''Something Special'' is a British

children's television Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television show, television programs designed for children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run during ...

programme presented by

Justin Fletcher Justin Fletcher (born 15 June 1970) is an English actor, comedian, singer and television presenter on the BBC pre-school television channel CBeebies. Speaking and performing in various, often self-created, roles, he specialises in slapstick co ...

. It was created and co-directed by Allan Johnston. It is broadcast by the

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

, debuting on 1 September 2003. It is designed to introduce children to

Makaton Makaton is a communication tool together with speech and symbols, to enable people with disabilities or learning disabilities to communicate. It is not a British Sign Language (BSL) or any form of Sign Language in its own right. Makaton supports ...

signing, and is specifically aimed at children with delayed learning and communication difficulties. It is aired on the

CBeebies CBeebies is a British free-to-air public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the brand used for all BBC content for children aged 6 years and under. Its sister channel CBBC is aimed at older childr ...

channel and is currently the longest running CBeebies programme and the longest running preschool series in Britain. In the past, it was also broadcast as part of the CBeebies programme strand on

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, p ...

and

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream an ...

. The name of the programme derives from the idea that all children, irrespective of their position on the learning spectrum, are special. The format of the show has evolved considerably since the original series. In 2012, a new series, "Something Special – We're All Friends" started, introducing some minor changes to the "Out and About" format. This format change has also included a change in location, and introduced the Tumble Tapp, a personalised

iPad The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operating s ...

showing the "special things" to look for.

Synopsis

It is presented by

("Justin") and features various other characters and clips of children with disabilities. Justin speaks as well as signing, and a spoken narrative is provided over the clips of children. The other characters played by Fletcher are the Tumble Family: Mr Tumble, a clown, Grandad Tumble, Fisherman Tumble and Baby Tumble. Other members of the Tumble family to have made appearances include two Aunts – Polly and Suki (as in the popular nursery rhyme "

Polly Put the Kettle On "Polly Put the Kettle On" is an English nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 7899. Lyrics Common modern versions include: :Polly put the kettle on, :Polly put the kettle on, :Polly put the kettle on, :We'll all have tea. : ...

"), Lord Tumble and King Tumble. The creator and producer is Allan Johnston, who worked as a teacher of children with special needs before joining the BBC in 1989, with an important role in the show. In series 11, 3 animal characters are introduced to the series, Spotty the Horse, who is Mr Tumble's horse that has appeared in the episodes Animals and Animal Keeper, Dennis the T-Rex who is the dinosaur who has only appeared in the episode Dinosaurs, The T-Rex is also a display at

Paultons Park Paultons Park is an amusement park located in the New Forest National Park, near the village of Ower, in Hampshire, England, with over 70 rides and attractions. The Peppa Pig World themed area is based on the children's animated television ser ...

where it was filmed, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer who appears for a short period of time in the episode A magical Christmas.

Format

; Series 1 and 2 (2003–2006): Justin showcases things in a white studio set, with Mr. Tumble sections in the middle of the episodes. Each episode has a duration of approximately 15 minutes. ; Mr Tumble shorts (2007): From 2007, CBeebies occasionally showed short programmes consisting of the ''Mr Tumble'' sections from the various episodes, without the sections featuring Justin. ; Series 3 "Out and About" (2008): The first "Out and About" series featured Justin wandering out of the white studio set through the magic doors and into a different location set within the UK. Each episode has a duration of approximately 20 minutes. ; Series 4 "Out and About" (2009): ; Series 5, 6 and 7 Out and About (2010–2011): Series 5 of the show followed the ''Out and About'' format of series 3, in a "new, daily, week-day, year-round slot designed to provide continuity for its loyal audience" and introduced a new character, Lord Tumble. The series has Mr Tumble and the other Tumble characters primarily based in "Tumble House", a large detached house located in extensive grounds close to the sea, located in

Porlock Porlock is a coastal village in Somerset, England, west of Minehead. At the 2011 census, the village had a population of 1,440. In 2017, Porlock had the highest percentage of elderly population in Britain, with over 40% being of pensionable ag ...

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

. The house and grounds are populated with large coloured spots, balloons and similar circular/spherical items in keeping with the spots on Mr Tumble's costume. The episodes typically feature Mr Tumble sending photographs of items he is interested in finding out about to Justin using his "Spotty Bag". Justin, with the assistance of the children with him, locates these items or activities and in return sends associated items back to Mr Tumble. There is typically a link in the theme between the actions of Mr Tumble and the other Tumble characters, and the activities Justin and the children participate in. ; Series 8 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2012): In 2012, a new series, "Something Special – We're All Friends" started, introducing some minor changes to the Out and About format. This format change has also included a change in location, and introduced the "Tumble Tapp", a tablet computer and game (the game was available on the CBeebies website but in Early 2009 it was removed because there was a new one Series 8 was filmed from April 2010 to June 2010 ;Series 9 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2014): In 2014, a new series, "Something Special – We're All Friends" starring Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble as The Unsmiling Principle featuring Mr Tumble, which sees the Mr Tumble, and introduced the "Tumble Tapp in Spotty Bag", and follows him throughout his early life. Series 9 was Fillmed from July 2010 to September 2010 ;Series 10 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2016): In 2016, a new series, "Something Special – We're All Friends" starring Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble as The Unsmiling Principle featuring Mr Tumble, which sees the Mr Tumble, and introduced the "Tumble Tapp in Spotty Bag", and follows him throughout his early life. Series 10 was Filmed from August 2015 to October 2015 ;The Tale of Mr Tumble: In March 2016, a theatrical production starring Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble and Ronni Ancona as The Unsmiling Principle featuring Mr Tumble was performed, which sees the Mr Tumble character as a baby and as a young boy, and follows him throughout his early life. ;Series 11 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2018): In 2011, a new series, "Something Special – We're All Friends" starring Justin Fletcher as Mr Tumble as The Unsmiling Principle featuring Mr Tumble, which sees the Mr Tumble, and introduced the "Tumble Tapp in Spotty Bag", and follows him throughout his early life. Series 11 Was Filmed from July 2017 to September 2017 The Christmas Special Part 2 was Filmed in November 2017 the Prom was Filmed in June 2017 ;Series 12 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2020): Series 12 was filmed from February 2019 to October 2020. The Diwali special was filmed in October 2020. ;Series 13 (Something Special – We're All Friends) (2022): Series 13 is set to air in January 2023 with some episodes filmed in the USA and some are co presented by George Webster.

Episodes

Series 1 (2003)

Series 2 (2006)

Series 3: Out and About (2008)

Series 4: Out and About (2009)

Series 5: Out and About (2010)

Series 6: Out and About (2010)

Series 7: Out and About (2011)

Series 8: Something Special – We're All Friends (2012)

#Motor Home #Concert #Art #Police #Donkey #Gymnastics #Chadani's Day #Cheerleaders #Monkey #Waterpark #Circus #Ferry #Fishing #Chocolate #Football #Narrowboat #Ice Cream #My Pets #Lifeboat #Castle #Birds #Outdoors #Pottery #Cycling #Ceilidh

Series 9: Something Special – We're All Friends (2014)

#Pig Washing #Snow Tubing #Fire Station #Dance #Boat Trip #Horse Riding by the Sea #Post Office #Train #Camping #Wildlife Park #Seven Stories #Sport #Hats #Dog Walking #Adventure Playground #Aquarium #Cafe #Music #Fruit and Veg Picking #Farm #Planetarium #Beach #Shopping #Cookery #Wetlands Centre

Series 10: Something Special – We're All Friends (2016)

#Party #Counting #Wet and Dry #Imagination #Bedtime #Growing #Family #In and Out #Colours #Breakfast #Animals #Adventure #Up and Down #Happy #Lunchtime #Vehicles #Weather #Quiet and Loud #Recycling #Teatime #Summer #Hobbies #Big and Small #Pets #Friends

Series 11: Something Special – We're All Friends (2018)

#Great Outdoors #Winter #My School #Radio Star #In the Mood for Dancing #Animal Keeper #Star Chart #Hairdresser #Monkeying Around #Dinosaurs #Library #Fairies #Dentist #Spring #Theatre #Superheroes #Summer #New Shoes #Pairs #Getting Sporty #Autumn #Music Stars #Vets #Imaginary Journey #A Magical Christmas

Series 12: Something Special − We're All Friends (2020)

#Basketball #On the River #Golf #Down on the Farm #Theme Park Adventure #Dragon School #Flying Fun #Fairytale #Beach, Boats and Birds #Animal Antics #Day Trip #Woof! #Fruity Fun #Under the Sea #Farmyard Fun #Magic Castle #Let's Pretend #Splish Splash Splosh #Treasure Hunt #Back in Time #Paints and Pottery #Boating Fun #Disco Party #Football Skills #Happy Diwail!

Series 13: Something Special - We're All Friends (2023)

#Cinema #Eye Test #Trampoline #Outdoor Adventure #A Big Concert! #The Zoo #Beach Day #Stories #George's Cafe #Alpacas #A Day In The Woods

Specials

#Mr Tumble's Special Day Out #Mr Tumble's Busy Bus Day #Merry Christmas!

Be On Their Own

Awards

;

Royal Television Society The Royal Television Society (RTS) is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present, and future. It is the oldest television society in the world. It currently has fourteen r ...

Educational Television Awards 2004:Awarded ''Best Early Years Programme'' (for the episode ''Garden'') ;

BAFTA Children's Awards The British Academy Children's Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). They have been awarded annually since 1996, before which time they were a part of the main British Acad ...

2005:Awarded ''Best Pre-school Live Action Series'' ;

2007:Nominated for ''Best Presenter'' (

) ;

2008:Awarded ''Best Presenter'' (

) ;

2009:Nominated ''Best Presenter'' (

) ;

2010:Awarded ''Best Presenter'' (

) ;

2011:Nominated ''Best Presenter'' (

) ;

2012:Awarded ''Best Presenter'' (

) ;

2013:Nominated ''Best Presenter'' (

) ;

2018:Awarded ''Best Presenter'' (

)

References

External links

* {{BBC programme
Something Special CBeebies Page
BBC children's television shows British preschool education television series 2000s preschool education television series 2010s preschool education television series Sign language television shows Television series by BBC Studios 2003 British television series debuts 2010s British television series 2020s British television series English-language television shows CBeebies