seen arriving at a BBC radio studio in London on Saturday during a sunny solo outing, marking a potential major boost to her television career.
Taylor showcased her toned pins in denim shorts paired with a white striped shirt and woven ballet pumps, carrying her belongings in two large tote bags. She accessorised with oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses and a delicate gold chain as she listened to music on the walk.
The appearance comes after reports earlier this month that Taylor will replace Fleur East and Janette Manrara on the spin-off show. East and Manrara were axed in a major revamp ahead of next month's new series. Taylor previously featured as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, when she was paired with professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
The main show is also undergoing significant changes for the 2026 series, with presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman being replaced by Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe. Representatives for Taylor and the BBC have been contacted for comment.
Strictly Come Dancing hosting changes
A source told The Sun that Taylor was popular with viewers and production staff during her 2022 appearance as a contestant. "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 said.
"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," the source added. "They were very keen to get her on It Takes Two which they felt was too boring and needed a major revamp. So she's been hired for the It Takes Two hosting job."
![Earlier this month it was reported that Ellie will replace Fleur East and Janette Manrara [pictured] who were axed from the spin-off in this year's huge show revamp](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/08/08/14/110389831-16038321-The_star_42_will_reportedly_replace_Fleur_East_and_Janette_Manra-a-3_1786195430315.jpg)
New professional dancer lineup
Last month, Strictly announced five new professional dancers for the upcoming series returning this September. The quintet, officially unveiled in a social media post following a cast bloodbath earlier this year, includes Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby, and Mark Karmalita, who will make their debut on the dancefloor this autumn.
The new dancers join returning professionals Alexis Warr, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Dianne Buswell, Jowita Przystal, Julian Caillon, Kai Widdrington, Katya Jones, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, and Vito Coppola.
Several pros have been axed from the lineup in recent months, including Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, 44, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35.
Social media following behind pro cuts
Dancers with larger online followings have reportedly been chosen over performers who are not as TikTok friendly, as the series attempts to attract a younger audience.
Axed dancer Nadiya Bychkova has 19,000 followers, while Dianne Buswell has retained her place with 966,000 followers. Similarly, Karen Hauer, who was Strictly's longest-serving female dancer, has 9,000 followers, whereas newcomer Alexis Warr has secured a place with 190,000 followers.
