Something Special (TV series)

It is presented by Justin Fletcher ("Justin") and features various other characters and clips of children with disabilities. Justin speaks as well as signing, and a spoken narrative is provided over the clips of children.

The other characters played by Fletcher are the Tumble Family: Mr Tumble, a clown who himself displays delayed learning and communication difficulties, Grandad Tumble, Barry Tumble and Baby Tumble. Other members of the Tumble family to have made appearances include two Aunts – Polly and Suki (as in the popular nursery rhyme "Polly Put the Kettle On"), Lord Tumble and King Tumble.

In series 2, Justin meets a friend named Guy H Pickle, they dance around a mulberry bush.

The creator and producer is Allan Johnston, who worked as a teacher of children with special needs before joining the BBC in 1989, with an important role in the show.

In series 11, 3 animal characters are introduced to the series, Spotty the Horse, who is Mr Tumble's horse that has appeared in the episodes Animals and Animal Keeper, Dennis the T-Rex who is the dinosaur who has only appeared in the episode Dinosaurs, The T-Rex is also a display at Paultons Park where it was filmed, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer who appears for a short period of time in the episode A magical Christmas.

Series 1 and 2 (2003–2007)

Each episode has a duration of approximately 15 minutes. Series 1 was Filmed from November 2003 to January 2004 and Series 2 was Filmed from December 2005 to March 2006

Series 3 "Out and About" (2008)

Series 3, again presented by Justin Fletcher, was produced in 2008. 'Guests' included Mr Tumble, Granddad Tumble, Aunt Polly, Aunt Sukey and Cliff Tumble (a parody of Cliff Richard, with whom Justin has a link through his father). This series was made at various locations across the UK, including Wales, Northern Ireland and England. Each episode has a duration of approximately 20 minutes and features a "Doors" Style (Dropped in Seasons 5, 6 & 7). Series 3 was Filmed from July 2007 to August 2007

Mr Tumble shorts (2009)

From 2009, CBeebies occasionally showed short programmes consisting of the Mr Tumble sections from the various episodes, without the sections featuring Justin. It appears that the BBC may view these programmes as series 3 of Something Special, as the full series which followed is referred to as series 4.

Series 5, 6 and 7 Out and About (2010–2011)

Series 5 of the show followed the Out and About format of series 3, in a "new, daily, week-day, year-round slot designed to provide continuity for its loyal audience" and introduced a new character, Lord Tumble.[1] The series has Mr Tumble and the other Tumble characters primarily based in "Tumble House", a large detached house located in extensive grounds close to the sea, located in Porlock, Somerset. The house and grounds are populated with large coloured spots, balloons and similar circular/spherical items in keeping with the spots on Mr Tumble's costume. The episodes typically feature Mr Tumble sending photographs of items he is interested in finding out about to Justin using his "Spotty Bag". Justin, with the assistance of the children with him, locates these items or activities and in return sends associated items back to Mr Tumble. There is typically a link in the theme between the actions of Mr Tumble and the other Tumble characters, and the activities Justin and the children participate in. Series 5 was Filmed from September 2009 to October 2009 Series 6 was filmed from April 2010 to May 2010 and The Christmas special was fillmed in November 2010 and Series 7 Was filmed from February 2011 to March 2011 NOTE Series 5 Was originally Known as Series 4

Series 8 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2012)

In 2012, a new series, "Something Special – We're All Friends" started,[2] introducing some minor changes to the Out and About format. This format change has also included a change in location, and introduced the "Tumble Tap", a tablet computer and game (the game was available on the CBeebies website but in Early 2017 it was Removed because There was a New one Series 8 was Fillmed from April 2012 to June 2012

Series 9 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2014)

In 2014, a new series, "Something Special – We're All Friends" starring Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble as The Unsmiling Principle featuring Mr Tumble,[3] which sees the Mr Tumble, and introduced the "Tumble Tap in Spotty Bag", and follows him throughout his early life. Series 9 was Fillmed from July 2013 to September 2013

Series 10 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2016)

In 2016, a new series, "Something Special – We're All Friends" starring Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble as The Unsmiling Principle featuring Mr Tumble,[3] which sees the Mr Tumble, and introduced the "Tumble Tap in Spotty Bag", and follows him throughout his early life. Series 10 was Filmed from August 2015 to October 2015

The Tale of Mr Tumble

In March 2016, a theatrical production starring Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble and Ronni Ancona as The Unsmiling Principle featuring Mr Tumble was performed, which sees the Mr Tumble character as a baby and as a young boy, and follows him throughout his early life.

Series 11 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2018)

In 2018, a new series, "Something Special – We're All Friends" starring Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble as The Unsmiling Principle featuring Mr Tumble,[3] which sees the Mr Tumble, and introduced the "Tumble Tap in Spotty Bag", and follows him throughout his early life. Series 11 Was Filmed from July 2017 to September 2017 The Christmas Special Part 2 was Filmed in November 2017 the Prom was Filmed in June 2018

Series 12 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2020)

Series 12 was filmed from July 2019 to September 2019. The Diwali special was filmed in October 2020, just before the 2020 Hederabad floods.

Royal Television Society Educational Television Awards 2004

Awarded Best Early Years Programme (for the episode Garden)[5]

BAFTA Children's Awards 2005

Awarded Best Pre-school Live Action Series[6]

BAFTA Children's Awards 2007

Nominated for Best Presenter (Justin Fletcher)[7]

BAFTA Children's Awards 2008

Awarded Best Presenter (Justin Fletcher)[8]

BAFTA Children’s Awards 2009 Awarded Best Presenter (Justin Fletcher) BAFTA Children’s Awards 2010 Awarded Best Presenter (Justin Fletcher) BAFTA Children’s Awards 2011 Nominated Best Presenter (Justin Fletcher)

• Something Special at BBC Programmes
• Something Special CBeebies Page