Ellie Taylor has been announced as the new host of the Strictly Come Dancing spin-off It Takes Two, replacing Fleur East and Janette Manrara. The comedian, who competed on the main show in 2022, will front the BBC Two companion programme starting in 2026.
Confirmation and reaction
The BBC confirmed the news on August 15, live on Emma Willis' Radio 2 show. Ellie told Emma: "I'm absolutely over the moon. It's so nice to get the secret out though!" She admitted feeling "giddy" about taking on the role.
The weekly programme offers behind-the-scenes access to Strictly, including training sessions, interviews with the couples, and chats with the creative team, such as costume designer Vicky Gill. For 2026, the show will introduce a new format where groups of celebrities and professionals discuss separately without their partners. A panel of former Strictly stars will also provide commentary on the weekend's performances.
Who is Ellie Taylor?
Ellie, 42, is a comedian, author, actor, and presenter. Her comedy career began in 2009 while working in marketing, with her first performance at an open mic night, which she told Stylist Magazine "led to my whole career." She has appeared on Mock The Week and The Mash Report, as well as in Ted Lasso and Plebs. In 2022, she published her memoir, My Child and Other Mistakes: How to Ruin Your Life in the Best Possible Way, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.
As a Strictly contestant in 2022, Ellie was paired with professional dancer Johannes Radebe. They performed a tango to the Casualty theme tune, portraying A&E medics treating a dummy patient with "tango fever." She was eliminated after a dance-off against Fleur East. The 2022 line-up also included James Bye, Kym Marsh, and Helen Skelton.
Personal life
Ellie has been married to Phil Black since 2014, after meeting him in an office lift. Phil is a former CNN international news reporter and served as Russia correspondent in Moscow. Ellie recounted the meeting on Live At The Apollo in 2016, joking: "Hot guy gets in the lift and presses level one. We're only on the ground floor, he's only going up one level, lazy... Hot guy puts out his hand to introduce himself and says, 'Hi, I'm Phil', and six years later I married him." She later confirmed the story was "all true" in an interview with the Daily Express, adding, "Sometimes life is helpful for coming up with material."
Strictly Come Dancing returns in September this year on BBC One and iPlayer, with the exact release date yet to be announced.
