Latest news with #EllieTaylor
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Chelmsford revealed as BBC Radio 2 in the Park 2025 location
BBC Radio 2 has announced this year's location for its flagship live music festival will be Chelmsford in 2 in the Park will take place in Hylands Park, just outside the city, from 5 to 7 September. The announcement was made on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show with the artist line-up to be revealed on the same show on Tuesday. Tickets go on sale on Thomas, head of Radio 2, said it was to be the "biggest part of the year" while leader of Chelmsford City Council, Stephen Robinson, added it was a "fantastic opportunity" for the city. The announcement came as Mills was speaking to fellow Radio 2 presenter and comedian, Ellie Taylor, who hails from was live on air at Hylands House within the park alongside Rylan Clark, also from Essex, to reveal the location. "We've been busy booking some of the world's most loved artists to perform to thousands of revellers in Hylands Park, as well as to millions of listeners and viewers at home or on the move," Ms Thomas said. "We can't wait to bring our family of Radio 2 presenters to Essex."Robinson added that Hylands House was "no stranger to music festivals", having previously hosted V Festival, Creamfields South and Country Calling."BBC Radio 2 in the Park is a fantastic opportunity for Chelmsford – one that will lift our local economy and boost the city's position as a top events destination," he said."We're looking forward to welcoming world-famous music acts and thousands of Radio 2 fans from across the UK to our brilliant city this summer, for this unrivalled three-day celebration of music."In recent years the festival has been held in Preston in Lancashire and in Leicester. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
BBC Radio 2 in the Park 2025 to land in Chelmsford
Radio 2 in the Park, the station's flagship live music festival, will take place in Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex from Friday 5 - Sunday 7 September. The announcement was made on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show, with Scott speaking to Radio 2 presenter, Ellie Taylor, who is from Essex. She was live on air at Hylands House within Hylands Park to reveal the location to listeners. Rylan – who Scott unofficially crowned "The Earl of Essex" during the show - also joined Ellie in the park to celebrate the festival taking place in his home county. Rylan said: "I can't wait to welcome my Radio 2 family to Chelmsford and have this year's Radio 2 in the Park right on my doorstep! If there's one thing I know for certain, it's that an Essex crowd know how to party. See you all in Hylands Park!' The station - which is the UK's most listened to radio station with a weekly audience of 13.1 million (RAJAR Q1, 2025) - will broadcast live from Hylands Park throughout the weekend in September, and all the action will be broadcast on Radio 2, BBC Sounds and iPlayer. Most of Radio 2's presenters will decamp to the city for the weekend and, back by popular demand and following its debut at Radio 2 in the Park in Preston last year, there will be a Friday night DJ party to kick things off ahead of a weekend packed with stellar live performances. The artist line-up will be revealed in The Scott Mills Breakfast Show tomorrow (Tuesday 3 June, 6.30-9.30am) and tickets will go on sale on Wednesday 4 June at 8.30am - further details are available at Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2 says: "Radio 2 in the Park is our biggest party of the year, and we're delighted to be bringing a three-day music extravaganza to Chelmsford! We've been busy booking some of the world's most loved artists to perform to thousands of revellers in Hylands Park, as well as to millions of listeners and viewers at home or on the move. We can't wait to bring our family of Radio 2 presenters to Essex." Councillor Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford City Council, says: 'Hylands Park is no stranger to music festivals, and we're thrilled to add another renowned music event to the list in 2025. BBC Radio 2 in the Park is a fantastic opportunity for Chelmsford – one that will lift our local economy and boost the city's position as a top events destination. We're looking forward to welcoming world-famous music acts and thousands of Radio 2 fans from across the UK to our brilliant city this summer, for this unrivalled three-day celebration of music. Our teams have years of experience and expertise in facilitating major music festivals at Hylands Park, so I'm confident that this latest partnership with the BBC will present a smooth-running and highly enjoyable weekend for all involved.' Last year Radio 2 in the Park was held in Moor Park, Preston, and featured headliners Sting and the Pet Shop Boys. In 2023, Victoria Park in Leicester saw Tear for Fears and Kylie headline the main stage. Radio 2 continues to serve audiences with a steady stream of world-class music performances. In February this year, Radio 2's Piano Room month featured incredible performances from artists including Coldplay, Kiefer Sutherland, Elkie Brooks, Kate Hudson, Gary Barlow, 10cc and Teddy Swims – with a selection of performances still available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Country music fans were treated to a feast of Country music on BBC Sounds, following Radio 2's coverage of the Country 2 Country festival in London, Belfast and Glasgow in March. As the official broadcast partner of C2C since 2013, programming was led by Radio 2's Country Show presenter, Bob Harris. As well as presenting acts on stage at The O2 in London, Bob fronted shows during the weekend and was joined by musicians for live performances and key moments from the main stage from some of the world's most popular Country stars and the cream of emerging talent from Nashville and Europe. Bob previewed the festival on his Country Show on Thursday 13th March and reviewed the weekend on Thursday 20th March (9-10pm). Jo Whiley's Sofa Sessions in her show (Monday to Thursday, 7-9pm) have included Maggie Rogers, Cast, English Teacher, Corinne Bailey Rae and The Vaccines. On Sunday 4 May (8-10pm), Zoe Ball presented Elaine Paige: 60 Years in Showbusiness, a world exclusive concert honouring the extraordinary career of the station's host of Elaine Paige on Sunday (1-3pm). It was recorded in front of a packed audience at the London Palladium, where the cream of musical theatre - including Samantha Barks (Frozen, Les Misérables, Oliver!), Mazz Murray (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Chicago), Julian Ovenden (Bridgerton, Downton Abbey), Charlie Stemp (Half a Sixpence, Hello, Dolly), and Summer Strallen (The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls) - performed some of Elaine's most adored songs. Plus, in a Radio 2 and BBC TV special, Elaine was in conversation with Zoe, telling the story of her incredible life and career, sharing exclusive stories behind some of her best-known songs, as well as her tales from behind the red velvet curtains of London's glittering West End. BBC Radio 2 is the UK's most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.1 million (RAJAR Q1, 2025) and The Scott Mills Breakfast Show is the most listened to Breakfast show in the UK with 6.5 million listeners (RAJAR Q1, 2025). Vernon Kay is the most listened to radio show in the UK with 7.2 million listeners (RAJAR Q1, 2025). The network's presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Rob Beckett, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Revd. Kate Bottley, Rylan, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gary Davies, Paul Gambaccini, Mark Goodier, Angela Griffin, Bob Harris, Vernon Kay, Shaun Keaveny, Cerys Matthews, Paddy McGuinness, Scott Mills, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Dermot O'Leary, Elaine Paige, Mark Radcliffe, Romesh Ranganathan, DJ Spoony, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Michelle Visage, Jo Whiley, Phil Williams and Owain Wyn Evans. Listen to Radio 2 on BBC Sounds KA
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Hit reality show confirmed to return to ITV this summer following fakery row
A HIT reality show's return to ITV this summer has been confirmed - and with big changes in store. Viewers were enthralled last year watching series one and will soon get to see more. 4 4 4 Hosted by Stephen Mangan, The Fortune Hotel sees competitors forced to lie to each other in order to claim a £250,000 prize. The hit show will be back on viewers' screens this summer. In a change from the first series, the show will reportedly be airing two episodes per week across four weeks. Last time around, eight episodes aired on consecutive nights for two weeks. An accompanying podcast hosted by comedian Ellie Taylor is also said to be in development. Titled "Late Check Out", it will take listeners behind the scenes while offering an exclusive look at The Fortune Hotel's challenges and shock twists. The podcast is subject to funding and has not yet been formally commissioned, according to TVZone. Following series one, ITV confirmed applications and the audition process for next series's hopefuls had begun. Meanwhile, The Fortune Hotel previously faced a "fakery row" concerning the first series. The show came under fire for scenes that viewers felt were scripted/faked for dramatic effect. 'Why do this to us?!' rage The Fortune Hotel viewers as they threaten to boycott show after 'cliffhanger' ending Suspicions were raised on the programme over the validity of scenes after fans spotted a damning pattern between certain contestants. In particular, couples who had been handed the Early Checkout Card - which put them at risk of being kicked out of the Grenada hotel and out of the running for the money. Viewers noticed a streak of those with the Early Checkout card winning challenges and therefore saving their place. A total of 10 couples compete - with only one pair being armed with a briefcase containing the whopper cash prize. Eight suitcases are empty, with one containing the dreaded early checkout card, leading to elimination. From there, the challenge begins in order to find which case the cash is in. The first series saw mother and son Jo-Anne and Will emerge as the winners - but who will follow in their footsteps? The Fortune Hotel airs on ITV1 and ITVX. 4
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Comedian Ellie Taylor: ‘I would love to relax, but there's no capacity'
There aren't enough days in the week for Ellie Taylor. The comedian, actress and TV presenter, who's also a wife and mother of two young children, is currently filming Bake Off: The Professionals, which she co-hosts, and is about to start a two-month long stand-up comedy tour around the UK. And of course she'll be squeezing in as much time as possible with her husband, the Australian TV reporter Phil Black, and their two children, aged six and one. Which leaves no time for anything as luxurious as relaxation. The woman who describes herself as 'a show-off for hire' admits: 'I would love to relax, but there's no capacity – there aren't enough days in the week. 'If I'm not working, I'm in full-time mum mode, so time for myself is very precious and rare. Right now there's very little me-time, but hopefully once the tour's finished, I'll get a bit of time for myself over the summer. I'd like to just chill out a bit – it's been a really busy 18 months, so I'd like to sit and stare at a wall for a little bit.' The tour, Palavering!, which starts in April, is the first time Taylor's been on the road for around four years, and she explains: 'It's a stock-take of what I've been up to in life – it's a new stage for me. I've got another baby, I've turned 41, I've got an air fryer with two drawers – it's all changed. 'So it's talking about that point of early mid-life where everything seems very serious and tricky and full-on, and trying to find the fun within all that. 'It'll be lovely to get back out on the road and do live comedy again, and get a chance to wang on about my life in front of a group of people. It's probably a bit like therapy, which I don't have time for either. So that's what it is – I'm doubling up.' And 'doubling up' to make the most of every situation is something Taylor, 41, is good at – especially with her kids. 'It's always a full-on thing with any parent who works away,' she admits. 'You have to just make it work as much as you can, and take home presents for your children, usually from set which involves a variety pack of Coco Pops or a packet of crisps I've stolen from the green room. But if you brand it as a present, they're very happy. 'I think a lot of parents with young kids are in similar positions, where one moment you're working, or the next your focus is your family. And I'm fine with that. I know it's a stage in life – I love being at home, and I really miss them, so it's lovely to get back and instantly get through the door, put on a load of washing, and pretend to be a horse.' That's one way to get the kids laughing – and Taylor is, of course, better than most mums at that. But what's the secret to getting kids – and her adult audiences – to laugh? 'I'm a big fan of really silly stuff,' she says. 'And I love when I get to the stage with my show where I know it really well, and then I can be a bit more free and silly and whimsical. I really enjoy that bit where I get to be more playful, because people say you forget to play when you grow up. 'As a stand-up, you're so lucky that you get to muck around and behave like a child. That's probably why I like playing with my kids so much, because I'm in my element – they're very up for improv.' Taylor's had another baby – a boy – since she last toured, and admits: 'Two kids is a whole different kettle of fish, for sure. Everyone said it would be a lot of work, and I said 'Yeah, yeah, sure'. And now here I am going ' God, it really is, I really understand. 'I thought it'd be a few more loads of washing a week, maybe making a couple of extra fish fingers. But it's a whole other human and a whole other personality in the house, so yeah, it's really changed things.' But she says it's 'really interesting' having a little boy and seeing how her daughter interacts with him, and happily declares: 'Being a little unit of four is something I still think we're getting used to. He's a year and a bit now, but he's lovely, and it's lovely. 'He's at a really good age, where he's developing before your eyes, especially because I'm away for work so much so I come back and he's learned another little trick – like a puppy. 'Give me a paw, now learn a new one'. Yeah, that's very sweet.' Needless to say, Taylor's hectic work/parenting juggling act means she has little time for exercise – but it's something she does intend to start doing more of when time allows. 'If I can, I try and do some weights, which I quite enjoy, and I've got a Peloton, so I jump on that. But it's so hard when you're busy with kids and work and crazy schedules and filming away and stuff. For me at least, my own fitness becomes the last thing on the list. 'So it's definitely fallen off at the beginning of this year, unfortunately, but hopefully once I finish this block of filming, and I get back just into tour mode, then I'll have some more free time, and I'm really looking forward to it.' She says she 'really enjoyed' a weights program she did on the Peloton last year, and really saw a difference in her body, especially as it was not long after having a baby. 'I'd felt really wibbly and unstable, so I was enjoying feeling strong again. So that's my aim, once I get a bit of time, just to get some muscles back.' Taylor is chatting during a break from filming Channel 4's Bake Off:The Professionals, which she admits is 'a good gig, I won't lie. I love it, it's so much fun.' But fun or not, the crucial question is does she get to eat any of the gorgeous patisserie items the professional pastry chefs make on the show? 'Oh, that's problematic,' she says with a chuckle. 'Yes, I've been scoffing my face – we've got choux pastry today. 'As much as I think I probably shouldn't eat too much, I also think in a few years time, when I'm old and grey, I'll remember when I worked on that lovely show with all the fine patisserie and I'd hate to go 'But you never ate any Ellie did you, because you wanted to make sure you fitted in your trousers.' 'So now I'm like: 'Just give me all the icing, give me all the chocolate'. You've got to have a go, because ultimately, what a sad little life if you're on a baking show and you don't get to eat anything. Where's the fun in that?'
The Guardian
02-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Sunday with Ellie Taylor: ‘there's a lot of pyjama action – we're usually quite unwashed'
Lie-in or early start? Always an early start. My one-year-old has just started sleeping until 6.15am. It feels much later than that because for a long time it was consistently 5am. What time is breakfast? About two minutes after either child gets downstairs. I'll fill the kettle the night before and have a mug ready with a tea bag in it, so it's good to go before I give the baby his bottle. Then it's a video call to Australia to my in-laws, making the baby do his new tricks, high-octane stuff like clapping. Family day or working? It's the only day of the week where we don't have to race out the door to get to school or a dance class, so there's a lot of pyjama action. We're usually quite unwashed on Sundays. There'll be telly, drawing, the park, a little tramp in the woods. Sunday roast? We aren't traditional in that way. I think because my husband is Australian – it doesn't mean anything to him. Sometimes I'll invite ourselves around to my parents and we'll have a lovely dinner. I love a roast when someone else makes it, otherwise it's a lot of faff. Do you have a drink? Way less than the good old days. Maybe a glass of wine, or a vodka and Diet Coke if I really want to push the boat out. Before Christmas we got into the habit of always having a bottle of champagne in the fridge. I might reinstate that. Why save it for celebrating? Let's normalise champagne as a regular drink. Sundays growing up? I think of homework and Antiques Roadshow and car journeys in the dark with condensation on the windows on the way home from seeing family. And the dread of going back to school. When I was older, it would be exactly the same, but with a hangover. Dread Mondays now? Absolutely not. Weekends are so full on with a family. With Monday comes childcare and that is a beacon of hope after an exhausting two days of children. Also I like what I do and I'm keen to get cracking. I feel lucky. Ellie Taylor has teamed up with British Lion eggs to create quick, naturally nutritious meals for busy families (
