Something Special (TV series)


Something Special is a children's television programme presented by Justin Fletcher. It was created and co-directed by Allan Johnston. It is broadcast by the BBC. It is designed to introduce children to Makaton signing, and is specifically aimed at children with delayed learning and communication difficulties. It is aired on the CBeebies 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 and BBC Two.
The name of the programme derives from the idea that all children, irrespective of their position on the learning spectrum, are special. Their 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 Tap, a personalised iPad showing the "special things" to look for.

Contents

It is presented by Justin Fletcher 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 who himself displays delayed learning and communication difficulties, Grandad Tumble, Barry Tumble and Baby Tumble. Other members of the Tumble family to have made appearances include two Aunts - Polly and Suki, Lord Tumble and King Tumble.
In series 2, Justin meets a friend named Guy H Pickle, they dance around a mulberry bush.
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 appeared on episodes Animals and Animal Keeper, Dennis the T. rex, who is the dinosaur who only appeared on episode Dinosaurs, The T. rex is also a display at Paultons Park 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 : Each episode has a duration of approximately 15 minutes.
; Series 3 "Out and About" : Series 3, again presented by Justin Fletcher, was produced in 2008. 'Guests' included Mr Tumble, Granddad Tumble, Aunt Polly, Aunt Sukey and Cliff Tumble. This series was made at various locations across the UK, including Wales, Northern Ireland and England. Each episode has a duration of approximately 20 minutes and features a "Doors" Style.
; Mr Tumble shorts : From 2009, CBeebies occasionally showed short programmes consisting of the Mr Tumble sections from the various episodes, without the sections featuring Justin. It appears that the BBC may view these programmes as series 3 of Something Special, as the full series which followed is referred to as series 4.
; Series 5, 6 and 7 Out and About : 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, Somerset. 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 : 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 Tap", a tablet computer and game :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 Tap in Spotty Bag", and follows him throughout his early life.
; Series 10
; The Tale of Mr Tumble
; Series 11
;Series 12

Episodes

EpisodeFirst broadcastTitleDetails
1/259 October 2006 BBC TwoBirds
2/2510 October 2006 BBC TwoMeals
3/2511 October 2006 BBC TwoToys 2
4/2512 October 2006 BBC TwoAnimals
5/2513 October 2006 BBC TwoNursery Rhymes and Songs 1
6/2516 October 2006 BBC TwoMini Beasts
7/2517 October 2006 BBC TwoBirthday
8/2518 October 2006 BBC TwoUnder, On and In
9/2519 October 2006 BBC TwoHoliday
10/2520 October 2006 BBC TwoNursery Rhymes and Songs 2
11/2523 October 2006 BBC TwoVegetables
12/2524 October 2006 BBC TwoSeasons
13/2525 October 2006 BBC TwoShapes
14/2526 October 2006 BBC TwoClothes
15/2527 October 2006 BBC TwoNursery Rhymes and Songs 3
16/2528 October 2006 BBC TwoBaby
17/2529 October 2006 BBC TwoDoctor
18/2530 October 2006 BBC TwoArt
19/2531 October 2006 BBC TwoOpposites
20/251 November 2006 BBC TwoNursery Rhymes and Songs 4
21/254 November 2006 BBC TwoHow Do I Feel?
22/255 November 2006 BBC TwoBaby Animals
23/256 November 2006 BBC TwoPeople Who Help Us
24/257 November 2006 BBC TwoThe Park
25/258 November 2006 BBC TwoNursery Rhymes and Songs 5

EpisodeFirst broadcastTitleDetails
1/1514 January 2008Out and About - FarmJustin is on a farm.
2/1515 January 2008Out and About - WoodJustin is off to explore a wood.
3/1516 January 2008Out and About - HarbourJustin travels to Weymouth harbour.
4/1517 January 2008Out and About - Theme ParkJustin travels to a theme park.
5/1518 January 2008Out and About - StablesJustin visits stables in Northern Ireland.
6/1521 January 2008MountainJustin is walking up a Mountain.
7/1522 January 2008VetJustin is at the vet.
8/1512 November 2008High StreetJustin is in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland.
9/1524 January 2008BeachIt is a sunny day and Justin is at the beach.
10/1525 January 2008SchoolJustin goes to school.
11/1528 January 2008RailwayJustin arrives at a railway station.
12/1529 January 2008MarketJustin visits a market in Belfast.
13/1530 January 2008FootballJustin visits Craven Cottage.
14/1531 January 2008CampingJustin is at a campsite in the New Forest.
15/151 February 2008CastleJustin has come to visit Carrickfergus, an old castle in Northern Ireland.

1/2111 October 2010Nature TrailMr Tumble goes fishing with Big Teddy.-
2/2112 October 2010PlayMr Tumble is playing some games of his own with Grandad Tumble and Lord Tumble.-
3/2113 October 2010SportAunt Polly, Lord Tumble and Grandad Tumble show Mr Tumble how to do his exercises.-
4/2114 October 2010IslandMr Tumble is visiting his friend Fisherman Tumble and helping him get ready to go out on his fishing boat.-
5/2115 October 2010FestivalGrandad Tumble puts on a concert for Mr Tumble and the toys!-
6/2118 October 2010LondonMr Tumble has lots of fun at home with his London Book.-
7/2119 October 2010ArtMr Tumble paints a surprise for Grandad Tumble.-
8/2120 October 2010BabyMr Tumble gets ready for a very special baby visitor of his own.-
9/2121 October 2010Village FeteMr Tumble holds his own Village Fete for the toys!-
10/2122 October 2010Big AnimalsMr Tumble has a very special job - cleaning out Harry the Hamster's cage. But who is looking after Harry?-
11/2125 October 2010MusicMr Tumble wants to be a pop star after watching his favourite singer Cliff Tumble on the TV.-
12/2126 October 2010Strawberry PickingMr Tumble is very hungry and goes looking for fruit in the garden.-
13/2127 October 2010CookingMr Tumble is making something very special too - Grandad Tumble's lunch.-
14/2128 October 2010SleepoverMr Tumble is having a sleepover of his own in his garden.-
15/2129 October 2010RoutinesMr Tumble shows us what he does before he goes to bed.-
16/2122 November 2010Birthday PartyBack at the Tumble house there's a party going on too - a surprise party for Lord Tumble.-
17/2123 November 2010ShoppingMr Tumble is doing his washing and needs to find some spare clothes to wear while it is drying.-
18/2124 November 2010CafeMr Tumble opens his new Cafe and we are introduced to the all new Chef Tumble!-
19/2125 November 2010Forest ArtMr Tumble is in his forest looking for animals from inside his den!-
20/2126 November 2010ParkMr Tumble is trying to find a boat of his own to go on a sea adventure, but who will help him find one?-
21/2116 December 2010A Christmas SpecialIt's Christmas and Mr Tumble, Lord Tumble and Grandad Tumble are decorating the Tumble house.

Awards

;Royal Television Society Educational Television Awards 2004:Awarded Best Early Years Programme
;BAFTA Children's Awards 2005:Awarded Best Pre-school Live Action Series
;BAFTA Children's Awards 2007:Nominated for Best Presenter
;BAFTA Children's Awards 2008:Awarded Best Presenter