Ellen 'wants kids when things slow down'

Ellen DeGeneres would make a "great mother" says friend.

It was recently reported that the chat show host's partner Portia de Rossi wanted to have children in the hope that it would strengthen their marriage following an alleged rocky patch for the pair. But now it seems the desire for offspring isn't one sided.

"Ellen has always said that she wants to have children with Portia one day, but she wants to wait until things slow down for her,” a source told Radar Online. “Ellen will be a great mother!”

The 56-year-old and the Arrested Development actress have been surrounded by speculation in recent months that all is not well in their near six year marriage. It follows reports Portia entered a rehabilitation centre for a 30-day treatment to deal with drug and alcohol issues and a series of blazing rows between the pair.

But their relationship appears to now be back on track.

"Ellen is so good with kids and when a friend is having a baby, she loves to shower the mom with gifts,” the insider continued.

“She is very generous with others kids, so one can only expect that it will be the same when she has one of her own. Whenever Ellen encounters a baby, she has them laughing in seconds because she starts making funny faces and doing her cartoon voices with the kid."

Ellen and Portia will celebrate their six year anniversary next month after marrying at their Beverly Hills home in 2008 in front of friends and family.