Justin Fletcher, best known as Mr Tumble, has been a staple of children's television for over two decades. The CBeebies entertainer, who was awarded an MBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II, is famous for his sell-out tours and keeps his personal life largely out of the spotlight, but he has occasionally offered glimpses into his home life and upbringing.
His childhood saw frequent relocations because his father, Guy Fletcher, was a sought-after music writer. The family often moved and regularly hosted famous musicians at home. Justin is the second-oldest of five children, with a 12-year age gap to his youngest sibling. He told his father at an early age that he wanted to pursue acting and drama studies.
Net Worth
Justin has presented CBeebies shows such as Gigglebiz and Justin's House, but his most significant achievement remains Something Special, a programme created to support children with communication difficulties using Makaton signs, speech and symbols. His characters have turned into a multi-million-pound business after over 20 years on screen.
According to earlier reports, his Something Special DVD sold more than 100,000 copies and generated over £1 million, while an accompanying magazine brought in £180,000 a month. His net worth has been estimated at around £1.5 million.
Stepping down from BBC role
Last year, the television favourite surprised fans by announcing he was stepping away from Something Special. After a 22-year run that included 12 series and five specials, he handed the show to presenters Maddie Moate, Ben Cajee, and George Webster, who announced the news on social media.
Is Mr Tumble married in real life?
Justin has said he fell in love with his co-star Samantha Dorrance, who plays his best friend Tootsie. Justin, 55, and Samantha, 34, reportedly got together while working on a pantomime and travelling on their live tour. Samantha has moved into his £2.5 million farmhouse.
According to The Sun, the couple prefer a quiet life and looking after their chickens. A source told the paper: "Justin and Samantha are madly in love and couldn’t be happier. They are both dedicated performers and bonded over their love of musical theatre. Although there is an age gap, it isn’t an issue between them."
Who is Mr Tumble's famous father?
Justin's father, Guy Fletcher, co-wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and Joe Cocker with lyricist Doug Flett. In an interview with BBC 6 Music's Chris Hawkins, Justin spoke about growing up surrounded by music and musicians, revealing that Mr 'Cliff' Tumble is a tribute to Sir Cliff Richard.
He said: "I was always brought up around musicians and we had a recording studio built onto the house. My character Cliff Tumble is a homage to Sir Cliff, who I've met a lot and is lovely, very charming. Dad wrote his Eurovision entry Power to All Our Friends. The biggest hit he wrote for Elvis was Just Pretend, which he used to perform in his Vegas shows. Pretty cool, really."
