Strictly Come Dancing viewers have welcomed It Takes Two’s “beautiful” new host, Ellie Taylor, after she stepped into the role previously held by Fleur East and Janette Manrara.
The BBC confirmed in August that the weekday Strictly spin-off would also receive a presenter shake-up, following the announcement that Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe were taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the main show. Taylor, who competed on Strictly four years ago, was subsequently named as the new face of It Takes Two.
The 42-year-old first became known as a comedian before building a presenting career on programmes such as Snog Marry Avoid? and The Great Pottery Throw Down. She has now taken on a high-profile role once occupied by Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark and Claudia Winkleman.
Early reactions suggest Taylor has settled into the job with confidence. Viewers took to social media to praise the Essex-born presenter, with one X user writing on Tuesday evening, September 30: “Love the new format and Ellie Taylor runs the show brilliantly.”
Another viewer said they were not convinced by every change to the programme but added: “Just catching up on It Takes Two. I’m not enjoying everything, but my God Ellie is smashing it so far. Absolutely brilliant.”
A third fan also questioned the format changes while applauding Taylor’s performance: “Don’t like the changes, but Ellie is fab. Should have got the main gig with Emma.”
One particularly enthusiastic response claimed: “Ellie did better in one show than Fleur and Janette did in three years.”
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Another viewer kept their verdict short and sweet, posting: “Ellie is so beautiful.”
When the BBC announced Taylor’s appointment in August, she said: “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.)”
It Takes Two producer Rhe-an Archibald described the refreshed programme as “Strictly – It Takes Two, reinvented for the 2026 season”. They added: “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 from Monday to Friday at 6:30pm on BBC Two and can also be streamed on BBC iPlayer.