Ellie Taylor has been announced as the new host of Strictly Come Dancing spin-off It Takes Two, weeks after Janette Manrara confirmed her departure. The comedienne originally took part in the 2022 series, during which she and professional dancer Johannes Radebe finished in seventh place.
Taylor's reaction to the new role
'I’m absolutely over the moon, I feel giddy,' she told BBC Radio 2 presenter and new Strictly host Emma Willis on Saturday afternoon. 'The energy around Strictly is such a joy and I’m just thrilled to be back. It’s a dream come true.'
'I’m just thrilled to be back in the Strictly world and I’m so excited about It Takes Two this year. It’s going to be refreshed – it will be really lovely to showcase the camaraderie between celebs.'
New features and returning favourites
Costume Design Queen Vicky Gill will still be on hand to keep fans in the know about who's wearing what, and key members of the creative team will give viewers a deep dive into every aspect of what it takes to create a spectacular Strictly performance.
New features will include in-depth discussions among groups of celebs and groups of Pros - often without their partners. Elsewhere, a new Strictly alumni panel will revisit the Strictly ballroom for a unique insight into each weekend's show.
Taylor's statement and producer comments
'What a total joy to return to Strictly in this new role,' Taylor said. 'I feel incredibly honoured to follow in the footsteps of the phenomenal line-up of hosts who've made Strictly - It Takes Two so loved over the years.'
'I can’t wait to immerse myself in all the gossip and sequins flying out of the ballroom in order to bring my fellow Strictly fans everything they need to know. I’m so excited, I could cha cha! (But I won’t - don’t worry… no one needs to see that again.)'
Confirming Taylor’s involvement, Helen Munson, BBC Commissioning Editor, said: 'We'd like to say a huge thank you to the brilliant Janette Manrara and Fleur East, who've been a massive part of It Takes Two's continued success over the years.'
'It Takes Two is a joy to make and we're so proud to have it on the BBC every autumn. As we embark on what will be an incredibly exciting new series of Strictly, we can't wait to be there every step of the way.'
Rhe-an Archibald, Strictly - It Takes Two Executive Producer, BBC Studios, added: 'This is Strictly – It Takes Two, reinvented for the 2026 season. With a wealth of new features and deep dives, we want to reflect the conversations happening in living rooms up and down the country – full of opinions, laughs, surprises and those moments everyone wants to talk about.'
'With the fun and funny Ellie at the helm, it will be an utterly unmissable companion to Strictly Come Dancing.'
Manrara's departure and previous speculation
In June, former Strictly ballroom professional Manrara, 42, announced she will not be reprising her role as It Takes Two host when the show returns to the BBC later this year. Sharing a video with Instagram followers, she said: 'Strictly Come Dancing has now changed hugely. I'm no longer a part of It Takes Two or the main show.'
'I'll still be involved in other ways. But, that just means that I'm free to pursue and do many other projects that I've always wanted to do and never really thought about doing.'
'Strictly’s all I’ve ever known for the last 14 years, so it’s a bit of like, “Oh, we’re going into a different world, a different space, how are we going to navigate that?'
The Sun on Sunday previously suggested Taylor would be taking the reins. A source told the publication: '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.'
'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 were very keen to get her on It Takes Two which they felt was too boring and needed a major revamp.'
Taylor’s confirmation follows a major Strictly Come Dancing shake-up, with Willis, Josh Widdecombe and Johannes Radebe taking over from original hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
