Live webchat with Something Special presenter Justin Fletcher, Mon 12 April, 10.30-11.30am

[GeraldineMumsnet]

It's taken a while since you first asked (last July, to be precise!) but we're inordinately pleased to announce that Something Special presenter Justin Fletcher is coming to the Towers for a webchat on Monday 12 April, 10.30-11.30am.

Justin (AKA Mr Tumble) is a BAFTA award-winning presenter and actor, and won the MBE for services to children's broadcasting and the voluntary sector in 2008.

Hope you can join us but if you can't, please post your question for Justin here.

[EVye]

geordieminx - my DDs loved the Show me Show me on tour thing!

[defineme]

Please don't take any notice of the criticism of Nana Knickerbocker - I have to search On Demand for the episodes that have her in-5 yr old twins think she's brilliant!

I have actually banged on to lots of people about how superb Higgledy House was-please bring it back.

[MrsForHowLong]

Justin, Justin ,Justin.....fabulous programs especially Gigglebiz! Something Special raises many questions in our house and my children are very interested in all of the children shown. We all find this a good opportunity to talk about special needs and find it all very normalising.

Do you see yourself as a children's TV presenter when you're as old as Granddad Tumble?

[Lotkinsgonecurly]

My children have loved Something Special or OUt and About as the older one knows it as, Gigglebiz and Higgledy House.

I'm in love with Rapids Johnson but thats another story....

Anyway question: When children meet you do they all start signing? My 3 year old adores you and certain phrases / sayings she always signs aswell as says the word!

[nobodysfool]

Why on earth am i all a fluster typing this?

We all know you are the king of pre school tv and the funniest and most talented person on the planet but my question is on a much more personal level.

Can you tell us something about you that would surprise us.....?

Go on i dare you!

[bubble1]

my 3 kids love mr tumble....please tell me where i can get something special on dvd.

[mumblecrumble]

Wow! THE Justin Fletcher?

WOw!

Hello,
May we have some more higgledy pigglety house please - comedy gold!!! We all love it!

Love that kids of all needs and abilities can join together in loving your work.

Am I right that you do Timmy too???

Look forward to seeing you online.

[foxytocin]

I've started to read back this thread and feel the urge to use the few signs I have learnt from Mr. Tumble.

[YeahBut]

Hi Justin,
No question, but thought you might like to know that Something Special has been really useful in our house in a slightly different way. My parents are both profoundly deaf and as a lot of makaton is similar to BSL, the children have picked up lots of sign that they use with their (delighted) grandparents. It's a great show.

[chacha3]

hi justin would just like to say thanku so so much for giving children an insight into the lifes of children with disabilities, i have a daughter with learning difficulties ans she loves it as well as her two sisters, hope u can carry on with sonething special for many years to come because that programme is definately changing the way disabled children are looked on in society today!!

[wahwah]

Hello Justin

First of all I just want to say what a fantastic job you do of presenting children's programmes and we adore Gigglebiz too. Something Special was the only show I ever let my son watch ( I was very precious, but having another child helped me appreciate the magic of Cbeebies).

Now for the question: How did you get involved with 'Something Special', was it something you were actively seeking, or did it all come together when you got the job? You just seem such a natural, it's a joy to watch and the children on the show really come alive in a way that I don't see much on other programmes.

Anyway, carry on with the good work!

[stillenacht]

bubble 1 - you can get something special from the bbc shop. Its very expensive though .

Please Justin would it be possible that you could have a word with the powers that be and get the price reduced on the Something Special DVDs. Raising a disabled child is, as I am sure you are very aware, very expensive and the price of the DVDs is often double that of equivalent DVDs.

THANKS AGAIN FOR GETTING MY SON TO TALK!!

[Sidge]

I agree Stillenacht - about 75% of my Sky Plus hard drive is Something Special and Gigglebiz - there's no way we could afford all those SS episodes on DVD.

Going back to Gigglebiz characters - I adore Gail Force, Dina Lady and King Flannel

[HollyGoHeavily]

Hi Justin

Another house full of fans here too

I think that you have done excellent work in bringing children who have SN onto television.

What did you think about the negative reaction in some parts of the media and some viewers when Cerrie became a CBeebies presenter? I couldn't believe the comments and ignorance shown about a person with a disability, I guess there is still a long way to go in changing attitudes....

Thanks

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Hello Justin,

Sorry I can't make the webchat but just to say you are great and my DC's adore you. We enjoyed you at Camp Bestival last year and looking forward to seeing you this year.

[motherhood]

Hello Justin,

My DD (20mths) loves all your shows, they're fantastic and the only ones she would actually sit still and watch! My god the amount of Something Special we watch, i can even recite them! Please keep them coming, any plans to tour the UK? Keep up the good work!

[mangoandlime]

Hi Justin

I seem to have seen the lovely pics of your family from an old Tikkabilla programme so many times, every time I comment on how much you look like your Dad!

[MagicNappySack]

Hi Justin,

DD says does Mr Tumble come from a bigger circus? If so, where can we join?

She loves something special & I adore gigglebiz.

I also think it's great to have more children with disabilities on TV. I like the way on SS we see the personalities of the individual children on the show not just their disability. I also like the way it shows disability as just a normal part of everyday life. IYKWIM?

[silverfrog]

Hi Justin,

I too have something special obsessed dds. Like saintlydameMrsTurnip, we took dd1 (5 and ASD) to see you last summer (at legoland). She spent the whole show running up and down oblivious to the stage until you came on. Then she sat down, rivetted, for your whole set. She even tried to join in with the action songs .

Something special was the first tv she would pay attention to (she is especially fond of your collaboration with Singing Hands - any pl ans for anymore?)

we took her to see you in panto last christmas, and again she sat entranced throughout. Tbh, we wouldn't have dared take her if you had 't been in it! Both girls were over the moon to see you so close (front row seats!)

I would like to echo what others have asked - how did you get into working in SN? Have you always had this incredible affinity with children with disabilities (believe me, many have tried to entertain dd1. Most have failed )

oh, and YES PLEASE to potty training stuff from you - you are an absolute god according to my daughters, it would make my life so much easier. (another household where anything Justin related must be good and right, and far better than mummy!)

(we are also going to be at Camp Bestival this summer, so expect two little female shadows for the whole time)

[sphil]

Hi Justin
Won't be there for the webchat but can I second (or third) Coppertop's request that you use your influence to persuade the BBC to bring the price of the SS DVDs down? My son is 7 and severely autistic. He loves the DVDs and plays them repeatedly on a portable DVD player- often rewinding the same section over and over again. (At the moment we are being treated to " I've got a cat and he meows....a lot" ). This is good for his speech but very hard on the disc! We have managed to get some secondhand (thanks 2Shoes!) but they're hard to find, and as CT has said, very expensive new.

I credit SS with teaching my son the connection between a sign, a picture and a word - so thank you!

[MamaGlee]

Hello Justin

I'd like to know what you wanted to be when you grew up, when you were at school

[IvaNighSpare]

Hello Justin,
Thank you for everything!!! (especially those few precious hours I get back each week to facebook do the housework while the DCs are entranced by your shows).
I would love to know what happens when the cameras are switched off. As you spend so much time being the adorable buffoon that appeals to kids, do you feel the need to act very 'adult' when off-duty?
And are the Cbeebies staff Christmas parties the deliciously sordid and depraved affairs my twisted head wants them to be?

[Megatron]

Hello Justin

Firstly, thank you for being the one face on television that will make my two DCs stop in their tracks and actually listen!

Secondly, you must find the reaction to SS very rewarding, did you expect such a great response or has it come as a surprise to you?

[Paranoid1stTimer]

Do you secretly harbour a massive desire to do an adult comedy sketch show? Some of the characters in Gigglebiz remind me of some of the 80's sketch shows - like the DIY Dan reminds me of Kenny Everett's Reg Prescott and Arthur Sleep is very Ronny Barker!

Anyway, our 2 yr old loves you and Gigglebiz - especially the theme tune which he sings full volume!!!

[teaandcakeplease]

Are you doing another series of Higgledy house with Sarah-Jane?

My daughter LOVES that show, she also loves everything else you do as well. You're a firm favourite in this home.