Janet Ellis

For the American politician, see Janet Ellis (politician).

Janet Ellis
MBE
Ellis at the 2024 Chiswick Book Festival
Born (1955-09-16) 16 September 1955 (age 69)
Chatham, Kent, England
Alma materRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation(s)TV presenter, actress and writer
Years active1978–present
Known forBlue Peter and Jigsaw presenter
Spouses
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(m. 1977; div. 1984)​
[1]
John Leach
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(m. 1988; died 2020)​
Children3, including Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Janet Ellis, MBE (born 16 September 1955)[2] is an English television presenter, actress and writer, who is best known for presenting the children's television programmes Blue Peter and Jigsaw between 1979 and 1987. She has published two novels, The Butcher's Hook (2016) and How It Was (2019). She is the mother of three children: singer/songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, musician and former child actor Jackson Ellis-Leach and art historian Martha Ellis-Leach.

  1. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Janet Ellis: 'Having a famous mum was high value currency when I was little'". The Guardian. 25 September 2021.
  2. ^ "BBC - I Love Blue Peter - Janet Ellis presenter biography". Bbc.co.uk.