Justin Fletcher

Justin Fletcher, MBE (born 15 June 1970 in Reading, England [cite news | date=2008-06-13 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7453611.stm | title= Children's TV star appointed MBE | publisher=BBC News | accessdate=2008-06-15] ) is a children's TV personality in the United Kingdom. He is also the son of Guy Fletcher, a British songwriter, who wrote songs for many singers, such as Cliff Richard and The Beatles.

Fletcher is a presenter and actor who appears on the BBC pre-school television channel CBeebies and performs a number of roles, both speaking and performing. He is well known for appearing in Tikkabilla, Something Special as Mr Tumble and Higgledy House. He also provides the voice for characters within Tweenies (as Jake and Doodles), Boo! as Growling Tiger and Sleeping Bear, amongst others, Finley the Fire Engine (Miguel) and Toddworld animation programme.

In spring 2006, Fletcher appeared on the CBeebies version of the BBC programme "Springwatch" where he presented alongside Jelly (from The Story Makers) and PC Plum (from Balamory) among others.

He is also a relief continuity presenter for CBeebies' presentation links and regularly performs on the CBeebies radio station on BBC Radio 7.

Outside of CBeebies

Fletcher is the voice narrator on the children's Train Ride at Animal Farm Country Park near Burnham-on-Sea, he appeared in Thomas the Tank Engine arena tour (as Harold), BBC Radio 4 and also pantomime. He has previously appeared in "Fun Song Factory" for ITV.

Justin owns a production company - Scrumptious House Ltd. With this company, he has released a DVD called "Let's Sing Nursery Rhymes with Justin Fletcher." Currently in production is the sequel to this DVD, "Let's Sing Nursery Rhymes Part 2." No official release date has been given.

Justin also voices for the new CITV channel programme called Jim Jam and Sunny where he is the voice of both Jim Jam and Slim the cowardly giraffe. Justin also does the voice of Chubba on CBBC show BB3B. Justin is the voice on the V-Tech Alphabet Desk and the V-Tech Bob the Builder Phone.

3575 people signed a petition calling on the current Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to give Justin an OBE.

The petition states: “Justin Fletcher is a communication genius. He both entertains and educates our children and does this with intelligence and panache without patronising. Programmes like Something Special can only help bridge the gap that sometimes sadly appears between able and not so able bodied people in our society and help banish the unkindness that disabled people sometimes face due to ignorance.”

The public were asked to vote on the Prime Minister's website, and the petition deadline passed on September 30 2007.

He 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". [LondonGazette |issue=58729 |date=14 June 2008 |startpage=16 |supp=yes |notarchive=yes]

Information sources

* [http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Cbeebies/ Petition to give Justin Fletcher an OBE]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1017994/board/nest/61086872 DoB Sourced from IMDb Message board for Justin Fletcher (Registration Required to view)]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/14_06_08_hons_full.pdf Details of the Queen's Birthday Honours List of June 14th 2008]

References

Persondata
NAME=Fletcher, Justin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Television presenter
DATE OF BIRTH=15 June 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH=Reading, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=