Ellie Taylor promises 'chaos' on Strictly: It Takes Two
New Strictly: It Takes Two host Ellie Taylor has offered some insight into what to expect from the series.
Ellie Taylor has promised to put her own "really gossipy" stamp on Strictly: It Takes Two.
The comedian - who has hosted Bake Off: The Professionals since 2023 - is set to front the BBC's new-look Strictly Come Dancing spinoff series after the departure of former hosts Fleur East and Janette Manrara, and she has opened up on what fans can expect from the latest iteration.
She told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: "You can’t predict what’s going to happen on Strictly. If something happens and it’s being spoken about in the outside world, we’re here to address it.
"It’ll be really fun to have that licence to make it really gossipy.”
The Ted Lasso star, who appeared on Strictly as a contestant in 2022, insisted the team won't avoid "the gossip and the big comments", and they want the show to "feel fresh".
She added: “That will undoubtedly at some point include the judges and their comments and, ‘Oh my God, that score was so mean’, or, ‘That score’s a bit generous, what were you thinking, Shirley?’
“I’m certainly hoping for a little bit of controlled chaos!”
Despite having a tough act to follow in Fleur and Janette, Ellie is keen to avoid getting bogged down in any negative comments.
She explained: “In life, some people aren’t going to like you. But I hope I can go in there not worrying about that, because if I start, it’s paralysing.”
Meanwhile, Ellie noted she is going in "with fresh eyes", while she warned producers she is "going to go in with probably too much enthusiasm".
She quipped: "I feel sorry for the production staff who have to manage a Labrador level of energy!"
Meanwhile, the BBC has also announced new spinoff show Strictly: Lights Up, which will be hosted by Abi Clarke and Tyler West on iPlayer immediately after the results show every Sunday night.
As well as the new programme, which promises immediate reactions from eliminated couples and more, iPlayer will also feature weekly training room episodes, a weekly highlights show, and every single dance of the series.
Sarah James, Senior Executive Producer for BBC Studios, says: “With Strictly's iPlayer audience growing year-on-year, this is the perfect time to announce a range of new exclusives that will bring viewers closer to Strictly than ever before...
"Hosted by the brilliant Abi and Tyler, Lights Up will be a post-results show like no other - taking you straight on to the Strictly dancefloor for all of the immediate reaction that previously remained unseen. Across the main shows, BBC iPlayer and Strictly socials, there's never been so much for Strictly fans to enjoy."
Strictly returned for its launch show on Saturday (19.09.26), with the series properly getting underway on September 26.
