Former Blue Peter star denies their pop star daughter is a ‘nepo baby’
‘It works backwards for me’: Former Blue Peter star denies her pop star daughter is a ‘nepo baby’
Janet Ellis has denied that her daughter Sophie Ellis-Bextor is a ‘nepo baby’.
The former Blue Peter star, 67, insisted her experience as a TV presenter did not help her daughter, the 43-year-old pop star.
Instead, she said that it “works backwards” and that she is more famous because of Sophie.
Appearing at Steph’s Packed Lunch on Wednesday, Janet said: ‘It works the other way around for me, I’m Sophie’s mum!
“Certainly in Sophie’s case it doesn’t apply because what she’s doing is very different.
Denial: Janet Ellis has denied that her daughter Sophie Ellis-Bextor is a ‘nepo baby’
Insistent: The former Blue Peter star, 67, insisted her experience as a TV presenter did not help her daughter, the 43-year-old pop star
“When I started out as a singer and I was only 18, and people were like, ‘Oh, that’s great, he’s doing something you can understand,’ I thought, ‘I don’t know anything about the music industry.'”
“There was probably a bit initially where you know, she was my daughter, but oh my gosh, the tables have turned.”
The term ‘nepo babies’ was coined online and is used to describe the children of celebrities who easily land in show business, shielded by their parents’ famous names.
Lily-Rose Depp, Maude Apatow and many others were among those who graced the cover of New York Magazine’s The Year of the Nepo Baby.
Speaking about whether Sophie had to work extra hard because of having a famous mother, Janet replied: “Maybe, as I say, because I was doing something so different, I think people would have just thought ‘you’re not a presenter’.
‘If you go into the same business, I’m sure you will. I think it’s a curse and a blessing, right?
“Because it takes you there, people are interested and that’s flattering, and if they like what your parents or relatives did, then obviously they’re going to want to jump on the bandwagon and then in the end it just has to be you.” .’
Elsewhere in the chat, Janet confirmed that Sophie used to sell Blue Peter badges to her schoolmates.
Upside Down: Instead, she said that it “works the other way around” and that she’s more famous because of Sophie.
In the Past: Janet hosted Blue Peter for four years between 1983 and 1987, alongside Simon Groom, Sarah Greene, Peter Duncan, Michael Sundin, Mark Curry and Caron Keating.
She also admitted that she handed them over to traffic cops herself to avoid parking tickets.
She confessed: “Well, between her and me doing that, possibly once or twice, maybe giving a traffic cop a badge, a deserved badge.”
Janet hosted Blue Peter for four years, between 1983 and 1987, alongside Simon Groom, Sarah Greene, Peter Duncan, Michael Sundin, Mark Curry and Caron Keating.
Steph’s Packed Lunch airs Monday to Friday at 12:30pm on Channel 4 and All 4