Eleanor Jane Taylor (born 4 November 1983) is an English comedian, television personality, actress, and writer. After appearing as a contestant on Show Me the Funny in 2011, Taylor has appeared on numerous television shows, including 8 Out of 10 Cats (2011–2017), Fake Reaction (2013–2014), Mock the Week (2015–2019), The Lodge (2016), Stand-Up Central (2017), The Mash Report (2017–2022), Plebs (2018–2019), Strictly Come Dancing (2022), and Knuckles (2024). She has also presented the television shows Snog Marry Avoid? (2012–2013), Live at the Apollo (2016–2018), and The Great Pottery Throw Down (2022).

Ellie Taylor
Taylor in 2019
Birth nameEleanor Jane Taylor
Born (1983-11-04) 4 November 1983 (age 41)
Brentwood, Essex, England
Medium
EducationUniversity of York
Years active2011–present
Spouse
(m. 2014)
Children2
Websitewww.ellietaylorcomedy.com

Taylor has written and performed five stand-up comedy shows: Elliementary (2015), Infidelliety (2016), This Guy (2017–2018), Cravings (2019) — also shown on Netflix as part of Comedians of the World[1] — and Don't Got This (2019–2021). In 2021, she published her debut book, My Child and Other Mistakes, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.

Early life

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Taylor was born on 4 November 1983[2] in Brentwood, Essex.[3] She studied English literature at the University of York.[3][4] Taylor was a member of University of York Drama Society and "did three or four plays".[5][6][7]

Career

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She was spotted by a model agency scout while interning for FHM magazine,[3] and signed with ISIS Models[8] She did campaigns for Matalan, Asda and Pantene.[3] Taylor decided she would rather not be a model, so she began working on corporate events.[3] In her mid-twenties, Taylor began doing stand-up comedy.[3]

Taylor was discovered on ITV series Show Me the Funny, an X Factor-style contest for aspiring stand-up comedians. In 2014, she performed her debut show Elliementary at the Laughing Horse as part of the Edinburgh free fringe programme.[9]

In 2014, she hosted a radio show on London-based Fubar Radio alongside comedian Simon Feilder.[10]

In June 2015, she made her debut in the 14th series of BBC Two's Mock the Week,[11] and appeared in every series until the 18th.[12]

In March 2016, Taylor appeared in the third series of CBBC's panel show The Dog Ate My Homework.[13] She appeared a second time later that month.[14]

In September 2016, Taylor had a recurring role in The Lodge as Christina. Taylor also plays Gloria, the next-door business-owner to the main characters in ITV2 Ancient Roman comedy series Plebs.[12][5]

In 2017, Taylor became a regular fill-in for Emma Bunton on London's Heart Radio breakfast show.

Since July 2017, she has been a regular on BBC2 satirical comedy sketch series The Mash Report, appearing as Susan, a newsreader.[3] A clip of one of her performances on the show later went viral, after it was posted across social media by Madonna.[15]

In 2018, Taylor appeared in an advert for Stowford Press cider.[16]

On 5 July 2018, it was announced Taylor and Anna Whitehouse would host a new talk show on radio station Heart FM on Sunday nights from 10pm to 1am.[17] The show later became available as a podcast, Ellie and Anna Have Issues.[18]

Taylor has been a regular on the BBC TV stand-up-comedy programme Live at the Apollo, both as a featured act and as a host.[19]

In 2019, her half-hour stand-up special Cravings was released on Netflix as part of Comedians of the World.[1]

Taylor has also been a guest on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Pointless Celebrities, Insert Name Here, QI, The Last Leg, Big Brother's Bit on the Side, and Show Me the Funny.[12] In 2011, she won Company magazine's Lady HaHa title. In 2012, she replaced Jenny Frost as the presenter of Snog Marry Avoid? on BBC Three. She was one of the team leaders on the comedy panel show Fake Reaction. In 2013, she appeared in an episode of the HBO mockumentary series Family Tree.

In 2019, she again became a fill-in presenter on Heart, this time for Amanda Holden, on the national breakfast show alongside regular host Jamie Theakston.

In December 2019, it was announced that Taylor would step down from her Heart FM show to focus on her TV commitments. However, her podcast with Anna Whitehouse, Ellie & Anna Have Issues, is still released every Tuesday.[20]

In July 2021, Taylor published her debut book My Child and Other Mistakes: How to ruin your life in the best way possible, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.[21]

In August 2022, she was revealed as a contestant on the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[22] Taylor and her professional dance partner Johannes Radebe were eliminated in Week 10 after losing the dance off to Fleur East and Vito Coppola.[23]

Personal life

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Taylor married reporter Phil Black in London in 2014 and has one daughter.[24] In September 2023, she announced that she was expecting her second child;[25] a boy that was born in November 2023.[26]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Show Me the Funny Contestant 1 episode: "Blackpool"
2011–2012, 2017 8 Out of 10 Cats Herself Guest panellist; 3 episodes
2012–2013 Snog Marry Avoid? Presenter Fifth and sixth series
2012 Don’t Tell The Bride Goes Global TV special
Big Brother's Bit on the Side Herself Guest panellist; 3 episodes
2013 Family Tree Tracey 1 episode: "Treading the Boards"
The Body Shocking Show Herself 3 episodes
Greatest Stand Up Comedians Documentary
2013–2014 Fake Reaction Team captain; 18 episodes
2014 Celebrity Squares Contestant 1 episode
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Now! Herself Guest; 3 episodes
2014–2015 Sweat the Small Stuff 2 episodes
2015 Brotherhood Poppy Recurring role; 8 episodes
Make You Laugh Out Loud Herself Guest; 1 episode: "Pets Make You Laugh Out Loud 2"
Celebrity Fifteen to One Contestant 1 episode
2015–2016 It Was Alright in the... Herself 7 episodes
2015–2017 Virtually Famous Guest panellist; 3 episodes
2015–2019 Mock the Week Guest panellist; 10 episodes
2016 The Lodge Christina 8 episodes
Drunk History Drunk Storyteller 1 episode: "Battle of Trafalgar / The Virgin Queen"
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Herself 2 episodes
The Dog Ate My Homework Guest; 2 episodes
Funny, Furry & Famous
My Worst Job Guest; 2 episodes
Celebrity Chase Contestant 1 episode
2016, 2018 Live at the Apollo Guest Performer / Presenter 2 episodes
2017 Sick Note Reporter 1 episode: "Playing Ball"
Josh Spin Teacher 1 episode: "Bicycles & Babies"
Stand Up Central Herself Comedy Central special; 1 episode
Let's Sing and Dance for Comic Relief 1 episode
I Live with Models 1 episode: "Don't Hit On Molly"
The Chris Ramsey Show Guest; 1 episode
The Nightly Show Announcer 5 episodes
Go 8 Bit Contestant 1 episode
2017–2020 The Mash Report Newsreader Susan Traherne Recurring role; 24 episodes
2018 I'll Get This Herself 1 episode
CelebAbility Guest; 1 episode
Made in Chelsea Presenter 1 episode "End of Season Party"
The One Show Guest Presenter 1 episode
House of Games Contestant 10 episodes
2018–2019 Pointless Celebrities 2 episodes
Plebs Gloria Recurring role; 10 episodes
2018–2020 Richard Osman's House of Games Herself 10 episodes
2019 Insert Name Here 1 episode
Comedians of the World Netflix series; 1 episode
Would I Lie To You? Guest; 1 episode
QI Guest; S16E15
The Crystal Maze Contestant / Adventurer 1 episode
2019, 2021 The Last Leg Herself Guest; 2 episodes
2020 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Contestant 1 episode
Guessable Herself Guest; 1 episode
Comedy Game Night 1 episode
2020–2023 Ted Lasso Flo "Sassy" Collins 7 episodes
Nominated - Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
2021 Hypothetical Herself 1 episode
Comedians Giving Lecturers Guest; 1 episode
Yesterday, Today & the Day Before Presenter Also writer; 1 episode
2021–2022 Late Night Mash Newsreader Susan Dave's version of The Mash Report; 6 episodes
2022 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant Series 20
Mastermind Celebrity edition; 1 episode
Let’s Make a Love Scene Presenter Two-part series[27]
Celebrity Lingo Contestant One episode[28]
2022–present The Great Pottery Throw Down Co-presenter With Siobhán McSweeney
You Won’t Believe This (w/t)[27] Presenter Four-part series
2023 Cheat Co-host Alongside Danny Dyer. Game show[29]
The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off Contestant 1 episode[30]
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Herself 1 episode[31]
2023–present Bake Off: The Professionals Co-host Series 8–onwards
2023 The Wheel Celebrity expert Specialist subject: breakfast; 1 episode
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice Celebrity guest One episode
Big Zuu's Big Eats One episode
2024 Knuckles Agent Willoughby Miniseries

Tours

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  • "Elliementary" (2015)
  • "Infidelliety" (2016)
  • "This Guy" (2017–2018)
  • "Cravings" (2019)
  • "Don't Got This" (2019–2021)

Bibliography

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  • My Child and Other Mistakes: How to Ruin Your Life in the Best Way Possible (2021)

References

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  1. ^ a b Bennett, Steve. "Comedians Of The World: Ellie Taylor – Cravings : Reviews 2019". Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, Episode 30". BBC. 4 November 2022. Event occurs at 21:28.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Dessau, Bruce (13 July 2017). "Ellie Taylor on motherhood, modelling and the Edinburgh Fringe". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Ellie Taylor". Show Me the Funny. itv.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012.
  5. ^ a b Croager, Tasha (12 April 2021). ""Don't Be A Tw*t": Interview with Ellie Taylor". York Vision. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  6. ^ "About – University of York Drama Society". Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Drama Society | University of York Students' Union".
  8. ^ http://isismodels.org/ [failed verification]
  9. ^ Black, Suzanne (10 August 2014). "Ellie Taylor: Elliementary – Edinburgh Festival". The List. The List Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  10. ^ "The Ellie Taylor Show | FUBAR Radio". 14 August 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  11. ^ Eames, Tom (28 May 2014). "Mock the Week to celebrate 10th birthday with 14th series". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "Ellie Taylor". IMDb. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  13. ^ "The Dog Ate My Homework Series 3, Episode 9". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  14. ^ "The Dog Ate My Homework Series 3, Episode 12". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  15. ^ "The Mash Report's in Vogue with Madonna". Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide. 16 January 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  16. ^ Woolfson, Daniel. "New Stowford Press cider TV ad to air over summer". The Grocer. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  17. ^ "Ellie Taylor and Anna Whitehouse host Sunday night's on Heart". Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Ellie and Anna Have Issues: Don't miss Heart's hilarious podcast". Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  19. ^ "BBC Two – Live at the Apollo, Series 14, Episode 1". BBC. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Ellie and Anna Have Issues is the hilarious podcast you need in your life". Heart Radio. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  21. ^ Taylor, Ellie (22 July 2021). My Child and Other Mistakes: How to Ruin Your Life in the Best Way Possible. ISBN 978-1529362992.
  22. ^ "Actress and comedian Ellie Taylor is our ninth celebrity contestant!". BBC. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Ellie and Johannes leave in Week 10". bbc.co.uk/blogs. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  24. ^ "TV presenter Ellie Taylor marries CNN reporter Phil Black". London Wedding Photographer David Pullum. 29 December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  25. ^ "Strictly star Ellie Taylor announces pregnancy with sweet photo". digitalspy.com. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Strictly's Ellie Taylor announces birth of second child". digitalspy.com. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Channel 4 and Talkback partner for Ellie Taylor fronted double commission". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Celebrity Lingo: Michelle Visage & Vernon Kay, Dr Ranj & Jenny Ryan, Axel Blake & Ellie Taylor (S1EP2 ITV Sunday 25 September 2022)". memorabletv.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Cheat". netflix.com. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  30. ^ "The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  31. ^ "Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled". uktvplay.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
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