Strictly It Takes Two host Ellie Taylor is married to CNN journalist Phil Black, a familiar face to many viewers. The comedian, who rose to prominence in the 2010s, has remained in demand ever since, running her own comedy tours and appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022.
This year, she took over the presenting role on the spin-off programme It Takes Two from Janette Manrara and Fleur East. Away from her professional commitments, Ellie enjoys a happy marriage, and the story of how the couple met is a memorable one.
Who is Ellie Taylor's husband?
Ellie's husband is Phil Black, one of CNN's leading journalists. He has reported on some of the most significant stories in recent history, from the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 to the search for Madeleine McCann and the Princess Diana inquest. He began his career as a researcher on Australia's Channel Nine Gateway programme, progressing to producer and reporter before becoming a correspondent for Seven News.
According to Ellie, encountering Phil initially came about through a fortuitous meeting in a Central London lift. Speaking to Express.co.uk, Ellie revealed that she had ended her previous relationship and was planning to remain single for some time. A few days afterwards, she entered the lift at her workplace, where Phil joined her.
A chance encounter
During her Live At The Apollo performance in 2016, she quipped: "Hot guy gets in the lift and presses level one. We're only on the ground floor, he's only going up one level, lazy. Hot guy puts out his hand to introduce himself and says, 'Hi, I'm Phil', and six years later I married him."
During a subsequent interview, Ellie reflected: "That's all true, I used to work in the same office as him. Sometimes life is helpful for coming up with material." Their relationship flourished, and Ellie and Phil exchanged vows in 2014 during a private and intimate London ceremony. The couple have welcomed two children together, a daughter arriving in 2018 and a son in 2023.
An unconventional marriage arrangement
While appearing on the Second Act Podcast earlier this year, the comedienne discussed with Ateh Jewel the distinctive nature of her marriage to Phil. She revealed: "Do you know, my husband's a stay-at-home dad?" She acknowledged this situation makes relinquishing her position as principal caregiver challenging, confessing she finds herself "micromanaging" her husband.
"I don't know anyone in my life who has the same setup as us; we don't have anyone who's a stay-at-home dad. So we are kind of making up as we go along," she continued, adding, "And it's really interesting when the power dynamic or the classic power dynamic of the 'mum at home, dad at work' shifts. It's quite weird because you're kind of in free fall." Strictly It Takes Two airs Monday to Friday on BBC Two.
