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Original poster

Do your kids know that Justin is Mr Tumble?

61 replies

OhWhatAPalaver · 10/01/2019 17:02

My partner unintentionally broke the news to my 7 year old dd that Justin does Mr Tumble and all the other characters in Something Special. She had no idea. Is my 7 year old unusual in this respect? As my partner was flabbergasted that she didn't realise. He thinks that surely all children know this. I think he is being a bit presumptuous. Would be interested to know what others think!

OP posts:
RedWineIsFabulous · 10/01/2019 21:29

I am not sure but Justin is someone my husband knows personally so we just say that Justin’s on the telly again!

He’s been in loads and is very very good at what he does.

Grin
missmouse101 · 10/01/2019 21:32

Ooh! I really, really do rather fancy Justin....GrinBlush

3luckystars · 10/01/2019 21:33

I know he is probably some kind of saint, but there is something about him that feels funny.
Not haha funny.
(Not Jimmy Saville funny either though)
Just i imagine when the camera stops rolling he hits the drink or shouts like Elton John at people.

Interested in this thread?

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7 year olds
icantthinkofamnusername · 10/01/2019 21:33

Oh missmouse I’m with you on that one

SarahAndQuack · 10/01/2019 21:33
Confused

You fancy Justin?

He's a middle-aged man with a beer belly and awful hair.

ChariotsofFish · 10/01/2019 21:35

My 7 year-old just noticed this! I thought that was really late to work it out, but maybe not

SarahAndQuack · 10/01/2019 21:35

And YY, 3lucky, I agree. He seems perfectly legit and good at his job, but I would be utterly unsurprised if it turned out he gets home and gets arse-faced and grim. He just seems so very forced about it all.

3luckystars · 10/01/2019 21:35

Maybe she is too?

horizontilting · 10/01/2019 21:37

I seem to recall him getting a fair few proposals of marriage when he did a webchat on here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_live_events/a942660-Live-webchat-with-Something-Special-presenter-Justin-Fletcher-Mon-12

AhhhHereItGoes · 10/01/2019 21:39

My then 3 year old DD1 told me this and expected I may be unaware.

I think she may have been just very perceptive though.

n0ne · 10/01/2019 21:49

My nearly 6yo thinks they're brothers or twins

Original poster
OhWhatAPalaver · 10/01/2019 23:07

I'm more partial to Andy Day than Justin. Justin seems sort of asexual. It's weird Confused I think he probably dresses up as aunt polly at home and eats all the food Grin

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 11/01/2019 00:42

I didn't know it was meant to be a secret. We played "Spot Justin" from when my DCs were tiny (toddling and pointing, very early speech), he was everywhere in lots of disguises.

ladybirdsaredotty · 11/01/2019 04:33

I also didn't know it was meant to be a secret. I remember DP alluding to the fact when DD1 and 2 were maybe 3 and 6. They were both ConfusedHmm and didn't believe him Grin

ladybirdsaredotty · 11/01/2019 04:35

Actually they were probably 3 and 5.

Commonwasher · 11/01/2019 05:11

Coincidence that you ask OP, my 8yo DS explained to his little sister (4), over dinner this very evening: ‘Well, you see, there are actually twins. Justin who does the singing has got a twin who dresses up as Mr Tumble and all the Gigglebits people...’.

Lilsquish · 11/01/2019 05:17

cant stand him. DD is only 2 and im dreading her starting to watch his programs!

Her0utdoors · 11/01/2019 06:37

Dd is 5, when ds was about 18 months he started calling Justin and all his characters 'red nose'. Dd is still furious at her brother and his lies.

UncleFailBOOT · 11/01/2019 07:15

I've a massive soft spot for Justin/Mr Tumble; not because I fancy him or owt but because he was the first person that DS actually engaged with and showed reciprocal behaviour. Mr Tumble waved to the camera and DS actually waved back I may have cried

I think I mentioned to DS when he was older about Justin's different personas and he just nodded in a matter of fact way with no surprise

CuppaSarah · 11/01/2019 07:18

My 5 year old figured it out last week, but wasn't confident. I pretended I thought they were different people, now she's not sure/doesn't want to spoil it for me.

Happyandshiney · 11/01/2019 07:27

How interesting! It never occurred to me that anyone would ever think it’s different people, my two always knew, even from they were quite tiny.

But then I got a bit of a surprise when my friend said she was keen to take her 5 yo DD to Disney world while she still believed the character actors were “real”. I quickly shut my mouth because I’m pretty sure my two have never believe they were real.

I seem to have accidentally raised sceptics! Grin

OP I’ve met Andy Day and he was incredibly nice to my children and extremely gracious about being interrupted by two small fans. He really made their day.

notdancingbutplodding · 11/01/2019 07:38

I took DD to see Andy’s live show when she was about 6. We sat in the front row and when I didn’t join in enthusiastically with the audience clapping he gave me such a direct look of reproach. It was hilarious and endearing at the same time because he was taking it so seriously for the kids. Quite right too!

Jaxtellerswife · 11/01/2019 07:49

I love Justin, I used to cringe at him years ago but now I've had children and watched him (plus seen him at butlinsGrin) I see he's a real trailblazer for inclusion and introducing children to differences and makaton communication. Top man

DoingMyBest2010 · 11/01/2019 07:50

Ah Mr Tumble. My DD used to be hooked on Something Special. Good old Justin, I also loved the Makathon sign language he uses, I do miss those days! But now I hear he's also Shaun the Sheep?!

Jaxtellerswife · 11/01/2019 07:58

He is. And I realised the other day that one of our toy toot toot car things is him too lol.