Ellie Taylor, the presenter of Strictly Come Dancing spin-off It Takes Two, has revealed she was once offered £200 to pose nude during an internship at lads' magazine FHM earlier in her career. She declined the offer.
Internship at FHM
In an interview with the i paper, Taylor, 42, spoke about her early ambitions to become a journalist. During her university years, she completed internships at publications during the summer holidays, including The Times and Vogue, as well as a placement at FHM, which has operated exclusively online since 2016.
Recalling the proposition, she said: "Absolutely wild times. They asked me if I would be in the magazine. I was the intern, and they asked if I would get my kit off for £200, which was a lot of money for me. Thank god I said no."
Strictly presenting role
Taylor, who was partnered with Johannes Radebe during her 2022 Strictly stint, was considered for the main presenting role but lost out to Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe, who replaced long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Other contenders included Zoe Ball, Sara Cox, Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon.
Despite not securing the main role, Taylor said she never anticipated landing it and is thrilled to be fronting It Takes Two. She "realised it's beyond her" and is delighted to remain part of Strictly, being an avid fan of the programme.
Reaction to new line-up
The revamped presenting team has attracted some criticism. While Emma has received a warm reception, Josh has been described as "too jittery" and Johannes' limited live television presenting background has been noted.
Discussing the new line-up, Taylor said: "People don't like change. I think they're great. There's such great energy in that room; they're all so pumped to be there. They'll settle into the roles even better than they already have."
Taylor, a mother of two, began performing stand-up comedy in her mid-20s. She has appeared on programmes including 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week and The Last Leg, and has featured in the sports comedy-drama Ted Lasso.
