Sophie Ellis-Bextor facts for kids

Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor (born 10 April 1979) is an English singer and songwriter. She became well-known in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the band broke up, Sophie started her solo career and became very successful in the early 2000s. Her music is mostly pop and dance, with influences from disco and electronic music from the 1980s.

In 2000, Sophie worked with Italian DJ Spiller on the song "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)". This song became number one in the UK. Her first solo album, Read My Lips, came out in 2001 and reached number two on the UK Albums Chart. It sold 1.5 million copies around the world. Many of its songs, like "Take Me Home" and "Murder on the Dancefloor", were big hits in the UK.

Her song "Murder on the Dancefloor" became popular again in 2023 after being featured in the movie Saltburn. This led to the song reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart and even getting on the US singles chart for the first time. Sophie's eighth album, Perimenopop, is set to be released in September 2025.

Quick facts for kids Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Ellis-Bextor at the 2015 British Academy Television Awards
Born	Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor (1979-04-10) 10 April 1979 (age 46) Hounslow, London, England
Occupation	Singer songwriter
Years active	1996–present
Spouse(s)	Richard Jones ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	5
Parents	Robin Bextor (father) Janet Ellis (mother)
Musical career
Genres	Pop nu-disco house indie pop
Labels	Polydor Fascination Interscope EBGB's Cooking Vinyl Decca

Early Life and Beginnings

Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor was born on 10 April 1979 in Hounslow, London. Her mother, Janet Ellis, was a TV presenter on children's shows like Blue Peter. Her father, Robin Bextor, is a film producer. Her parents separated when she was four years old.

As a child, Sophie sometimes appeared on Blue Peter with her mother. She went to St Stephen's School and later Godolphin and Latymer School. When she was 13, she started performing with the W11 Opera children's opera. She is now a supporter of this group.

Music Career

Starting with Theaudience

Sophie began her music career in 1996 as the lead singer of an indie band called Theaudience. The band released four singles and one album. Two of their songs, "I Know Enough (I Don't Get Enough)" and "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed", made it into the UK Top 40. Her father, Robin Bextor, directed the music videos for the band's songs.

The band broke up in 1999. After that, Sophie sang a duet with the band Manic Street Preachers and appeared on an album by Departure Lounge.

Solo Success: Read My Lips and Shoot from the Hip

Ellis-Bextor in 2005

After Theaudience split, Sophie worked with Italian DJ Spiller in 2000. She added her voice to his song "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)". This song went straight to number one in the UK. "Groovejet" won several awards, including Best Single and Best Ibiza Tune at the Ericsson Muzik Awards.

In 2001, Sophie released her first solo album, Read My Lips. It reached number two in the UK charts. Four songs from the album became top-twenty hits. Her version of Cher's "Take Me Home" reached number two. "Murder on the Dancefloor" also reached number two and became her biggest hit. It stayed on the charts for 23 weeks and was the most played song in Europe in 2002.

Her second album, Shoot from the Hip, came out in October 2003. It included two more top-ten songs, "Mixed Up World" and "I Won't Change You". The album reached number 19 in the UK. Sophie described this album as more "emotional" and having a "live feel". She took a break from promoting the album because she became pregnant.

Trip the Light Fantastic and Make a Scene

Ellis-Bextor performing in 2007

Sophie's third album, Trip the Light Fantastic, was released in May 2007. It reached number seven in the UK. Three singles came from this album: "Catch You" (number 8), "Me and My Imagination" (number 23), and "Today the Sun's on Us".

In 2007, Sophie supported George Michael on his UK tour. She also joined Take That on their Beautiful World Tour. In 2009, she was featured on the Freemasons song "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)", which reached number 13 in the UK.

Her fourth album, Make a Scene, was released in June 2011. It was delayed because she left her record label to start her own, called EBGBs. Sophie said Make a Scene was "very much a dance album". She worked with famous artists like Calvin Harris on this album.

Wanderlust and Familia

Ellis-Bextor performing in 2013

In 2012, Sophie started working on her fifth album with British singer and producer Ed Harcourt. This album, Wanderlust, was released in January 2014. It reached number four on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the UK Independent Albums Chart. The first song from the album, "Young Blood", was released in November 2013.

Sophie's sixth album, Familia, was released in September 2016. She said it was inspired by a trip to North America, especially Mexico. Familia means "family" in Spanish. The album reached number 12 on the UK Albums Chart.

The Song Diaries and Songs from the Kitchen Disco

Ellis-Bextor performing in Bangkok in 2017

In 2017, Sophie announced an album of her greatest hits, but reworked with an orchestra. This album, The Song Diaries, came out in March 2019 and reached number 14 in the UK. It included re-recorded songs from her whole career.

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Sophie started performing weekly "Kitchen Disco" concerts. She streamed these live from her kitchen on Instagram with her family. This led to a greatest hits album called Songs from the Kitchen Disco, released in July 2020. She also released a cover of "Crying at the Discoteque" from this album. In March 2022, she went on a "Songs from the Kitchen Disco" tour in the UK.

Hana and Recent Success

In January 2023, Sophie worked with the duo Rhyme So on a cover of "Deep in Vogue". Her seventh studio album, Hana, was released on 2 June 2023. The album's title comes from the Japanese word for "blossom" or "flower". Sophie said the album was inspired by a trip to Japan before the pandemic. Hana was her third album with producer Ed Harcourt.

In July 2023, Sophie worked with film composer David Arnold and lyricist Don Black on a song for the film "Mog's Christmas". The song, "As Long As I Belong", is about the importance of feeling like you belong. She also collaborated with Robbie Williams on the song "Immortal".

Sophie's song "Murder on the Dancefloor" became very popular again after being featured in the 2023 film Saltburn. This caused the song to re-enter the UK singles chart, reaching number two. It also became her first song to enter the US singles chart, reaching number 51. Because of this, 2024 became Sophie's most successful year for performances, with 110 shows.

In February 2024, Sophie announced her first North American tour, which took place in May and June 2024. Due to its success, she added a second North American tour for September 2024.

Her upcoming eighth studio album, Perimenopop, is set to be released on 12 September 2025. It was preceded by singles like "Freedom of the Night". On 15 May 2025, it was announced that Sophie would be the United Kingdom's spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

Other Projects

Sophie has been involved in many other projects. In 2007, she appeared in the Robbie the Reindeer episode "Close Encounters of the Herd Kind". She also launched the npower Greener Schools Programme, which helps schools become more energy efficient.

In 2008, she appeared in a short musical film called The Town that Boars Me. She also worked with the charity The Children's Society and became a face for the cosmetics brand Rimmel.

In 2013, Sophie was a contestant on the TV dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. She reached the final and placed fourth. In 2019, she had a small role as an extra in an episode of Game of Thrones.

In July 2020, she started a podcast called Spinning Plates, where she interviews working mothers. In the same year, she competed on The Masked Singer as Alien and was the first celebrity to be unmasked.

In 2021, Sophie wrote a book called Music, Men, Motherhood and Me. She also appeared in the Australian TV show Neighbours in 2022. In November 2021, she did a 24-hour "Kitchen Disco Danceathon" for Children in Need and raised over £1,000,000. In October 2023, she was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

On 3 August 2024, Sophie performed at Brighton Pride's Fabuloso concert, singing many of her hits.

Personal Life

Sophie Ellis-Bextor met her husband, Richard Jones, who is the bassist for the band The Feeling, when he auditioned for her tour band in 2002. They felt an instant connection. Their first child was born early, just eight months after they started dating. They got married on 25 June 2005 in Italy. They have five sons, born in 2004, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2019.

Sophie is an ambassador for Borne, a charity that researches the causes of premature birth. She also supports Lumos, a charity that works to end the practice of children living in institutions worldwide. She is also an ambassador for mothers2mothers, which helps families in need.

Awards and Nominations

Band Members

Sophie's current band members are:

• Phil Wilkinson – drums
• Richard Jones – bass
• Ciaran Jeremiah – keyboards
• Seton Daunt – guitar
• Gita Langley – backing vocals, violin

Albums

• Read My Lips (2001)
• Shoot from the Hip (2003)
• Trip the Light Fantastic (2007)
• Make a Scene (2011)
• Wanderlust (2014)
• Familia (2016)
• Hana (2023)
• Perimenopop (2025)

Tours

Ellis-Bextor performing in November 2012

• Read My Lips Tour (2002–2003)
• Straight to the Heart Tour (2009–2010)
• Wanderlust Tour (2014)
• Familia Tour (2017)
• The Song Diaries Tour (2019)
• Kitchen Disco Tour (2022–2024)
• North American Tour (May – September 2024)

Opening Act for Other Artists

Sophie has also opened shows for other famous artists:

• George Michael (2006)
• Take That (2007, 2024)
• Pet Shop Boys (2010)
• Erasure (2011)
• Kylie Minogue (2019)
• Steps (2021)
• Westlife (2022)

See also

In Spanish: Sophie Ellis-Bextor para niños