![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.ok.co.uk\/incoming\/article31006139.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_JS311558327.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAs a comedian, actor and TV presenter \u2013 Ellie Taylor is at the top of her game. However, after an incredibly busy 12 months, which saw her foxtrot on Strictly Come Dancing, steal scenes in Ted Lasso and launch a new quiz show called Cheat with Danny Dyer, Ellie didn\u2019t spend the summer on set. Instead, she took time out to make memories with her daughter Valentina and husband Phil Black before their new baby arrives to make them a family of four.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had lots of adventures as a family,\u201d shares Ellie. \u201cLazy mornings in our pyjamas and lots of colouring in, I find it mindful.\u201d They even went to their first family festival. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cValentina absolutely loved getting all dressed up with loads of glitter, face gems and funky outfits and dancing,\u201d smiles Ellie. \u201cIt was really special to spend that weekend with her. \u201cWe were watching Mel C playing, who was brilliant, and my four-year-old liked it at the beginning but then wanted my phone and watched CBeebies.<\/p>\n
"I was like, \u2018There\u2019s an actual Spice Girl about 10 metres from you, you have no idea how lucky you are and you\u2019re watching Charlie & Lola on my phone\u2019. I thought, \u2018Well, mummy is having a lovely time dancing to Spice Up Your Life.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Not only is Valentina getting a sibling \u2013 she\u2019s also just started school and her first day left Ellie feeling very emotional. \u201cYou always see people go, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m going to cry on their first day,\u2019 and I never thought I\u2019d be like that. But I do see that it\u2019s a big change, it does feel sad for some reason, because you are sort of waving goodbye to their little years.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.ok.co.uk\/incoming\/article31006157.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS311457978.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Ellie might be saying farewell to her daughter\u2019s younger years, but she need not worry as she\u2019s got another one on the way! Ellie announced the news on Instagram when she posted a picture of herself and her daughter kissing the bump and captioned the post, \u201cExcited. Terrified. Grateful. Hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strictly Come Dancing season is upon us and for most it signifies the start of autumn and means cosy evenings in front of the television. But for Ellie, it takes her right back to last year where she took to the dance floor herself and was \u201call-consumed\u201d by the competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really sucked up the end of the year,\u201d she says. \u201cI was physically in the house sometimes, but not particularly present. It was full on, especially because I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d be in the show for very long.\u201d<\/p>\n
The star, who turns 40 next week, competed in the 20th series of the show against the likes of Fleur East, Helen Skelton, Tyler West and wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin who went on to win the Glitterball trophy. Ellie was eliminated in seventh place, and is still shocked at how far she got.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.ok.co.uk\/incoming\/article31006203.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS279792512.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I\u2019d be there for a maximum of three or four weeks,\u201d she laughs. \u201cEvery week I was voted in I\u2019d go to my husband, \u2018I\u2019m sorry, I didn\u2019t know this would happen!\u2019. <\/p>\n
\u201cGod knows how I managed it, but everyone was very sweet, we had lovely support. I absolutely loved it, but it is all consuming and I think it has to be. To commit to the show and do it justice, you really have to dig your heels in and get involved, and I really did. I\u2019m really pleased with how I did, I\u2019m really proud of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellie was partnered with Johannes Radebe who this year is dancing with tennis star Annabel Croft \u2013 and Ellie hopes they will be the ones to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll absolutely be rooting for Johannes,\u201d confirms Ellie. \u201cBut after doing Strictly, I\u2019ll be rooting for everybody because I know how scary it is and what it takes to do a live dance on TV every week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so exposing and nerve-wracking. Just to do it is enough, which sounds so clich\u00e9 and boring, but it really is true. It\u2019s really tough. But of course I\u2019d love to see Johannes win, I really would.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.ok.co.uk\/incoming\/article31006207.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS284601692.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Ellie\u2019s highest score was during Halloween for the Couples Choice and says she loved \u201cbeing a different character every week\u201d, but admits she\u2019s since decided to hang up her dancing shoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter a three-month career, I\u2019ve graciously retired from the ballroom world,\u201d reveals Ellie. \u201cI really enjoyed it, but nothing will be able to compete with dancing with Johannes six days a week. No evening class in a community centre on a Thursday for 90 minutes is going to do it for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was one on one with one of the best dancers in the whole wide world, I\u2019ll leave it where it was, and it was amazing. I just remember it beautifully.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.ok.co.uk\/incoming\/article31006241.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS311602172.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Being a comedian, actor and presenter, Ellie truly is the triple-threat \u2013 but it was her role as Sassy in Ted Lasso that threw her into the limelight more recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had quite an eclectic career so people know me from different things,\u201d she explains. \u201cI get some people going, \u2018Are you Sassy from Ted Lasso?\u2019. It\u2019s quite often Americans \u2013 the show is big in the UK, but in America, it\u2019s crazy.<\/p>\n
\u201cQuite often Americans approach me in odd places, like in a play park or in a dodgy little cafe like, \u2018Are you Sassy?\u2019. Someone came up to me in a toilet the other day and asked. It\u2019s just been amazing to see how much the show captured people\u2019s imaginations and how much joy it\u2019s brought people. It\u2019s lovely to be part of such a hopeful show that means a lot to people.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.ok.co.uk\/incoming\/article31006253.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS311596559.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Sadly, Ted Lasso came to an end in May, but it left Ellie with the opportunity for other roles, like Knuckles the live-action miniseries based on Sonic the Hedgehog with Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna.<\/p>\n
\u201cI work with a man who is moving a puppet, which will then be revoiced as Idris Elba,\u201d laughs Ellie. \u201cI can\u2019t say I\u2019ve had any interaction with Idris Elba, but it sounds good when you say, \u2018I\u2019ve had fight scenes with Idris Elba\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the actual show itself, I can\u2019t wait to see when it\u2019s revoiced and Idris is in it. It was a fabulous show and so different to anything I\u2019ve done before \u2013 like doing action sequences and stunts. I played a baddie, it was wicked.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.ok.co.uk\/incoming\/article31006262.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS311558331.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Another campaign Ellie has been working on is with Sky Protect who she\u2019s partnered with to make sure people\u2019s homes are safe with smart tech.<\/p>\n
\u201cHome insurance is a boring purchase,\u201d admits Ellie. \u201cIt\u2019s quite a nice challenge to make it more appealing and a bit sexier. With Sky Protect, it feels like you\u2019re getting something even if you don\u2019t claim, you\u2019ve got the app and all the smart features.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love a bit of smart technology, anything that makes my life easier and I can boss around is nice. I like smart doorbells because I\u2019m quite nosy. It\u2019s just so clever. You can keep an eye on your house while you\u2019re away, which is quite reassuring \u2013 to protect all the things that you care about.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.ok.co.uk\/incoming\/article31006266.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS311558335.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
With all of her new projects, a four-year old and a baby on the way, Ellie has got a juggling act on her hands\u2026 \u201cI\u2019m like anyone who\u2019s got a family and a job, I think everyone equally feels busy \u2013 you have to prioritise different things at different times,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
"Sometimes work gets prioritised, sometimes family time, or sometimes sleep \u2013 that\u2019s a good day. I find it funny when people say, \u2018How do you juggle it?\u2019 But honestly, who doesn\u2019t find it tricky? Who isn\u2019t busy these days?\u201d<\/p>\n