Sanditon's Jack Fox and musician Eleanor Fletcher reveal their baby ...

One very happy couple: Eleanor Fletcher and Jack Fox

It’s a marvellous moment of joy at the Fox-Fletcher household, as Sanditon actor, Jack Fox, and his singer-songwriter wife, Eleanor Fletcher, announce the news of their first child exclusively with Tatler. The couple, who have been together for four years and married in 2022, have welcomed baby Scarlett Mary Hazel Fox.

‘I believe there’s a future’ says Fletcher on whether or not she’s managed to sleep just yet as she softly bounces baby Scarlett on her knee, after bringing the baby girl into the world just weeks ago. ‘My wife is an amazing stalwart. Whenever I feel like I haven't slept enough, I then look over at her feeding, and I'm like, “Yeah, I don't know if I have an opinion that I can talk about here”’ Fox jokes.

News of baby Scarlett's birth has been an exciting moment for both of Fox and Fletcher's families

Naturally, a new baby comes with a whole host of new responsibilities, but step one was to find the perfect moniker. ‘I wanted [the name] to be a colour with my surname. There’s this app which is like the baby name version of Tinder. You’re both presented with baby names and you can swipe left or right. We went through quite a lengthy process of that,’ says Fox. ‘You got attached to two names, and luckily I really liked one of them,’ adds Fletcher, ending the conundrum. Middle names, however, were easier to agree on, with the couple already knowing they wanted to honour two important female figures in each of their lives: Mary, after Fox’s late mother, and Hazel, after Fletcher’s late grandmother.

Fox goes behind the scenes at Deakin & Francis's historic Birmingham workshop

It’s an entirely new world for the couple, who are well-renowned for their talents on the acting and music scene but have now become parents for the first time. ‘I’ve never been more social in my entire life,’ says Fletcher. The singer-songwriter is - of course - no stranger to touring, having travelled the world as a vocalist in the pioneering British-Spanish electronic multi-instrument group, Crystal Fighters, on top of embarking on her own solo career, but the past weeks of introducing their newborn to friends and family has been somewhat of a different ride. ‘I’ve managed to do some studio sessions and some shows. It was stressful, but I want to at least try and manage this insane thing that is happening to us, and also keep our identities of our previous life, and find that balance,’ says Fletcher, who confesses the baby tour is somewhat tougher than her usual band tours. ‘Very few people applaud you,’ adds Fox, jokingly.

Musician Eleanor Fletcher may be more used to rocking out on stage than doing the school run, but she's vowed to keep a balance in her life - and has already been to the recording studio and performed live following Scarlett's birth. (Pictured, Fletcher with Crystal Fighters, 2019)

In homage to their newfound joy, the couple have decided to commemorate this milestone with a rather touching heirloom; a signet ring bearing meaningful family ties. ‘I was doing some research into trying to find something to immortalise [this moment] and something we could eventually hand down to Scarlett,’ Fox shares. The historic British jewellers Deakin & Francis, first founded in 1786, is who the couple landed on to create this dazzling tribute. ‘They’re a very heritage-orientated, very beautiful, and very thoughtful brand,’ shares Fox. It was an ideal match.

The Fox family crest has been updated to include touching new design features

The gold ring features the Fox family crest: a design first created by Fox’s grandfather, an inventor who was instrumental in funding the Royal Academy of Music. ‘At first, I didn’t even know what the crest of my family was. My dad probably spoke about it once when were younger very briefly - probably over a cigar and sherry at Christmas - in that sort of British way,’ shares Fox, but luckily the designers at Deakin & Francis were able to source its original design from records and allowed the couple to update its motif with a few new design riffs to celebrate the occasion: Fletcher’s initials and baby Scarlett’s fingers print. ‘It was a little difficult - it’s a process of talcum powder and sellotape,’ says Fox.

The couple travelled up to the jewellery house’s historic Birmingham workshop in order to have this bespoke piece specially created. ‘It was super meaningful. We were part of the making of it; the cutting, the bending, and we were amazed at how thoughtful, caring and talented [the team] are,’ says Fox who admits he is still quite new to jewellery in general. ‘I wear my mum's wedding ring. I never wore jewellery until I had her wedding ring. Then, obviously, I wear my wedding ring, and now I wear this. And so it's sort of the three most important things [in my life]’.

As to when baby Scarlett will be ceremoniously passed down the beautiful bijoux, the couple remain open - but around the 16 years mark seems to be the number in mind. ‘I wonder whether we should give her one made of wood and see if she can keep it for a year - I don’t know, I feel quite mediaeval about it!’ he jokes.

The joyous couple pictured earlier this summer

Looking to the future, the couple ponder what life might be in store for their baby Scarlett. ‘I would never want to push anything on to her, but if she naturally ends up a musician, that’s fine.’ It’s also more than possible - Fletcher herself comes from a long line of talented virtuosos. ‘I went on tour with her at six months [pregnant]. And I do think, being in that environment, all of the loud intensity on stage, she's quite relaxed now around music, but she can be whatever she wants to be,’ says Fletcher. Fox seems less enthused about her becoming an actor, however. ‘I hope she has something more tangible. Maybe she could be an electrician or something!’ he laughs. ‘She does cry like Laurence Olivier could be proud of!’

It’s all a long way off but in the meantime return Fox and Fletcher to raising their happy, healthy new baby - and keeping that stunning signet ring safe for Scarlett when the time comes.

Many happy returns to Jack Fox and Eleanor Fletcher.