Latest news with #SophieEllisBextor
BreakingNews.ie
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Sophie Ellis-Bextor says she discusses toxic masculinity with her five sons
Pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor has said she has 'a lot of faith' in her five sons and has chatted to them about toxic masculinity. The Murder On The Dancefloor singer, 46, is mother to Mickey, Jesse, Ray, Kit and Sonny, whom she shares with her husband, musician Richard Jones. Advertisement Ellis-Bextor said while she will 'keep an eye on' their mobile phones, she does not demonise things that could 'shut down communication'. Sophie Ellis-Bextor appears in Good Housekeeping UK's August issue (Chris Craymer/Good Housekeeping UK) In recent months the success of hit Netflix show Adolescence has sparked conversations around misogyny among young boys online and the radicalisation of young men, with the creators discussing the topic in Parliament in April. Ellis-Bextor told Good Housekeeping UK: 'I've always had a lot of faith in my boys. We've openly chatted about toxic masculinity for a long time. 'My eldest is very articulate about these things, so none of it was new to my house. Sometimes people have an idea of what boys are like, as if they're a different species. Advertisement 'As I far as I'm concerned, I'm raising five people who happen to be boys. I keep an eye on (mobile phone screen time), because that's parenting, but if you start demonising things, you shut down communication. 'Then you're like those parents in the 1950s who made kids burn their rock 'n' roll albums.' Speaking about her husband, Ellis-Bextor added: 'When we got married, we'd already had our first baby. 'My mum said: 'Make sure you always choose each other over anything else, even the kids.' She was right. Even though the kids might roll their eyes if they see us hugging or whatever, they're happy that we're happy. Advertisement 'We have fun as a family, too. Last year, they came with us for a lot of the tour.' Sophie Ellis-Bextor discusses life with five sons in Good Housekeeping UK (Chris Craymer/Good Housekeeping UK) The singer also discussed her forthcoming album, Perimenopop, a play on the words perimenopause and pop. 'There's still this idea that only young people make pop music,' she said. 'As soon as I had the new album title, I felt like, 'Now I can literally be myself.' Advertisement 'This album is about poking fun at this gloomy chapter and the narrative around it that women should be quietening down and becoming invisible… I don't feel like that at all.' The full interview can be read now in the August issue of Good Housekeeping UK.
Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Janet Ellis: ‘I thought my travels were over when my husband died'
Janet Ellis, 69, is a TV presenter, actress and writer best known for presenting Blue Peter and starring in Doctor Who alongside Tom Baker'. She lived in Chatham, Kent, until she was four before moving to Germany when her soldier father was posted there. She has three children: the singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 46, from her first marriage to the director and producer Robin Bextor, and Jackson, 37, and Martha, 34, from her marriage to the TV producer John Leach, who died of cancer in 2020. Ellis lives in west London with her grandson Sonny, 21, the son of Ellis-Bextor and her musician husband, Richard Jones. I went to some incredible places with Blue Peter in my twenties and, having spent much of my childhood in Germany, it was great to explore the British Isles. I remember filming at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, where the last descendant of the family who had lived there for decades was moving out and the National Trust was taking over. He lived in a tiny kitchen-bedsit set-up and the rest of the house looked frozen in time: board games mid-play, stuffed animals, pressed butterflies — it was extraordinary. My first long-haul trip was to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo in 1984. I was so excited that I didn't sleep on the flight, then I had just 90 minutes after landing before interviewing the prime minister. I fell asleep on arrival in my room and woke up feeling like my head was filled with Polyfilla. John and I adored Japan and went there four times. Every time we'd start in Tokyo then visit different places. On our last trip there, in 2017, we walked the Kiso Valley, between Kyoto and Tokyo. It was breathtaking, but not the flat — like much of the terrain — and disused railway track I'd imagined. We stayed in a ryokan — traditional inns where dinner is served at 6pm and there's nothing to do afterwards. It's hard to eat badly in Japan, though sushi and sashimi are more of a dinner thing; lunch is mostly noodle-based. In Kyoto we stayed at the Screen, a sweet little hotel. It's a university city so everyone rides bikes and the skyline isn't as intense as that of Tokyo. We went to our first onsen — the single-sex, communal, naked bathing in hot springs — on an island off Hiroshima. I had to return John's passport after he died and it was so hard; all those memories of the trips we'd taken together. Sophie actually came with us on our honeymoon, to Bali in 1988. We left Jack as he was coming up to a year and John's mum looked after him, but I don't think it occurred to us not to bring Sophie, so thank you, John. We had a lovely time. • 14 of the best places to visit in Japan John and I spent lots of time in Italy too. Sophie has a house in Puglia, where we've holidayed the last four Augusts. I fell for Sicily after Martha, my daughter, returned from a trip there as part of her history of art degree. There was a lot she hadn't seen and she wanted us to take her back, which we did twice. I particularly love the southern towns — further on from Noto and Ragusa — that survived the 1693 earthquake. They were built in baroque style, so they're very beautiful, with a gorgeous coastline and fantastic food. After John's cancer diagnosis — but absolutely not because of it — we bought a tiny house in Modica, in southeast Sicily. After he died in 2020 the kids were really keen for me to go back there and took me. I felt the sensation that he knew I'd return without him. The house holds so many memories, which is lovely, but I'm not aiming to spend time alone there; I like having someone to play with. My favourite pastime abroad is visiting hardware stores, supermarkets and chemists. I can easily spend days doing very little apart from going for a stroll to buy a brilliant little kitchen knife for pennies. After John's death I believed that my long-haul travelling days were over, unless the kids invited me somewhere. It's fairly easy to find friends for a weekend trip, but it's difficult aligning diaries for longer breaks when you don't have a partner. So when I was invited to join a Just You group tour to South Africa last year I was apprehensive. It was my first solo trip, but everyone was in a similar position — widowed, divorced or single — and hearing that everyone was nervous was incredibly bonding. My instinct when I arrive anywhere is to message John and show him where I am — I don't suppose that will ever stop. • 15 of the best South Africa holidays and tours The trip was a good spread, through the country from Cape Town to Johannesburg, like a geography textbook brought to life. I was fascinated to learn about the 17th-century Dutch settlers, who brought everything they owned on their backs, seeking fertile land. We went on safari at Featherbed Nature Reserve and Kruger [National Park], spotting the big five and, even better, the little five, all hoping not to get eaten. Janet Ellis is an ambassador for Just You ( In our weekly My Hols interview, famous faces — from the worlds of film, sport, politics, and more — share their travel stories from childhood to the present day. Read more My Hols interviews here
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 46, reveals her new album Perimenopop pokes fun at the narrative that women should become 'invisible' with age as she admits she can 'literally be myself'
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has revealed her new album Perimenopop pokes fun at the narrative that women should become 'invisible' with age. The singer, 46, was just 21 when she first soared to fame with her first number one hit, Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) with Spiller in 2000, going on to become a household name. 25 years later, the chart-topper is set to release her latest offering which she, in a new interview with Good Housekeeping UK, claims dispels the notion that pop music is for 'young people' and instead mocks that apparent 'gloomy chapter' women face in their later years. Perimonpop is being touted as a 'a playful celebration of where Sophie is at in her life, knowing exactly who she is and embracing the joy and empowerment that brings'. And speaking to the publication about her album inspiration, Sophie echoed those sentiments as she shared: 'There's still this idea that only young people make pop music. As soon as I had the new album title, I felt like, "Now I can literally be myself." 'This album is about poking fun at this gloomy chapter and the narrative around it that women should be quietening down and becoming invisible… I don't feel like that at all.' The singer, 46, was just 21 when she first soared to fame with her first number one hit, Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) with Spiller in 2000 [pictured], going on to become a household name Sophie has had somewhat of a career resurgence of late, with her 2001 track Murder On The Dancefloor gaining new popularity after it was used by filmmaker Emerald Fennell for the one-shot finale of her award-winning 2023 movie Saltburn. A single camera tracks actor Barry Keoghan as he dances to the track in the nude while walking the corridors of his newly inherited stately home - a memorable scene that introduced Sophie to a younger fanbase and helped push it back into the charts with a number two placement, her first top ten hit since 2007. She said of the track going viral: 'I was at home over Christmas when things started escalating online. The whole thing was glorious. And it wasn't just great for me, but for my whole team. We'd had a busy 2023, so we were match-fit. We could just pick up the pace.' It was a far cry from her thoughts three years earlier when she started her famous kitchen discos during the COVID-19 lockdown, with Sophie admitting that she believed it was the 'end of my career' following her first live broadcast. The kitchen discos proved to be hugely popular and gave fans a glimpse of Sophie's family life as it featured her guitarist husband Richard Jones and their five sons; Sonny, 21, Kit, 16, Ray, 13, Jesse, nine, and Mickey, six. It comes after Sophie revealed earlier this year that her children are being bullied at school for a heartbreaking reason. She admitted her youngest children are being picked on for their red hair as they aren't 'blending in' with their classmates. She told Andreas Wild on her Salon Confidential podcast in April: 'It's [bullying] definitely been something they've experienced, which is really harsh. 'You get to secondary school and anything that marks you out becomes the thing you will be teased about. 'It's extraordinary how you have this desire at that age group just to blend in, to be part of the pack. It's a really strong instinct. 'But rather than letting it make you feel down, hopefully by having conversations, you can actually keep an eye on it and keep it on the right side of things.' She added: 'And then you get a bit older and you're like "Actually, all those things about me that set me apart are the things I'll now give space to and invest in and enjoy myself". 'My kids have got some different shades of red, but it's so gorgeous - and I can always find them so easily in a playground.' Sophie fell pregnant with her eldest Sonny just six weeks after she started dating musician husband Richard. The couple went on to go from strength to strength, marrying in 2005 and welcoming four more children. The secret to her 20-year marriage, she told Good Housekeeping UK, was down to sound advice from her mum Janet Ellis who told them to 'choose each other over anything else' - even their children.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'We've openly chatted about it': Sophie Ellis-Bextor on how she spoke to her sons about Netflix's Adolescence
When Netflix's Adolescence arrived on our screens in March, it got the whole nation talking – and that includes singer and Kitchen Disco icon Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Starring on Good Housekeeping's August cover, she shared how it was useful to bring into discussion with her sons, as well as how important it is to talk about toxic masculinity. Sophie, who is mum to Sonny, 21, Kit, 16, Ray, 13, Jesse, nine, and Mickey, six, explained: 'Aspects of it were brilliant to bring into the discussion, but I've always had a lot of faith in my boys. We've openly chatted about toxic masculinity for a long time. 'My eldest is very articulate about these things, so none of it was new to my house. Sometimes people have an idea of what boys are like, as if they're a different species,' she added. As far as I'm concerned, I'm raising five people who happen to be boys. She also addressed the issue of mobile phones and screen time, explaining that, in her house, it's a conversation rather than a set of rules about what they can and can't do. 'I keep an eye on it, because that's parenting, but if you start demonising things, you shut down communication,' she says. 'Then you're like those parents in the 1950s who made kids burn their rock 'n' roll albums.' As for housework, she explained that the boys help out around the house and revealed that, with food being a big part of family life, they're quite handy in the kitchen. 'My intention is that they should all leave home being able to cook and dance,' she says. 'The key skills.' Fans may remember that Sophie's boys joined her on her Instagram Live Kitchen Discos during the Covid lockdowns, which became a real family affair. 'The Kitchen Discos were very relaxed for them," Sophie says. 'I'd say, 'Oh, we're doing another one on Friday if you fancy it?' "And some weeks they might say, 'I'm not doing it,' then, with five minutes to go, they'd come downstairs in a crazy outfit." Sometimes they were dressed as superheroes, sometimes as animals, sometimes they were outside on the trampoline, sometimes clinging to her leg. Music, she mused, is just part of life at home. 'We always have music on, and all the stuff was in our kitchen already: disco balls, sequin bunting, smoke machine, laser machine…' Something tells us life in the Ellis-Bextor-Jones family is rather fun. Read the full interview in Good Housekeeping UK's August issue, on sale now. Sophie's album, Perimenopop, is released on 12th September. Visit to win tickets to Sophie's album launch show at London KOKO on 8th September. You Might Also Like The anti-ageing wonder ingredient you're missing in your skincare routine 15 dresses perfect for a summer wedding 6 items our fashion team always take on a beach holiday
BreakingNews.ie
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
‘We are so in love': Singer Joss Stone announces birth of fourth child
Singer Joss Stone has announced the birth of her fourth child with husband Cody DaLuz, saying the pair are 'so in love' with their newborn. The 38-year-old, who also has a daughter named Violet, son named Shackleton and an adopted son named Bear, said the pair's latest child had been named Nalima Rose. Advertisement In a post on Instagram, Stone said: 'Happy #mummymondays. Welcome our beautiful Nalima Rose to the world, we are so in love.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joss Stone (@jossstone) DaLuz, who married Stone in 2023, added in a post on his Instagram story accompanied by a picture of Stone and the baby: 'And now there are four.' She was congratulated by singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, TV presenter and pianist Jools Holland and Supernanny star Jo Frost. Holland said in a comment on Stone's post: 'Wonderful and congratulations.' Advertisement While Ellis-Bextor added: 'Congratulations.' Frost said: 'Congratulations to your beautiful family.' Stone is best known for her UK top 10 hit You Had Me, and has had three UK top 10 albums, including a number one in Mind Body And Soul. Stone has welcomed a fourth child with husband Cody DaLuz (Jeff Moore/PA) She won a Grammy Award in 2007 for her version of Sly And The Family Stone's Family Affair, recorded with John Legend and Van Hunt, which won best R&B performance for a duo or group with vocals. Advertisement Stone has also been nominated for four other Grammys. The Kent-born singer was also part of the supergroup SuperHeavy, which featured Rolling Stones singer Sir Mick Jagger, Bob Marley's son Damian Marley and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. The group released one self-titled studio album along with two singles in Miracle Worker and Satyameva Jayathe. Stone will head out on a US tour later this year, before performing a number of dates in Germany in December. Advertisement
