Comedian and actress Ellie Taylor has exclusively revealed she would happily take over presenting duties on Strictly Come Dancing following the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
From Dance Floor to Presenter's Chair
The Ted Lasso star, who reached week 10 of the glittering BBC competition in 2022 with professional partner Johannes Radebe, admitted the iconic theme music still 'triggers something' in her years later. 'I'll happily cut myself a fringe if they need me to. Or dye my hair blonde. Whatever it takes, I'll do it,' the 41-year-old declared.
While she looks back fondly on her Strictly experience, Taylor confessed there's relief in not having to endure the intense training regime again. 'I'm glad I don't have to do that again,' she said, though she maintains contact with Radebe, whom she affectionately called 'the best boyfriend' during their time together.
Parenting Realities and Car Sanctuaries
Beyond the glitterball, Taylor has partnered with Halfords on a humorous campaign encouraging parents to use their vehicles as sanctuaries for self-care. This comes after research found that half of UK drivers admit hiding in their cars to escape daily stress.
The mother of two - a toddler son and nearly seven-year-old daughter Valentina - spoke candidly about the challenges of modern parenting. 'I've been working while juggling the kids. They both needed to be in different places this morning and when I dropped them off I felt like I'd already lived a hundred lives before 8am,' she revealed.
Taylor, who wrote the bestselling parenting book My Child And Other Mistakes, didn't shy away from discussing her difficult early months of motherhood, describing it as 'absolute b******t' and acknowledging she likely experienced postnatal depression alongside baby blues.
Family Dynamics and Future Projects
At home, Taylor and her Australian husband Phil Black, a former CNN reporter, have established what she calls a 'solid routine' with him taking on the role of stay-at-home dad. 'He's great at it. It's not always pretty, but we get the job done,' she said of their partnership.
The TV personality, who currently hosts Bake Off: The Professionals, also reflected on her role in the beloved series Ted Lasso, calling it 'such a joyful show' that continues to find new audiences. She remains in contact with co-star Hannah Waddingham, whom she described as 'busy taking over the world.'
As for reality television prospects, Taylor expressed interest in The Celebrity Traitors despite doubting her abilities, while showing hesitation about I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - though she amusingly noted that facing cockroaches might be preferable to dealing with young children.
Ellie Taylor has teamed up with Halfords to encourage the nation to embrace 'car time' with a limited edition Car Time Accessory Kit. See Halfords.com for more information.
