Lance Ellington
Lance Ellington, born on 22 June 1957 in London, is an English singer, songwriter and actor. He is the son of band leader Ray Ellington and TV presenter Anita West. He specializes in swing and big ballads and has worked with stars like Sting, George Michael, Gloria Gaynor, Steps, Michael Jackson and Robbie Williams. He often performs on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.
In 1977, he won the New Faces final as part of the duo Koffee ’n’ Kreme with Beth Hannah. He later toured with Johnny Mathis and appeared in the Royal Variety Show. He has worked as a session singer for many artists and contributed to several albums. He sang “Love You Too,” the main theme for the 1988 film Thieves of Fortune.
His solo work includes studio albums and stage appearances, and he has written songs for Steps and Westlife. In 1993, his single “Lonely (Have We Lost Our Love)” reached number 57 on the UK charts. He also sang a duet with Cathy Dennis for the Robin Hood: Men in Tights soundtrack. In 2004, he played his late father in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.
Since 2012, Ellington has been the resident vocalist on Strictly Come Dancing. That year, he performed in the James Bond 50th Anniversary Gala Concert with Mary Carewe, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and later on TV. He has two daughters, Lauren and Lois, who have appeared in West End productions.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:34 (CET).