HANGING UP HER SHOES - 'I'VE GRACIOUSLY RETIRED FROM THE BALLROOM WORLD

COMEDIAN ELLIE TAYLOR EXPLAINS WHY SHE HAS TRADED STRICTLY-STYLE DANCING FOR FIGHT SCENES WITH IDRIS ELBA

- ALICE PENWILL 

As a comedian, actor and TV presenter - Ellie Taylor is at the top of her game. However, after an incredibly busy 12 months, in which she foxtrotted on Strictly Come Dancing, stole scenes in Ted Lasso and launched a quiz show called Cheat with Danny Dyer, Ellie didn't 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.

"We had lots of adventures as a family," says Ellie. "Lazy mornings in our pyjamas and lots of colouring in, I find it mindful." They even went to their first family festival. "Valentina absolutely loved getting all dressed up with loads of glitter, face gems and funky outfits and dancing," smiles Ellie. "It was really special to spend that weekend with her.

"We were watching Melanie C playing, who was brilliant, and my fouryear-old liked it at the beginning but then wanted my phone and watched CBeebies. I was like, 'There's an actual Spice Girl about 10 metres from you, you have no idea how lucky you are and you're watching Charlie & Lola on my phone'. I thought, 'Well, Mummy is having a lovely time dancing to Spice Up Your Life.""

Not only is Valentina getting a sibling she's also just started school, and her first day left Ellie feeling very emotional. "You always see people go, 'Oh, I'm going to cry on their first day, and I never thought I'd be like that. But I do see that it's a big change, it does feel sad for some reason, because you are sort of waving goodbye to their little years." 

Valentina's baby days are behind her, but Ellie and Phil will soon be engulfed by the chaos of caring for a newborn all over again. Ellie announced the news of her pregnancy on Instagram when she posted a picture of herself and her daughter kissing the bump and captioned the post, "Excited. Terrified. Grateful. Hungry.