Live webchat with Justin Fletcher, Friday 17th December 12 - 1pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We're very happy that Justin Fletcher is joining us again for a live webchat on Friday lunchtime between 12 and 1 pm. Justin needs no introduction to mumsnetters, who enjoyed a fab webchat with Mr Tumble back in April. Justin is here in his role as a Patron of Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK who have been supported by Cadbury since 2009. This year through the launch of Wishes Cadbury will donate 10% of all profits from the product to Make-A-Wish. Put the date in your diary for Friday midday and if you can't make it, post a question in advance to this thread.

Run, run for your life! Get out while you still can!

Justin, what have you done to my household?!

DS1 is obsessed by Gigglebiz, has learnt lots of your jokes and constantly has his nose in a joke book.
DS2 meanwhile is more of your physical clown.

And "You spiceracks!" has become the jovial insult of choice.

Oh hello Justin! My DH and DS think you are genius! I think you are fab. We need a Mr Tumble smiley.

I often wonder when I am watching Something Special - did you always plan to end up working as a children's TV presenter? Actually I wonder that about all children's TV presenters, especially Big Cook, Little Cook!

Dear Justbin (as my son always called you),

Did you train as a mime artist?

hey justin just wanted to say your a brilliant presenter whenever gigglebiz come on all my children (3,2 and 1)are glued to the screen!

Aw Justin, you are really fab.
How did your face get to be so mobile?
lots of love and merry christmas
me and DS123
xxx

My 2 yr old daughter LOVES Mr Tumble, are you likely to be out and about in the Staffordshire area in the coming year as I would love to bring her along to see you. I'm not familiar with Festivals so wouldn't know where to begin with them.
She learnt to communicate very early using the signing on Something Special and it alleviated a lot of frustation for her before her speech developed properly.
Personally, I have a soft spot for Arthur Sleep in Gigglebiz but thats my guilty plesure :)

I'd love to ask a question but I'm too busy giggling a blushing like a schoolgirl......

My kids quite like you too

hi Justin, my husband and son love you equally. I'm rather fond too. Congrats on another fantastic year and

Our question is - when will there be some more merchandise please? It's refreshing to see someone successful NOT immediately churn out all sorts of stuff, but some t shirts or books would be smashing. Any chance?

And a quick cheeky second question if I may, we're booked for the very last 1pm (Sun 2 Jan) matinee of Sleeping Beauty, and would LOVE a name check for our 3 yr old (Last year Horsham let us email requests in, and you made our year in reading our message out). Any chance you could say hallo to Chubby Cheesecakes and grandad taxi? please?

Hi Justin, my 2 year old daughter absolutely loves you, as does my mother who has worked with a lot of disabled children and thinks the work you do is very important.

No questions from me, just wanted to add to the praise being heaped on you

Oh wait, I've just thought of a question- where do you get the inspiration for your Gigglebiz characters, are any of them based on real people?

Justin,
Thank you for normalising signing among toddlers - even if ds age 2.3 is waking up at 6am demanding to see 'Dustin'...

Question: what do you think about the funding cuts and effects on deaf education?

For example, Bristol is cutting a large amount of it's deaf services to adults and children. The children's deaf school and youth centre are being closed. The Centre for Deaf Studies at Bristol Uni is under threat and may close.
Other authorities are trying to fob deaf children off without qualified Teachers of the Deaf to support them in mainstream schools, and there's great resistance to statementing a child before entering school, arguing that the child should start school and only be assessed when they have problems, but it's obvious a profoundly deaf child is going to need help!

What can be done to improve services given that funding is being cut everywhere?
Petition has more info at www.gopetition.com/petition/41309.html

Hi Justin You are like a god to DD (2.3) who adores you and would watch you all day if she could.
Just wanted to thank you for being such a brilliant person and a pleasure to watch (especially love Cliff Tumble and Lord Tumble)

My questions is about live performances - any thoughts of a live tour? Mr Tumble Live on Tour? Tickets would sell out faster than Take That I'm sure!

Ooh yes! A something Special/Mr Tumble tour!! Please come up to Scotland tho - we like you here too!
Cliff Tumble is fab!!
My question is...are you coming to Scotland next year? My DS would LOVE to meet you!

We love you Justin,
Especially my dd2,3.9,who is non-verbal,she has just started to makaton sign alot& is glued to your fantastic programme every day!!
you do a wonderful job bringing awareness of children with special needs into the mainstream.
Thank you from us all

Justin you are wonderful, we adore you here chez Sidge. Thank you for bringing children with special needs and disabilities onto mainstream TV.

DD2 has complex SN and has used Makaton since she was about 2.5, she's now 6.10. I would say 99% of our Makaton vocab has come from Something Special!

She loves SS so much we have to make programming our Sky Plus box part of our morning routine.

Is there any way of getting a signed photo for her from your agent? Please please pretty please

We love you Justin :)

DD1 has SN is non verbal and has been using makaton from the age of 3. Something Special really captured her imagination and helped open a whole new world. At 8, she has between 5-600 signs and communicates really well.

Thanks for making signing accessible, interesting and fun for all your viewers!!

Oh, and you're welcome to come to wonkeydonkey's for a ski-ing Something Special, we have a fab little sn group and Aunt Suki would love it!!

Merry Christmas

Justin - you are a megastar in our house too. My DS (NT/2.1) has been addicted to Something Special since he was one and calls my laptop 'TUMBLE!!!' as that's where he watches the show on iPlayer.

I was made very proud the other day when a lady approached him with his nanny in a cafe and asked where he learned Makaton signing.

My favourite Gigglebiz character is Dina Lady - especially her camera asides.

So my question is the same as the others - will there be a Something Special Tour and if not are you making any appearances in the London Area soon?

Hi Justin! We adore all the work you do in our house, think it's fantastic.
Especially Gigglebiz - Captain Adorable and Rapids Johnson are our favourites
You've got my son hiding his bears and i've even had to buy him a stick on moustache!!
Oh and many congratulations on your childrens BAFTA awards too, very well deserved.
Question : How does it feel to be somewhat of a sex symbol? And how do you manage to keep grounded? Does all this praise ever go to your head? As you come across as the type of person who is very down to earth.
Thanks for your time, keep up the good work and see you in panto on the 29th December!!

xxx

Hi Justin
Another poster lavishing praise on Something Special. Cliff Tumble is the best!

Are you a classically trained actor? How did you get into children's tv? Sorry 2 questions but they are on the same theme kind of!

Wish I'd know you were in panto, ah well maybe next year.

I saw your name in the credits of Shaun the Sheep. Is it you? And whose voice do you do??

Hello Justin,

More fans of your work here.

Would you make a personal appearance at a birthday party?

I will be thirty three next year.

Happy Christmas to you.