Fans of Strictly Come Dancing have heaped praise on spin-off show It Takes Two's "beautiful" new presenter, Ellie Taylor, who has taken over the role from Fleur East and Janette Manrara.
After it was revealed that Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe were replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the main show, the BBC announced in August that plans were afoot to shake up the midweek programme too. That move saw Taylor handed the It Takes Two reins, four years on from her time on Strictly as a contestant.
Viewers share their admiration on social media
The 42-year-old found fame as a comedian and later moved into presenting on shows including Snog Marry Avoid? and The Great Pottery Throw Down. On It Takes Two, she has big shoes to fill in the role previously occupied by Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark and Claudia.
But she appears to have taken the position in her stride, with many viewers showing their admiration for the Essex-born star on social media.
"Love the new format and Ellie Taylor runs the show brilliantly," one person gushed on X on Tuesday night (September 30).
A second added: "Just catching up on It Takes Two. I’m not enjoying everything, but my God Ellie is smashing it soo far. Absolutely brilliant."
Fans call for Taylor on the main show
A third viewer commented: "Don’t like the changes, but Ellie is fab. Should have got the main gig with Emma."
A fourth claimed: "Ellie did better in one show than Fleur and Janette did in three years."
While a fifth X user simply said: "Ellie is so beautiful."
After the BBC confirmed Taylor's role in August, she said in a statement: "What a total joy to return to Strictly in this new role. 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.)"
Producer promises reinvented show
It Takes Two producer Rhe-an Archibald 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."
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs Monday to Friday at 6:30pm on BBC Two and is also available on BBC iPlayer.
