Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Taylor, who appeared in the show back in 2022, has confirmed that she is expecting her second child with her husband Phil Black, in a very sweet post. Sharing a snap of herself with a baby bump while playing with her daughter, she captioned the post: "Excited. Terrified. Grateful. Hungry."
She followed the photo up with a statement in which she admitted that she had found pregnancy posts "tricky" over the years, and encouraged people to unfollow her if it made them uncomfortable in any way.
Ellie wrote: "Ratbag No. 2 - inbound. Pregnancy has been a funny old topic for me over the last few years and I've sometimes found it tricky following prego people online. For anyone in a similar headspace, if the idea of the inevitable baby spam that will follow makes you feel a bit weird, then I lovingly encourage you to be kind to your brainbox and mute or unfollow me. I hope you'll be back but whatever your situation, I wish you love and clarity as you continue to navigate your own journey."
She was inundated with support, with Sophie Ellis Bextor writing: "Congratulations," while this year’s Strictly contestant Angela Scanlon added: "CONGRATULATIONS!!!! So so happy for you xxxx" Molly Rainford also commented, writing: "Congratulations Ellie." Strictly pro Lauren Oakley posted: "Yaaay! Congratulations."
Speaking about her book about parenting, a fan added: "Your book was a real comfort to me when I became a mam and I’ve since passed on to friends who are navigating early motherhood. I’m currently due my second baby too so I’m looking forward to all the spam ahead."
Ellie currently shares a five-year-old daughter, Valentina, with her husband. She shared a rare snap of the youngster during her time on Strictly, when she visited the set of the show. Captioning the image at the time, Ellie penned: "Ratbag came to watch a rehearsal. Verdict: 'I liked your dance mummy… can I do some drawing now.'"
Strictly stars and their children
- Strictly pro Gorka Marquez and former Strictly contestant Gemma Atkinson share two children, Mia and Thiago.
- Strictly: It Takes Two host Janette Manrara and her dancer husband Aljaz Skorjanec are parents to baby girl Lyra.
- Strictly winners Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley welcomed baby Minnie in January 2023.
- Former Strictly pros James and Ola Jordan share a daughter, Ella.
- Former pro Pasha Kovalev and Rachel Riley share two daughters, Maven and Noa.
- Strictly judge and ex-pro Anton du Beke and his wife Hannah share adorable twins George and Henrietta.
- Former Strictly star Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella became parents to son Matteo in July 2000.
- Professional dancer Natalie Lowe and her husband James Knibbs welcomed their son Jack in December 2020.
- Ben Cohen and former Strictly dancer Kristina Rihanoff met in series 11 and now share a daughter, Milena.
- Ex-Strictly pro Brendan Cole and his wife Zoe Hobbs are parents to Aurelia and Dante.
© Photo: BBCSpeaking about the early days of motherhood, Ellie previously explained: "When my daughter was born it was like a grenade was lifted out of my body and my optimism was turned upside down and inside out. You're dealing with this physical trauma and a newborn and my mind sort of collapsed. It was just the most intense experience I've ever been through." Her book, My Child and Other Mistakes, looks at dealing with the highs and lows of motherhood.
The synopsis reads: "In this very funny book she writes candidly about her own personal experience exploring the decision to have a baby when she doesn't even like them, the importance of cheese during pregnancy, why she took hair straighteners to the labour ward, plus the apocalyptic newborn days, childcare, work and the inevitable impact on life and love and most importantly, her breasts."
