Sophie Ellis-Bextor

The daughter of former Blue Peter TV presenter Janet Ellis, Sophie Ellis-Bextor appeared on the show as a child and also sang in children's operas from the age of 13. Her career began in earnest when she became lead singer with indie band theaudience at the age of 18 and recorded a track with Manic Street Preachers, Black Holes For The Young. After a series of minor hits, most notably A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed, theaudience split in 1998 and Ellis-Bextor collaborated with Italian DJ Spiller on the dance single Groovejet (If This Ain't Love), which topped the UK charts. Her 2001 debut album Read My Lips helped turn her into a major international star, including the club classic Murder On The Dance Floor, the most played song in Europe in 2002. Second album Shoot From The Hip was less successful but still produced the hits Mixed Up World and I Won't Change You, while third album Trip The Light Fantastic failed to recreate her earlier success despite high profile support tours with George Michael and Take That. Ellis-Bextor's career went on hold as she became a mother but she was back in 2010 with a new album Straight To The Heart.