Janet Ellis, the 70-year-old broadcaster and former Blue Peter presenter, has spoken candidly about her modern family life, which now includes her 21-year-old grandson Sonny living with her. Sonny, the eldest child of pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor, moved into Janet's home two years ago after completing a foundation year at art school. Janet described the arrangement as a natural and organic decision, saying she acts as a 'halfway house' while Sophie prepares for a tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Janet became a grandmother at 47 after Sophie gave birth to Sonny eight weeks prematurely in April 2004 due to pre-eclampsia. She reflected on being an 'old grandma' but embraced the role, noting that grandchildren always think their grandparents are ancient. Janet enjoys having Sonny around, saying she appreciates having 'modern, young opinions on tap' and new music in the house.
The logistics of the living arrangement work well, with Sonny just 10 minutes from Sophie's home in West London. Janet remarked that he can easily move between the two houses and always has access to food, calling it 'an absolute luxury.' Sonny's move also alleviated space constraints in Sophie's busy household, which includes his five younger siblings: Kit, 16, Ray, 13, Jesse, 10, and Mickey, eight.
Janet also opened up about her own experiences with premature birth and miscarriage. Her youngest daughter, Martha, was born ten weeks early in December 1990, and she lost ten pregnancies between the ages of 35 and 40, with no medical explanation. Janet chose not to share these losses with her children at the time, saying she did not want to burden them or put them off having children. She expressed frustration that miscarriage research has not progressed significantly, calling it a women's health issue that remains low on the priority list.
Janet emphasised the need for mandatory support for new mothers, given the trauma of childbirth and early complications. She credited her late husband, television producer John Leach, who died from cancer in July 2020, for being a crucial source of support during her own pregnancies. Despite the loss, Janet remains resilient, describing absence as 'the cruellest thing' but maintaining her appetite for life.
