The Stage

OBE petition launched for kids’ presenter Fletcher

Published Wednesday 4 July 2007 at 12:20 by Matthew Hemley

More than 450 people have signed a petition calling on prime minister Gordon Brown to award children’s television presenter Justin Fletcher an OBE.

Fletcher is the presenter of the BBC children’s programme Something Special, which teaches children sign language using Makaton - a system of communication used by and with people who have communication or learning difficulties.

The petition says: “Justin Fletcher is a communication genius. He both entertains and educates our children and does this with intelligence and panache without patronising.”

It continues: “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.”

Last year, The Stage tipped Fletcher as one to watch in 2007.

The petition can be found at petitions.pm.gov.uk/Cbeebies/. It closes on September 30.