Strictly - It Takes Two returns this September to BBC Two and BBC iPlayer with a new look and a new host: comedian, presenter, and former Strictly contestant Ellie Taylor.

Ellie's mission is to bring you more access, more insight and more Strictly magic. With new episodes premiering every weeknight, It Takes Two will offer a peek behind the curtain at everything that goes into making the UK's favourite dance show - with more to see than ever before.

Ellie Taylor

What excites you most about joining Strictly - It Takes Two?

I am so thrilled to be back in the Strictly universe in a way that means I don’t have to remember any choreography! All the glamour and gossip but with none of the blisters! It’s a dream come true.

As a former contestant, what does It Takes Two mean to you?

I really hope having some experience of doing the show myself and understanding the challenges involved will lead to a really supportive and fun space for the celebs.

Doing Strictly is such a full on experience and I hope I can offer some hand holding (as long as they’re not too freshly fake tanned!) and help them see the joy and gorgeous silliness of the whole thing.

What’s new for this series of It Takes Two?

There’ll be a great mix of old and new features. We’ll have groups of celebs on without their Pro partners, and vice versa, which will hopefully show the audience a whole new side to their Strictly experience - plus the amazing camaraderie between them all. 

We’ll have a Monday Panel made up of previous contestants and Pros who can talk with real experience of what our 2026 cast are experiencing. Oh, and me! I’m new too! 

What are your fondest Strictly memories?

Endless amounts. Having my parents in the audience at the first live show was pretty special. Getting lifted up on a star at Blackpool! Laughing so hard with Jojo in rehearsals that I couldn’t breathe.

But I think, number one, has to be dancing a tango to the Casualty theme tune. Peak Strictly camp.

How does it feel to be joining as a host at the same time as Johannes? Would you like to dance with him again?

What a treat! We are both thrilled for one another! It’s funny to think back to four years ago, both of us dressed as shepherds about to dance a Viennese Waltz to Lulu's Boom Bang a Bang, having no idea that one day we’d both be back at Strictly in such different roles! It's a dream come true.

And of course I’d love to dance with him again! (Just not a rumba thanks - makes me shudder just thinking about it…)

(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston/BBC Creative)

Interview supplied by BBC