Strictly: It Takes Two boss quits ahead of format change for 2026 series to ‘freshen things up’
Eve Winstanley Departs Strictly: It Takes Two Following Decade of Service
Strictly Come Dancing is undergoing significant transformation ahead of its 2026 series, and the changes extend beyond the main competition. While Claudia Winkleman, Tess Daly, and several professional dancers have already announced their departures, another crucial figure has also decided to move on. Eve Winstanley, the executive producer behind the companion programme Strictly: It Takes Two, has confirmed she is leaving the series after an impressive ten-year run.
Her announcement comes just months after reports emerged suggesting the companion show would receive a substantial format overhaul for the upcoming series. Taking to LinkedIn to share her news, Winstanley explained that she recognized the moment was right to step aside and allow a fresh team to bring new energy to the programme.
A Journey Through Glitter and Sequins
Reflecting on her career path, Winstanley described how she initially joined the show as a young assistant producer in her twenties, having recently completed work on the inaugural series of Dancing on Ice. She admitted she could never have predicted how central the world of dance and entertainment would become to her professional life.
"I started on Strictly: It Takes Two as a young 20-something Assistant Producer, who at the time had not long finished working on the first series of Dancing on Ice," she wrote. "I simply had no idea that the world of glitter and sequins would become such a massive part of my life."
Over the course of sixteen series, Winstanley progressed through five distinct positions, ultimately spending ten wonderful years in her executive role. She expressed immense pride in contributing to such an iconic British television brand, though she acknowledged that the time had come to pass the baton to new leadership.
"Across 16 series, I had 5 different job roles, culminating in 10 fab-u-lous years as Exec. I couldn't be prouder of being part of this iconic brand, but earlier this year I knew it was time to hang up my dancing shoes (in my head I'm a pro dancer) and hand over to a new team to freshen things up."
New Ventures and Format Changes
Winstanley shared her enthusiasm for upcoming opportunities, hinting at exciting projects currently in development. She concluded her message with the programme's beloved sign-off: "Keep dancing!" Her LinkedIn profile now reflects her new position as executive producer on Netflix's Love is Blind UK: The Reunion, a role she has held since July and previously occupied in both 2024 and the preceding year.
Beyond her Strictly commitments, the producer has built an impressive portfolio working on various programmes including The Apprentice: You're Fired, the BBC quiz show The Finish Line, and Channel 4's Naked Attraction.
The broader Strictly franchise is experiencing considerable change. Reports indicate that It Takes Two is being considered for a radical transformation into a vodcast format. A source revealed to The Sun that creative teams are actively pursuing this innovative approach for the companion show.
While the BBC maintained that claims about hosts Janette Manrara and Fleur East being "axed" were factually inaccurate, Manrara herself confirmed last month that she had officially been removed from her presenting duties. She told her YouTube audience that Strictly has evolved considerably and she is no longer connected to either It Takes Two or the main competition, though she remains involved in other capacities.
Fleur East has yet to clarify her future involvement with the companion show. In May, she confessed she felt "bothered" by her exclusion from consideration to succeed Daly and Winkleman on the main series. The long-serving duo, who presented Strictly for more than ten years together, revealed their departure plans last year.
Strictly is scheduled to return in September with three new hosts making their debut: Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis, and Johannes Radebe. The celebrity contestant roster already includes EastEnders star Lacey Turner, Love Island's Dani Dyer, singer Delta Goodrem, and hair stylist Chris Appleton.