Strictly Come Dancing viewers are gutted after reports that the much-loved companion series, It Takes Two, is set to be ‘scrapped’ for a new format.
The BBC Two spin-off is currently hosted by Fleur East and Janette Manrara, where they’ll dissect the biggest moments on and behind the camera and interview the celebrity stars and dancers along the way.
It has been a staple of the show since it launched in 2004, with Claudia Winkleman originally helming it before she was made a co-host of the main series.
However, it’s all change for the flagship BBC series with Claudia and Tess Daly stepping down, a whole host of pro dancers leaving the dance floor and, now, It Takes Two reportedly being turned on its head.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘There is definitely a creative renewal on the table for It Takes Two, and they are poised to sign off on the radical option of a vodcast.’
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For those unfamiliar with this new TV trend, a vodcast is a companion video podcast similar to Race Across the World: The Detour, The Apprentice: Unfinished Business and, of course, megahit The Traitors: Uncloaked.
The source continued: ‘ Beeb bosses have seen it embraced on other huge BBC One shows, particularly The Traitors, where the Uncloaked aftershow got millions tuning in.
‘More and more people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy podcasts and vodcasts so, despite being quite a departure, it’s actually quite a shrewd move.’
Certainly, Traitors: Uncloaked, hosted by Ed Gamble, has proved to be a huge hit and even landed a BBC One slot after the main show aired. There is no word yet on whether a potential vodcast version of It Takes Two would remain on BBC Two.
It had previously been reported that Janette and Fleur had been removed from the show as well, although the BBC has since said it was ‘factually incorrect to claim that either has been axed’.
However, there has been no official word on exactly who will be presenting the spin-off, whatever the format, when it ultimately returns.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast earlier in April, Jannette also addressed her future on the show.
‘I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and find out. I think everyone at the moment is on standby, so we’ll see what happens… That’s showbiz!’ she said.
The BBC has previously said plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be announced in due course.
Nonetheless, with the original show’s future so up in the air, fans are mourning the news that It Takes Two could look very different come autumn.
‘It Takes Two was fun and cheap enough as it was! This is really disappointing,’ Tbirdflieshigh wrote on X.
‘Idk how this could work, a dancing show where it’s filmed in a shed,’ segamad66 shared.
‘That’s a no from me,’ Kim said.
‘No thank you, won’t work in that way,’ Rebecca Hindle agreed.
‘This is my final straw,’ Emily agreed.
As for the main show, there is no word yet on who will take over as co-hosts, with claims that auditions are taking place this week, with the final shortlist reportedly including Alison Hammond, Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark.
Metro has reached out to the BBC for comment.
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