To say that Justin Fletcher is the biggest star in UK children’s entertainment would be selling him short. This baby-faced 45-year-old has had the under-10 viewing market sewn up for more than a decade. He currently presides over three CBeebies series: the raucous Justin’s House, the sketch show Gigglebiz and the long-running and more reflective Something Special.
When I meet him at a west London rehearsal room on a sweltering June afternoon, he is days away from performing to tens of thousands of people as part of the British Summer Time Hyde Park family day – not too daunting for someone who has recently played to 82,000 people in arenas across Britain. “Have you seen the arena show at all?” he asks cheerfully. “No? Don’t worry. You should hear the roar when I come in as Mr Tumble to Let Me Entertain You. It’s like a Take That concert!”
When Fletcher was invited to perform a new show at this year’s Manchester international festival, he looked to Mr Tumble, his most popular character, for inspiration. A jaunty, modern-day clown in jazzy clothes, Mr Tumble has only the merest dab of a red nose linking him to his big-top ancestors, making him acceptable viewing for the most committed coulrophobe. For The Tale of Mr Tumble, a more intimate show than the ones Fletcher takes on the road, he and writer Will Brenton (who gave Fletcher some of his earliest jobs, including providing voices for some of the Tweenies) have come up with the conceit that Mr Tumble is leafing through a book of his favourite memories.
“It’s exploring his early years, so we’ve got some young actors playing Master Tumble. And it’ll be really interactive, so everyone should get ready to be involved.” He doesn’t want to give away too much, but after sneaking a peek at the props I can reveal exclusively that a polka-dot teapot and lampshade will feature somewhere in the show. Fletcher is almost breathless with excitement about the 100-strong choir of local children (a total of 400 will take part in the course of the run) who will be signing in Makaton, which he has done so much to popularise on Something Special. “They’re going to steal the show,” he says confidently. “I’m getting quite goosepimply thinking about it all.”
At that moment, Ronni Ancona pops her head around the door to say hello: she’s starring in the show as Miss Eerie, a killjoy headmistress. I suggest to Fletcher that her presence elevates The Tale of Mr Tumble into a different league: with Ancona in the cast, it won’t simply be a children’s show. “But we’ve had lots of ‘adult’ actors on Justin’s House,” he protests gently. “Sally Phillips [Miranda, Veep, Smack the Pony] played an estate agent for a few episodes. And Gigglebiz has a big student following.” Point taken.
He isn’t exactly rattled – it’s hard to imagine that smile ever dimming – but he spots correctly that I was separating his brand of slapstick and character comedy from the sort aimed at older audiences. As far as he is concerned, funny is funny. After all, Gigglebiz was conceived as a children’s equivalent of Little Britain or The Fast Show. He has made it a point of pride to ensure that his programmes can be not merely tolerated by adults, but enjoyed too. “With all my characters, I try to put humour in for the parents. TV has become an isolated experience, but I’m passionate about making shows the family watch together.”
I can vouch for this: when my youngest child was still in primary school, it was no hardship to watch Gigglebiz, with its parade of sweet-natured eccentrics including Arthur Sleep, the local TV newsreader who finds himself reliably amusing, and Nana Knickerbocker, the pantomime dame whose act is not confined to the stage. I mention by comparison the shrill Lazytown, trying to get Fletcher to whinge about this former CBeebies stablemate, but he won’t bite. He’s far too nice.
When he admits casually that he doesn’t know when his next day off will be, I wonder if the constant workload ever gets too much. “I don’t like to sit still,” he says. “I keep coming up with new characters. It doesn’t stop.” At this, he clutches his head in his hands comically, like a man plagued by voices. “I keep a notepad by the bed because I’m always waking up to write things down.” Can he ever completely switch off? “Yes,” he says, before adjusting his answer to a more equivocal “Yeeesss”. He catches himself and laughs. “I go fishing or for long walks with the dogs. But even then, I’ll get an idea that I’ll have to record as a voice memo on my phone. Then I’ll get others and I’ll have to start numbering them. You know: ‘Idea 23 …’”
I notice he has only taken a few crisps and a quick swig of juice from the small bag beside him marked “Justin’s Lunch”. But now his break is up and he has to dash. Though he doesn’t officially do parties (where would he find the time?), he has promised to put in an appearance at a nearby bash that Ancona is having for her children. He looks hot and rather tired. “As I get older, it gets harder,” he admits. “The crash mats get thicker. I throw myself around a lot and I’m a big lad. But then you see the children’s reaction and it’s all worth it.”
• The Tale of Mr Tumble is at Manchester Opera House, from 11-19 July, as part of the Manchester international festival.
