Ellie Taylor is reportedly set to become the new host of Strictly Come Dancing spin-off It Takes Two, with the comedian said to have agreed a deal with BBC bosses.
The move comes after the reported departures of previous It Takes Two presenters Janette Manrara and Fleur East, as part of a wider presenter overhaul at the show.
Comedian's return to the ballroom
Taylor, 42, competed in the 2022 series of Strictly, finishing in seventh place with professional partner Johannes Radebe. She is known for her stand-up comedy career, panel show appearances including Mock the Week, and a role in Apple TV's Ted Lasso.
According to a source who spoke to 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."
Deal and reaction
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 continued: "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."
A Strictly spokesperson said: "We don't comment on speculation."
Wider presenter shake-up
Radebe has since been confirmed as one of the programme's new presenters, while Emma Willis and comedian Josh Widdicombe have also secured hosting duties on the dance competition, according to Wales Online.
The changes follow the exit of long-serving presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who announced they were leaving last year. In a joint statement on Instagram, they said: "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time."
They added: "We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show. They're the most brilliant team and we'll miss them every day."
"We will cry when we say the last \"keep dancing\" but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza. Tess and Claud."
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in September 2026.
