Ellie Taylor takes over BBC Radio 2 Saturday show as Emma Willis moves to Strictly
Taylor begins on 26 September, while Willis steps aside to co‑host the new Strictly series, BBC Radio 2 confirms.
Trust 78Craft 80Hype 18How this was reported ▾
Named sources and BBC statement cited, dates given, and two independent outlets confirm the presenter change.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
Provides reasons, quotes, dates, next steps, but largely repeats a press release.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Straightforward headline matches content; no sensational language.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
4 sources assessed · methodology
BBC Radio 2 announced that comedian Ellie Taylor will front the station’s Saturday lunchtime programme from 26 September 2026. The change follows Emma Willis’s decision to step away from the radio slot in order to co‑host the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Background to the swap
TfL Tube noise breaches guidelines in Warren Street
Residents report noise levels up to 51 decibels, exceeding Transport for London's own 'significant' threshold.
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, confirmed the move in a statement to the press. She said she was pleased that Taylor would join the line‑up for the autumn and winter months, adding that Taylor’s humour and warmth would complement the existing Saturday schedule.
Willis’s final Radio 2 show will air on the Saturday before the first live Strictly episode, with judge Anton Du Beke joining her for a two‑hour segment. After that, Willis will appear as one of the main presenters of Strictly’s Saturday night broadcast alongside newcomers Josh Widdecombe and Johannes Radebe.
Taylor’s additional television role
NICE approves Enhertu for about 1,000 English women with HER2‑low breast cancer
NHS can now spend up to £35,000 per patient after ministers reach a price deal with AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo
In addition to the radio appointment, Taylor will take over as presenter of the BBC Two entertainment series It Takes Two on 28 September 2026. She replaces Janette Manrara and Fleur East, who are both departing the programme.
“I cannot wait to be back at Radio 2 and am thrilled to be looking after Emma’s Saturday show while she waltzes off to Strictly.”
Ellie Taylor, comedian
Pay context for Strictly hosts
No official figures have been released for the remuneration of the new Strictly presenters. The Express reported that former hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman each earned an estimated £150,000 per series. It is unclear whether the incoming trio will receive comparable sums.
What happens next
Taylor’s first Radio 2 broadcast will coincide with the launch of the new Strictly series, providing listeners with a familiar voice during the dance‑show season. Willis will begin her Strictly duties later in the week, and both presenters will be featured in promotional material from the BBC over the coming weeks.
Questions this report answers
+When does Ellie Taylor start presenting the Radio 2 Saturday show?
Ellie Taylor begins hosting BBC Radio 2’s Saturday lunchtime slot on 26 September 2026, as confirmed by BBC Radio 2’s head Helen Thomas. The launch aligns with the first live episode of the new Strictly Come Dancing series.
+What other role will Ellie Taylor take on at the BBC?
Taylor will also become the presenter of the BBC Two programme It Takes Two on 28 September 2026, replacing Janette Manrara and Fleur East. This appointment was announced alongside her Radio 2 role in the same press release.
+How much were previous Strictly hosts paid?
The Express estimated that former Strictly presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman each earned about £150,000 per series. No official figures have been disclosed for the new hosts, and it is unclear whether they will receive similar remuneration.
+Who confirmed the presenter change at Radio 2?
Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2, confirmed the change in a statement reported by multiple news outlets. She expressed satisfaction with Taylor joining the Saturday line‑up while Willis moves to co‑host Strictly.
Barnet Press News Desk
This article was written at the Barnet Press news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
How stories are produced and scoredWho runs Barnet PressCorrections
Barnet conditions
Loading live conditions…
More Coverage in World
TfL Tube noise breaches guidelines in Warren Street
NICE approves Enhertu for about 1,000 English women with HER2‑low breast cancer
