Janet Ellis was born on 16 September 1955 in Chatham, Kent, England. Her father served in the Royal Air Force, and she spent part of her childhood living in various locations before the family settled in Britain.

She attended local schools and later trained as an actress at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. After graduating, she began working in television and theatre during the 1970s.

Ellis became nationally famous when she joined Blue Peter on BBC One in 1983. She remained one of the programme’s most popular presenters until 1987, participating in the show’s famous challenges, appeals, and educational features.

After leaving Blue Peter, she presented programmes including Jigsaw, Daytime Live, and various BBC radio broadcasts. She later became a novelist and author, publishing several books aimed at adult readers.

Ellis was married to  TV producer John Leach who died in 2020 after a terminal cancer diagnosis. She lives in London and remains active in writing, broadcasting, and literary events while maintaining close ties with