Justin Fletcher

Fletcher worked for Sounds Good in Theale as a cassette duplicating machine operator and generally amused his co-workers with his characterisations.

While in his final year studying drama at the Guildford School of Acting, Fletcher started to regularly watch Phillip Schofield in the BBC1 broom cupboard with Gordon the Gopher, and decided that a career in children's television was for him.[4] He then met Phillip Schofield, who suggested that he should make a show reel to showcase to TV executives.

Having sketched out various comedic characters, he put together a show reel called Justin Time, which encompassed two different characters: Anna Conda, a myopic reptile-house warden; and Arthur Sleep, a regional newsreader who has difficulty staying awake and can sleep anywhere no matter what.[4] Both characters would later be used for his CBeebies show Gigglebiz.[4] Sent to various broadcasters and production companies his first TV show after graduation was Fun Song Factory for GMTV, working with Dave Benson Phillips (he had earlier done Playdays on the stage after its cancellation, playing the character of Mr. Jolly).[5]

He was part of the Tikkabilla programme, out of which was spun Higgledy House, a slapstick comedy for children with Sarah-Jane Honeywell, which progressed to the very popular Mr Tumble. Fletcher has also voiced the characters of Doodles and Jake in Tweenies, Miguel in Finley the Fire Engine, Sleeping Bear and Growling Tiger in CBeebies' Boo!, with additional voices in Todd World, Shaun the Sheep and Timmy Time. In 2006 Fletcher became a presenter on CBeebies but left in 2007.

Through his own production company, Fletcher developed Something Special, which he presents while signing in Makaton, a type of sign language.[6]

In November 2008, CBeebies aired three different pilots made by Fletcher, with the possibility of one of them becoming a full-time series. They were called Humphrey the Painter, Gigglebiz and Captain Adorable. In January 2009, an announcement by CBeebies was made that Gigglebiz would become the regular show, starting in September 2009, with the Humphrey and Captain Adorable characters being included, which was now a series of character-based comedy sketches linked by jokes told by children.[4][7]

His voice over work for CBBC includes voicing Harold from Thomas the Tank Engine, which he has performed on BBC Radio 4, arena tour and pantomime. Fletcher is a relief continuity presenter for CBeebies' presentation links and regularly performed on the CBeebies radio station on BBC Radio 7 until its change to BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2011.

Fletcher also appears as himself along with a range of animated characters in the Bee Bright series of award-winning educational DVDs.[8]

He also occasionally appears in a show called The Hollies School.

In October 2011, CBeebies began broadcasting Justin's House starring Fletcher with Steven Kynman[9] as "Robert the Robot" and Jane Deane as "Dee Livery".[10] The show is based in Justin's fictional house, and recorded live in front of a studio audience.

Episode ratings from BARB.[11]

Starting in 1998 Fletcher presented the Fun Song Factory for the GMTV series for a year as his first full-time presenting role. He later returned to the show in 2004, as the voice of Ozzy.

He owns a production company, Scrumptious House, which has released a DVD called Let's Sing Nursery Rhymes with Justin Fletcher.

In the CITV channel programme Jim Jam and Sunny, he is the voice of both Jim Jam and Slim the cowardly giraffe.

His voice appears on the VTech Alphabet Desk, Turn and Learn Driver and the Bob the Builder phones, the children's train ride at Animal Farm Country Park near Burnham-on-Sea, and a number of Crick Software titles.[12]

From December 2009 to January 2010, Fletcher played the character Buttons in Cinderella at the Capitol Theatre in Horsham, West Sussex.[13] From December 2010 to January 2011, he played the character Josh the Jester in the pantomime Sleeping Beauty at The Hexagon theatre in Reading, Berkshire.[14] From December 2011 to January 2012, he played the character Wishy Washy in the pantomime Aladdin at the Hexagon theatre in Reading.[15] In recent years he has performed in 2 pantomimes in Woking, 7 pantomimes in Reading and returns in 2018 for the panto Aladdin again at the Hexagon.[16] In 2019 Fletcher starred as Buttons in Cinderella which he also wrote.

He also attends festivals such as Camp Bestival in Dorset to entertain children. Justin is a patron for Bournemouth-based performing arts school Stagewise.

His debut album Hands Up the Album reached number 16 in the UK Albums Chart on 11 March 2012. In March 2013 he released his second album, Best Friends. In January 2015 he released his third album, Just Party.

On 12 September 2015 he appeared on Pointless Celebrities, and got knocked out in the second round.

Fletcher presented a daily radio show on Fun Kids weekdays from 9 am to 10 am called Justin's Word.

Fletcher was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to "children's broadcasting and the voluntary sector". [17]

• BAFTA Children's Awards 2007[18]

• Nominated as Best Presenter for Something Special

• BAFTA Children's Awards 2008[19]

• Awarded Best Presenter for Something Special

BAFTA Childrens Awards 2009

Awarded Best Presenter for Something Special and Bee Bright

• BAFTA Children's Awards 2010[20]

• Awarded Best Presenter for Something Special
• Nominated Best Performer for Gigglebiz

• BAFTA Children's Awards 2011[21]

• Nominated Best Presenter for Something Special

• BAFTA Children's Awards 2012[22]

• Awarded the Flynn Rossiter award for entertainment