Janet Ellis trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and subsequently played a wide variety of parts in both theatre and television, including 'The Sweeney', 'Dr Who', 'Playhouse' and four series as the presenter of the BAFTA award-winning children's programme 'Jigsaw'. Her big break in acting was appearing in the long-running science fiction series 'Doctor Who', as Tika in The Horns of Nimon in 1979.
She is best remembered for presenting 'Blue Peter' for four years (1983 - 1987) when she did everything from jumping out of planes to singing at the Last Night of the Proms. She also presented the award-winning children's programme 'Jigsaw'.
Viewers of Blue Peter will remember she presented with Simon Groom, Peter Duncan, Sarah Greene, Michael Sundin, Mark Curry and Caron Keating.
On leaving Blue Peter she presented 'Open Air' for the BBC, and has since presented a huge range of programmes across the networks on topics such as gardens (hosting Channel 4's 'Great Garden Challenge' in 2005), cars, holidays, cookery and childcare.
Janet has also featured as a panellist on Channel Five's topical discussion show 'The Wright Stuff and she co-authored the book 'How to Get Married Without Divorcing Your Family' with Caron Keating.
She has three children and is the mother of pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor.