Ellie Taylor, the new host of Strictly It Takes Two, has revealed that she hasn’t had the most relaxing of summer holidays before she takes on her new role.
Comedian and presenter Taylor, 42, shared an Instagram post detailing the series of mishaps she and her family went through while trying to have a break in Sussex.
The saga began with an “awful” car journey complete with “dreadful traffic and screaming kids”, she explained.
Then, almost as soon as she and her family arrived at their Airbnb, their toddler’s cough developed into “full-blown struggling-to-breathe-croup”, necessitating a late-night trip to A&E.
After doctors prescribed her toddler steroids, the family returned home by midnight and were “determined” to enjoy a few days of sun and fun on the beach.
Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, and they woke up to rain.
When they decided to go out for dinner, the toddler then tripped and cut his leg on gravel, forcing Taylor to act as a “human plaster”
“He wailed throughout the meal which lasted approximately 12 [minutes],” Taylor told her followers. “Shortly after this I spilt my drink over my phone and said ‘For f***s SAKE’ louder than is OK for a family restaurant.”
Taylor is married to Australian journalist Paul Black; they share two children.
She wrote that the holiday was “46 per cent endurance, 29 per cent coughing and 13 per cent saying ‘We used to have such a nice life.’ Whatever’s left (too tired for maths) was the fun stuff).”
“Nothing like being on holiday dreaming of being on holiday,” she captioned the post. “Are you even a mother if you haven’t said the phrase ‘everyone’s getting on my tits’ at least once by the time the breakfast buffet opens.”
Taylor was announced as the new host of It Takes Two earlier this month. She will take over from Fleur East and Janette Manrara, as part of the BBC’s major overhaul of the hit reality contest.
The news was revealed by Emma Willis, the new host of Strictly Come Dancing, on her BBC Radio 2 programme for a “Strictly special”.
Willis said she was “so glad” she and Taylor are “in it together”, while Taylor said she was “over the moon” to have landed the role.
She previously competed on the dance show back in 2022.
Comedian Josh Widdecombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe will join Willis on Strictly. The new season of the show, starring celebrity contestants including Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters, EastEnders’ Lacey Turner, reality TV star Dani Dyer, Australian pop star Delta Goodrem and athlete Tabby Stoeker, is due to launch on Saturday 26 September.
