Justin Fletcher - the interview!!! Plus a fabulous giveaway

Sometimes as a blogger, the most amazing opportunities land in your inbox.

When I found out I was to interview Justin Fletcher by telephone, a veritable god of children’s TV,  I think I was even more excited than Ruby!  What to ask the great man?  The BAFTA award winning Justin Fletcher MBE is used to being interviewed by experienced journalists and radio presenters, so sparing the time to speak to me, in a busy Cornish café with dodgy mobile reception and a hyper pre-schooler had the potential to go horribly wrong.

Hearing he was running a little late from his interview with Richard Bacon on BBC radio 5 Live did nothing to calm my nerves, but luckily Justin is a pro – so at least one of us involved was!

As you’d expect, he was supremely modest and lovely, and was pleased to hear that we are fans of his new album ‘Hands Up’.  I asked him what the thinking was behind making the familiar songs so up-tempo and high energy and he explained that the song choice came from his live shows.  He took his cue from the songs which were best received and got lots of audience participation, and as he’d wanted to make an album the whole family could join in and sing along with – a real party feel.

Justin has seen the viral video of the fitness routine by Steve Teasdale and thinks it’s brilliant!  I asked him how he felt about a growing number of parents using his album as a fitness tool and did he ever imagine he’d become a fitness guru?

He seemed to find this most amusing and said he really didn’t think he had the physique to be a fitness guru – whilst he is a member of a gym he rarely gets time to go and his locker key now has cobwebs on.  He explained that he gets all his exercise from his slapstick routines and from the live show.  The show finale, Hands Up is always a very physical moment on stage.

I told him how much we love Something Special.  I particularly remember the episode filmed at the Children’s Trust in Tadworth, and explained how his use of Makaton has helped Ruby communicate with children with special needs.  I asked him how he thought the programme has changed children’s and parent’s perception of other children with special needs.

Clearly (and rightly) he’s immensely proud of his work in this area.  He was thrilled when the initial pilot episode became an overnight success and more shows were commissioned.  He feels that the decision to take the show ‘out and about’ was the best thing for the programme – it has made the children themselves the stars of the show, and gives children a voice through signing where they might otherwise have had none.  He was very complimentary about the Children’s Trust which he described as a ‘fantastic place’.  Something Special is the only show on cBeebies which has a protected slot – 9.45 every weekday morning.  I think it’s brilliant the BBC have taken into account that a lot of SEN kids have a real need for routine and familiarity, and by keeping the show’s schedule constant, parents and children can always rely on it being there.

I asked him if he knew Makaton before Something Special or whether he’d learnt it specifically for the show.  Amazingly he said that although he’d heard of it, having been around for several decades, he didn’t know a single sign.  He undertook a 2 week crash course and mastered 3-400 signs in that time.

We spoke briefly about children’s TV when we were kids.  Johnny Ball is credited with helping a generation understand maths, Tony Hart inspiring art and Johnny Morris is forever remembered for his work with animals and conservation.  I wondered what Justin hoped his legacy would be?

Supremely modest, he said he’d never even thought about his career in those terms.  He’s been doing a job he loves for 17 years and still has a lot more to give.  He told me his childhood idols were the likes of Brian Cant and Derek Griffiths, but felt that if he could be remembered for the work he did on Something Special, then it couldn’t get better than that.

Justin is so instantly recognizable to kids and adults alike I wondered how this impacted on his day-to-day life.  I have visions of him getting mobbed by pre-schoolers every time he goes to buy a pint of milk!  He did admit that if he nips to the supermarket is an old pair of sweat pants, he might pull on a baseball cap in the hope he doesn’t get spotted looking like that, but on the whole he welcomes approached and feedback.  He said he does often get recognized and gets attention, but that it’s all good.

Wearing a waistcoat in honour of the great man

At last is was My Shadow’s turn to ask a question.  She’d been practicing hard but I feared she would clam up and go shy.  She didn’t.  She did amazingly well and I was so proud.  She did have to repeat herself as she has a tendency to hold the phone at arm’s length, but she asked him what his favourite song on the album was.  He replied that his absolute favourite was ‘Hand’s up’ but he also really liked Heads, shoulders, knees and toes.  Ruby loves these two as well, but her favourite is 10 in the bed.

Justin is a busy guy at the moment.  Not only has his new album just released, there are new series planned and he's performing in the UK tour of the CBeebies Live show - Reach to the Stars.

Photo credit: BBC CBeebies Live!

Along with a host of other favourites including Andy, Phil, Katy and Mister Maker, the show promises to be an all action; all singing and dancing star-filled spectacular.


I have one family ticket to giveaway (read below for venue/date/time) along with a copy of Justin Fletcher's new CD and a signed photograph.  To enter, simply leave me a comment stating which is your child's favourite Justin Fletcher role - do they love Justin's House, or are they fans of Mr Tumble?  Perhaps Gail Force or Anna Conda gets them giggling?


For a bonus entry, you can tweet the following and leave another comment here saying you have done so: "I'm entering with @missielizzieb to #win a family ticket to #CBeebies Live, Justin Fletcher's album & signed photo http://bit.ly/zfVolw.


This competition will close at 12 noon on Wednesday 21st March 2012.  The winner must respond and provide postal details within 3 days or I reserve the right to re-draw.  The ticket for CBeebies Live will be a family ticket (for 4 persons max) for Wembley Arena, on Sunday 1st April 2012, the 5pm show.  The ticket is not transferable.  Please make sure you leave a suitable method of contact so I can let you know if you've won!

I'd like to say a MASSIVE thank you to Justin and his team for setting this up. 

Please note, I am not responsible for any changes, alterations or cancellations to the planned shows or tickets offered.