Janet Ellis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Janet Ellis MBE
Ellis at the 2024 Chiswick Book Festival
Born	(1955-09-16) 16 September 1955 (age 69) Chatham, Kent, England
Alma mater	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation	TV presenter actress writer
Years active	1978–present
Known for	Blue Peter and Jigsaw presenter
Spouse(s)	Robin Bextor ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1984)​ John Leach ​ ​ (m. 1988; died 2020)​
Children	3, including Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Janet Ellis, born on September 16, 1955, is a well-known English television presenter, actress, and writer. She is most famous for hosting the popular children's TV shows Blue Peter and Jigsaw from 1979 to 1987. Janet has also written two novels, The Butcher's Hook (2016) and How It Was (2019). She is the mother of three children, including the singer and songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Early Life and Education

Janet Ellis was born in Chatham, Kent, England. Her father, Michael Ellis, was a soldier. Because of his job, Janet lived in many different places. She attended seven schools in Britain and West Germany.

From ages five to seven, she went to Russell House School in Otford, Kent. Later, she attended St Hilary's in Sevenoaks, Kent, from ages 11 to 13. Her last school was Richmond County School for Girls in Richmond, Surrey, where she studied from ages 13 to 17.

Janet wanted to be an actress since she was five years old. She was accepted into the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Since she was too young to start right away, she spent a year working backstage at the Comedy Theatre in central London. This helped her gain experience in the acting world. Janet also has a younger sister named Sharon.

Janet Ellis's TV Career

Starting Out in Television (1978–1987)

Janet Ellis first appeared on television in 1978. She had a small part in the BBC children's show Jackanory Playhouse. She also had a small role in The Sweeney, an episode called Hard Men.

Her big chance came in 1979 when she became a regular presenter on Jigsaw. This show was produced by Clive Doig. In the same year, she played a character named "Teka" in the Doctor Who story The Horns of Nimon.

After four series of Jigsaw, Janet joined Blue Peter on April 28, 1983. During her four years on the show, she worked with other presenters like Simon Groom and Sarah Greene. She became the first civilian woman in Europe to free fall from 20,000 feet (about 6,096 meters). She did break her pelvis during training for this amazing feat. Her last Blue Peter show was on June 29, 1987. Janet has said that the decision to leave Blue Peter was her own, and the team supported her.

Life After Blue Peter (1988–1999)

After leaving Blue Peter, Janet spent more time with her family. She still presented the BBC's Open Air program. In 1994, she wrote a book with her friend and former Blue Peter co-host Caron Keating. The book was called How to Get Married Without Divorcing Your Family. Janet also did voiceovers for many advertisements. For three years, she presented the Daz Challenge in TV commercials. She also appeared on Danny Baker's BBC Radio 1 show sometimes.

Returning to the Screen (2000–2013)

Janet Ellis returned to TV in 2000. In 2001, she played a TV reporter in an episode of Waking the Dead. From 2002, she was a regular guest on the Channel 5 show The Wright Stuff. She also appeared on BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House.

Between 2003 and 2005, she presented Housebusters on Channel 5. In 2004, she hosted Life Blood, a week-long documentary series. In 2005, she presented The Great Garden Challenge for Channel 4.

In January 2007, Janet was on the BBC singing show Just the Two of Us. She sang with Alexander O'Neal. She was the second celebrity to be eliminated from the show.

In June 2008, Janet won The Weakest Link Blue Peter celebrity charity special. She donated her winnings of £13,150 to Maggie's Centres, a charity that helps people with cancer.

In December 2009, Janet narrated The Man Behind the Masquerade, a BBC documentary. She also voiced many Mexican gerbils in El Nombre. She has appeared on BBC's Antiques Road Trip with her daughter Sophie. She was also on Bargain Hunt and Cash in the Attic.

In December 2010, Janet and her daughter Sophie were on Channel 4's The Million Pound Drop Live. On December 22, 2010, Janet competed in the Come Dine with Me celebrity Christmas special. She won the competition. The £1,000 prize was given to charity.

In January 2012, Janet returned to acting. She starred in a play called Green Forms by Alan Bennett. This play was performed at the Tabard Theatre in Chiswick to raise money for Maggie's Centres.

Writing and Recent Work (2014 – Present)

Janet Ellis had always wanted to write fiction. In early 2014, she took a writing course. During this course, she started writing her first novel. Her agent sent it to publishers using a different name. This led to a deal for two books.

Her first novel, The Butcher's Hook, was published in February 2016 under her own name. She was named one of The Observer's New Faces of Fiction for 2016.

In 2018, Janet wrote an article for The Guardian newspaper. In it, she described Blue Peter as showing "a world worth growing up in." She also appeared in a play called "Once Seen on Blue Peter" at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival. Her second novel, How It Was, was published in August 2019.

Personal Life and Charity Work

Janet Ellis met her first husband, TV director Robin Bextor, when she was 16. They married in 1977. Their daughter, Sophie, was born in 1979. Janet and Robin separated while she was presenting Blue Peter.

In 1986, she met TV producer John Leach. Their son was born in 1987. Janet married John Leach in 1988. They later had a daughter together. John Leach passed away in July 2020.

Janet Ellis is very involved in charity work. She is a member of the board for Lyric Theatre Hammersmith. She is also a patron of Maggie's Centres, which supports cancer patients. Additionally, she is a patron of Humanists UK. She is a Council and Honorary Member of the National Youth Theatre.

In 2016, Janet Ellis was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award. This award recognized her services to charity and theatre.