It Takes Two's new host Ellie Taylor teases shakeup with changes made for 2026 return

Strictly: It Takes Two's new host Ellie Taylor has teased a bit more about what we can expect from the overhauled Strictly Come Dancing companion show ahead of its return on Monday (28 September).

Before the comedian and 2022 season contestant was announced for the show, she was heavily rumoured to take the reigns as host, while the show itself had been reportedly reworked into a 'vodcast' or 'visualised podcast' similar to The Traitors: Uncloaked.

When Taylor was announced, there was no mention made of that element, although she did tease it would include "slightly more candid conversation" than before, be similar to a WhatsApp group chat, and the celebrity and their professional partners split up from each other to be interviewed.

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Speaking to Digital Spy and other media, the host has now shared some more details about It Takes Two in its 2026 incarnation.

"It's going to have a new set, which I'm excited about, which you'll see when it starts to air, and I think it'll feel very familiar," she said.

"It's sort of It Takes Two reborn for 2026. In the way the main show is changing a lot, then this show is also changing – but there's also going to be bits, formats that people remember, beloved sections like Vicky Gill doing her chats about the beautiful clothes, that sort of thing.

"But it's going to be sort of refreshed and just changed up a little bit. So hopefully it'll be a really nice mix of old and new," she added.

Related: Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Taylor replaces Emma Willis in BBC role

She revealed that the series will now see ex-contestants chat about the show every Friday and that the new format would allow for the ex-contestants "to talk with real empathy and authority" about the show and their own experience.

"We'll also always have a pro on with us as well. Either a pro that used to be on Strictly, or a pro that, as the competition continues, has left the competition. So there's always going to be someone who's got the dance knowledge as well, and again, of course, the knowledge of Strictly," the host continued.

Taylor added: "So they'll be coming in on a Friday, having a chat, making predictions. They'll watch the show on a Saturday, and then they'll come back in on the Monday, which I think will be really great. It will be talking to people who were there in the room and really seeing seeing things fresh."

Strictly Come Dancing airs weekends on BBC One, while It Takes Two returns to weekday evenings on BBC Two from next week. Both shows will also stream on iPlayer.

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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.