Janet Ellis Reveals Modern Family Dynamics and Personal Struggles
In an exclusive interview, Blue Peter icon Janet Ellis has candidly shared insights into her contemporary family life, revealing that her grandson Sonny, the eldest child of pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor, moved into her home two years ago. At 70, the broadcaster and writer is embracing a bustling household that defies traditional expectations, blending grandmotherhood with active support for her adult grandson.
A Practical and Organic Living Arrangement
Janet describes Sonny's move as a natural and practical solution, stemming from the family's close-knit bonds. With Sophie about to embark on an extensive tour of Australia and New Zealand, Janet is stepping into a full-time support role, humorously referring to herself as "a halfway house." Sonny, who is 21, relocated after completing a foundation year at art school, seeking space from his younger siblings' lively environment.
Janet explains, "The default of that house is obviously towards the younger ones. When it was first suggested, it felt properly organic he lives here." She adds that the logistics are convenient, with Sonny living just ten minutes from Sophie's West London home, allowing him to move between households easily. "He can go between the two, and there's always food. What an absolute luxury," she notes.
Embracing Grandmotherhood and Family Challenges
Janet became a grandmother at 47, a role she accepts with characteristic bluntness. "Oh my gosh, well, I was a grandmother at 47, so I didn't get any choice in the matter," she says. Her family has faced significant health challenges, including Sophie's experiences with pre-eclampsia during premature births. Sophie's first son, Sonny, arrived eight weeks early in April 2004, and her second son, Kit, was born nine weeks premature in 2009.
These events reawakened Janet's own memories of motherhood, as her youngest daughter, Martha, was born ten weeks early in December 1990. "She was in a special care unit for five weeks. And I'm afraid the whole environment felt rather familiar," Janet recalls, highlighting the family's resilience through medical hardships.
Revealing Hidden Struggles with Miscarriage
One of the most poignant revelations from the interview is Janet's disclosure of her own miscarriages, which she kept hidden from her children for years. Between the ages of 35 and 40, she lost ten pregnancies without medical explanation, attending a recurrent miscarriage clinic after the third loss. "But they never discovered why it happened," she says.
Janet chose to shield her children from this trauma, stating, "I already had three children, and I didn't want to lose their childhoods. They didn't know anything about what was happening." Sophie only learned about these miscarriages after Sonny's birth, as Janet feared burdening her or discouraging her from having more children.
Advocacy for Women's Health and Support
Janet expresses frustration at the lack of progress in understanding miscarriage, criticising how women's health is often deprioritised. "To be honest, I don't think things have moved on terribly much," she says. "It's always way down the list of priorities. It isn't until someone makes a big fuss that things get done."
She advocates for mandatory support for new parents, emphasising the trauma of childbirth and early complications. "There should be mandatory support. You've just done a big thing. You've produced an infant," Janet asserts, drawing from her personal experiences and the support she received from her second husband, John Leach, who died from cancer in 2020.
Navigating Grief and Embracing New Adventures
Janet reflects on the profound loss of her husband, John, describing absence as "the cruellest thing of all." She continues to cherish his memory, saying, "I still love John. He's still my husband. I still want to be able to tell him things." Despite this grief, she has embraced solo travel, becoming an ambassador for Just You, a company specialising in holidays for solo travellers.
"I'm so glad they did," she says of the opportunity. "You can make friends all the time, and experiences shared are doubled — joys, stories, even worries." Her next trip is to Sicily, but as Sophie tours abroad, Janet will remain at home, supporting Sonny and welcoming her other grandchildren.
In closing, Janet proudly affirms her enduring bond with Sophie: "Whatever happens to Sophie, she's still my daughter. My little girl." This interview showcases a family defined by love, resilience, and a modern approach to living together through life's challenges.
