STRICTLY is no stranger to drama both on and off the dance floor and when Ellie Taylor takes over the show’s spin-off series next week she has promised she won’t side-step any controversies.
The comedian wants the revamped It Takes Two to get “really gossipy” and insists that if rows, romances or judges bust-ups are being spoken about by fans, then “we’re here to address it”.
Ellie Taylor takes over the Strictly’s spin-off series next week and she has promised she won’t side-step any controversies Credit: BBC
Ellie insists that if rows, romances or judges bust-ups are being spoken about by fans, then ‘we’re here to address it’ Credit: Instragram/elliejanetaylor
And she’s got a hotline to all the action, joking her former dance partner, Johannes Radebe, who is now co-hosting the main show, is her “man on the inside”.
Speaking exclusively to me ahead of the show’s return next week, Ellie said: “You can’t predict what’s going to happen on Strictly.
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“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.”
And she’s even got the judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke in her sights.
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She added: “We want it to feel fresh and to talk about the gossip and big moments.
“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!”
Ellie also hopes to form a Strictly “sisterhood” with Emma Willis.
New hosts Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe Credit: BBC
Ellie has a daunting job following in the footsteps of former hosts Fleur East and Janette Manrara Credit: BBC
She said: “Emma is so f**king cool, man. She’s so chilled. She looks like she’s stepped out of a make-up commercial. She’s beautiful.
“Not everyone is lovely in this world, but she genuinely is an absolute delight. And really kind and brilliant at her job. She’s everyone’s girl crush, I love that.”
But despite also hosting Emma’s Radio 2 show while she’s on Strictly duty, Ellie says she hasn’t made it into her inner circle yet.
Emma, Johannes and Josh Widdicmbe — who have taken over presenting duties from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly — already have a WhatsApp group called “OMG!”, although Ellie jokes she’s still waiting for her invitation.
She said: “I don’t want to tread on their toes! I’ll have a splinter group on the side!”
Ellie has a daunting job following in the footsteps of former hosts Fleur East and Janette Manrara.
But she has vowed to steer clear of negative comments online.
She said: “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”
And she believes competiting on Strictly in 2022 — when she was eliminated the week after the Blackpool special — taught her she can cope with far more pressure than she had realised.
Ellie said: “If I can do a bloody awful rumba live on a Saturday night and suck that up while Craig gives me minus three points, I can do anything.
“Or when I did Blackpool, there was a hiccup at the start so we couldn’t hear the music. That’s a nightmare scenario, I can’t dance and I don’t know where I am in the song and I’m live on TV.
“I literally went through a panic dream in real life and it was OK. So in many ways it’s given me confidence.”
And having competed on Strictly, Ellie also understands just how bonkers the experience becomes — so she will be able to see through any contestants insisting all is fine when it clearly isn’t.
She added: “I hope I’ll be a sort of annoying big sister to offer guidance, whether they like it or not!”
A new element in the spin-off will see the couples split — one show will see the pro dancers chatting together and in another, the celebs.
Ellie said: “You can speak more vulnerably perhaps without your dance partner there. It’ll have a different energy.
And Ellie is determined to make her new role unmistakably hers, refusing to watch any old episodes.
She said: “I’d rather just go in with fresh eyes. I’m going to go in with probably too much enthusiasm. So I feel sorry for the production staff who have to manage a Labrador level of energy!
EMMA’S PUDSEY FLAIR
The BBC is spicing up Children in Need after getting Emma Bunton to design its official 2026 T-Shirt Credit: Guy Levy/BBC
THE BBC is spicing up Children in Need after getting Emma Bunton to design its official 2026 T-Shirt.
Baby Spice added a Nineties twist to the top, which features the charity’s mascot Pudsey and is on sale now.
As Children In Need launched it’s official campaign last night, stars including Tasha Ghouri, Angela Scanlon, Charley Marlowe, JB Gill and Jordan Banjo urged the public to get fundraising.
Mel Giedroyc said: “This year’s appeal is all about making sure every child has someone by their side when they need it most, and everyone can play a part in that.
“Whether you take on a challenge, donate or support a fundraiser in your community, every contribution helps provide vital support and opportunities for young people. Let’s help make this year’s appeal the biggest yet.”
A NEW Channel 4 series will tackle the rising cost of living by seeking to slash the cost of families’ grocery bills.
Twice The Food, Half The Price will be presented by Rosie Ramsey and author/cook Nathan Anthony.
The six-parter is being produced in partnership with Lidl.
BLOOD SCANDAL DRAMA
FILMING is under way on an ITV drama about the infected blood scandal that unfolded between the 1970s and the early 1990s.
Bad Blood looks at how 30,000 people were given contaminated blood and products, resulting in chronic illnesses and more than 3,000 deaths.
Written by Bafta-winning screenwriter Peter Moffat, the four-parter’s cast includes Iain Glen, Ben Chaplin, Susan Lynch and Luke Treadaway.
Bad Blood centres on four boys at a boarding school for disabled children with an attached NHS centre for haemophiliacs.
There, the boys are given a revolutionary treatment, but unbeknown to them or their families, the doctors use them as guinea pigs in trials to test blood products.
THAT’S GRAND, MARTIN
YOU’VE got to love Martin Compston because, unlike so many other precious stars, he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
The Line Of Duty actor revealed his down-to-earth side during filming for his upcoming Channel 4 travelogue on Las Vegas, where he spends half his time. And it came while he was en route to the nearby Grand Canyon.
Talking in the new Radio Times about his show, Living Las Vegas, Martin said: “The funny thing for me was that on the way there I was waiting to see if a show I was in would get renewed – and I found out it didn’t.
“But if you’re going to get bad news, that’s the place to get it because the views put everything in perspective.
“At the Grand Canyon, you’re like, ‘Who cares?’.
He doesn’t say which show but, judging by his particularly philosophical response, I’m guessing it wasn’t LoD.
PROFESSOR HANNAH FRY, who is to appear in the upcoming second series of Celebrity Traitors, has launched her UK tour. Called Come Fry With Me, it is described as a night of chance, chaos and questionable decisions.
The 16-date run starts next September.
Tickets on sale on Friday at 10am.
TIME FOR CASTING UPDATE
THE BBC have revealed new castings for upcoming drama The Ministry of Time.
Based on Kaliane Bradley’s bestselling debut novel, it’s currently filming in and around London.
The line-up includes Hong Chau, Emily Fairn and Josh Finan.
They join already announced stars Aoife Hinds and Billy Howle on the upcoming six-parter.
The BBC One series tells the story of the Ministry of Time, a new government department gathering “expats” from across history in an experiment to test the viability of time-travel.
The lead character, Sophy, played (Hinds), is given a top-secret mission working with Commander Graham Gore, played by Howle.
