Sophie Ellis-Bextor's rocky start with husband after shock pregnancy

18 February 2024 , 17:00

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The popstar met her future husband when he auditioned to be part of her touring band (Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

She's performing her iconic hit song Murder On The Dancefloor at tonight's BAFTAs, but behind the scenes, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor is married to musician Richard Jones and the pair have a funny story about how they met.

Back in 2002, the bass guitarist auditioned to be in Sophie's tour band and they met in a rehearsal studio in North London. "I was like, wow, look at this ethereal, beautiful woman that is way more beautiful in real life than I expected," said Richard, 44.

“I remember thinking: 'I don’t want this to feel awkward or weird' because all the musicians were my peers,” added Sophie, who had shot to fame thanks to her pop hits. "I think I was just trying to be quite chatty and normalise everything."

Sophie and Richard have five children together (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The singer, 43, is referring to her first words to Richard - she memorably said "nice amp" in a compliment to his musical equipment, words that now hang in neon on the wall of his recording studio. The couple have been married for 18 years with five children together.

Back in 2002, Sophie hired Richard, who went on to found the band The Feeling, as part of her backing band and a friendship blossomed on tour. They were both in relationships with other people but feelings began to develop and when they met up a month after the tour finished, they were both single.

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"We wondered if we would feel the same and it was exactly the same," said Richard in an interview with the Guardian. Just eight months after their relationship began, Sophie had their first child Sonny, born two months early.

The couple had son Sonny just eight months after they met (WireImage)

The singer says "liking each other is underrated" (Getty Images)

Sophie’s famous mother, former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, was on hand to advise on the surprise pregnancy, saying: "It might not be the right time, it might not be the right man, but it’s the right baby." And thankfully it was the right man, with Sophie saying: "I really like Richard as well as loving and fancying him and I think liking each other is an underrated element of relationships."

Vikki White