Justin Fletcher

Justin Fletcher MBE (born 15 June 1970)[1] is an English actor, children's television presenter and comedian on the BBC pre-school television channel CBeebies.[2] speaking and performing in various, often self-created, roles. He specialises in slapstick comedy and works with children with special needs through his show Something Special. Fletcher also appeared as the award-winning comedian, Mr Tumble.

Justin Fletcher

Born (1970-06-15) 15 June 1970
Occupation
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • presenter
Notable work
Fun Song Factory
Tweenies
Tikkabilla
Something Special
Shaun the Sheep
Gigglebiz
Justin's House
Tiny Tumble
Jollywobbles
Gigglequiz
AwardsBAFTA Children's Awards 2008 Best Presenter

Biography

Born in Reading, Berkshire, he attended Theale Green School. He has three sisters and one brother. He currently lives in Winnersh, Wokingham, Berkshire.[3] He is also the cousin of Dire Straits keyboardist Guy Fletcher.

Career

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]

BBC and CBeebies

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.

Justin's House

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.

Ratings

Episode ratings from BARB.[11]

Episode no.AirdateTotal viewersShareCBeebies weekly ranking
18 October 2011675,0007.1%2
29 October 2011716,0007.8%1
315 October 2011535,0006.0%5
416 October 2011744,0007.8%1
522 October 2011570,0006.8%6
623 October 2011715,0006.3%1
729 October 2011634,0004.2%1
830 October 2011497,0008.0%5
95 November 2011464,0005.3%5
106 November 2011527,0005.7%1
1112 November 2011526,0006.7%6
1213 November 2011Under 485,0003.3%Outside Top 10
1319 November 2011537,0006.5%4
1420 November 2011Under 497,0005.8%Outside Top 10
1526 November 2011Under 461,0005.5%Outside Top 10
1627 November 2011489,0005.4%4
173 December 2011Under 486,0006.1%Outside Top 10
184 December 2011510,0004.0%5
1910 December 2011409,0006.3%3
2011 December 2011572,0006.1%1
2315 December 2011800,0006.4%2
2117 December 2011Under 581,0006.3%Outside Top 10
2218 December 2011Under 581,0003.3%Outside Top 10

Other work

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.

Awards

Orders of Chivalry

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]

Professional awards

  • 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


Filmography

Years Programme Role
1998–2004 Fun Song Factory Himself (Presenter), Ozzy (voice only, 2004 version)
1999–2002 Tweenies Jake and Doodles (Voice Only)
1999 Legoland Jonathan Ablebody (Voice only)
2000 Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge Swampy (Voice Only)
Chicken Run video game Rocky and Fetcher (voice only)
2002–07 Tikkabilla Himself (Presenter)
2003–2006 Boo! Growling Tiger and Sleeping Bear (voice only)
2007–10 CBeebies on BBC Radio 7 Himself (Presenter)
2002 Higgledy House Himself
2003-present Something Special Himself, Mr Tumble and various characters
2006–07 CBeebies Continuity Links Himself (Presenter)
2006 ToddWorld Pickle (UK dub), Additional voices
CBeebies Springwatch Himself (Presenter)
Jim Jam and Sunny Jim Jam and Slim the cowardly giraffe (voice only)
2007–16 Shaun the Sheep Shaun, Timmy (Season 1-5 onwards) (voice only)
2007-9 Yo Gabba Gabba! Brobee, Plex (UK dub)
2008 Famous 5: On the Case Timmy and Smidgie (voice only) [23]
2007 Finley the Fire Engine Miguel and other characters (UK dub, voices only)
2008 Green Balloon Club Himself (Original Workprints & Launch Pilot)
2009– Gigglebiz Various characters
2009–12 Timmy Time Timmy, Yabba the Duck, Finlay the Fox and others (voice only)
2010 Jollywobbles Mr Jolly
2011 Olly the Little White Van Olly (voice only)
2011–2017 Justin's House Himself
2015 Shaun the Sheep Movie Shaun and Timmy (voice only)
Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas
2019 A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
GiggleQuiz Various characters

Live performances

1997 Playdays Mr Jolly (live stage show only)

References

  1. "Children's TV star appointed MBE". BBC News. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  2. "BBC CBeebies website". 20 September 2009. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  3. "BBC - CBeebies Presenters - Justin". Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  4. "Interview: Justin Fletcher on Gigglebiz". CBeeBies. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  5. "Interview: Justin Fletcher". CBBC. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  6. "Justin Fletcher is Something Special". 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  7. "Gigglebiz Homepage". 20 September 2009. Archived from the original on 9 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  8. "Bee Bright". Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  9. "BBC - CBeebies - Justin's House". Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  10. "Jane Deane Home Page". Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  11. "Top 10 Programmes - BARB". Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  12. "Clicker Books @home". Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  13. Hewitt, Phil (4 December 2009). "PANTOMIME: All the major pantos in West Sussex and further afield". Midhurst and Petworth Observer. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  14. "Justin Fletcher to star in Hexagon panto". 3 March 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  15. "Madge Bishop to star alongside Justin Fletcher in Aladdin". Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  16. "Aladdin 2018". www.readingarts.com. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  17. "No. 58729". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2008. p. 16.
  18. "Past Winners and Nominees - Children's - Awards - 2007". BAFTA. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  19. "Past Winners and Nominees - Children's - Awards - 2008". BAFTA. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  20. "Past Winners and Nominees - Children's - Awards - 2010". BAFTA. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  21. "Past Winners and Nominees - Children's - Awards - 2011". BAFTA. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  22. "Past Winners and Nominees - Children's - Awards - 2012". BAFTA. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  23. "Justin Fletcher IMDB Profile". Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  24. Thomas H Green (31 July 2009). "Camp Bestival: punks, travellers and my mum and dad". The Daily Telegraph. London, England. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  25. "Ellie Goulding, Tinie Tempah and The Gruffalo for Camp Bestival". eFestivals. Bristol, England: NRG Internet Ltd. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  26. "Fall in love with Mr Tumble at Harvest at Jimmy's". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich, England: Archant. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  27. "Camp Bestival '12". eFestivals. Bristol, England: NRG Internet Ltd. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  28. Sketchanet. "Camp Bestival 2016 - Kids - Mr Tumble". Retrieved 21 May 2016.
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