Something Special (2007)
Something Special is a children's television programme produced and broadcast by the BBC. The producer is Allan Johnston who worked as a teacher of children with special needs before joining the BBC in 1989. 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 in the past 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. It is presented by Justin Fletcher and features various other characters and clips of disabled children. Justin speaks as well as signing, and a spoken narrative is provided over the clips of children. The characters played by Justin are the Tumble Family: Mr Tumble, an adult clown who himself displays delayed learning and communication difficulties, Grandad 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.
-
Episode 1 - Airport
Release Date:Justin and his friends look for three special things at the airport. Meanwhile Mr Tumble is trying to find his own way to get up, up in the air... can Grandad Tumble help him?
-
Episode 2 - City
Release Date:Justin and two new friends explore Manchester city centre on an open top bus. They go shopping and have their own little fashion show. Finally they go dancing in the fountains. Mr Tumble is off to the city today. Will he catch the bus in time?
-
Episode 3 - Garden Centre
Release Date:Justin and his friends visit a garden centre to look for three special things. Meanwhile, Mr Tumble is looking in the garden for a hole for his beautiful plant.
-
Episode 4 - By The Sea
Release Date:Justin and his friends are off to the seaside and so is Mr Tumble - or should we say pirate Tumble! He's off on a treasure hunt looking for buried treasure. Grandad Tumble and Aunt Polly are there to help as well.
-
Episode 5 - Hospital
Release Date:Justin and Mr Tumble are both visiting Sheffield Children's hospital. Justin is looking for three special things and Mr Tumble is looking for Grandad Tumble.
-
Episode 6 - Houseboat
Release Date:Mr Tumble is off on holiday, he's going camping. Justin is off on holiday as well. He's off on a boating holiday with his friends and they have to look for three special things.
-
Episode 7 - Leisure Centre
Release Date:It's sports day and all the Tumbles join in. There's a bouncing competition and an egg and spoon race. Will Mr Tumble win a cup?
-
Episode 8 - Animal Park
Release Date:Justin and his friends are off to meet some animals. They hold and stroke a snake, watch an owl fly over their heads and stroke two animals with long snuffly noses called tapirs.
-
Episode 9 - Playdate
Release Date:Mr Tumble has a friend coming to play. It's his cousin Cool Tumble. Together they're going to play musical bumps, build dens and play hide and seek.
-
Episode 10 - Animal Rescue
Release Date:Mr Tumble is busy looking after an animal, it's a tiny black dog, called Little Dog. There's a lot to do. He has to feed Little Dog, exercise Little Dog and most difficult of all, give Little Dog a bath!
-
Episode 11 - Bike Ride
Release Date:Mr Tumble pretends to be a postman. He cycles around the house to deliver parcels for Lord Tumble, Aunt Polly and Grandad Tumble.
-
Episode 12 - Creative Walk
Release Date:Justin and his friends go for a walk around a farm to look for ideas for their big farm picture.
-
Episode 13 - Supermarket
Release Date:Justin and his friends go shopping at the supermarket. They buy all sorts of different fruit to make a fruit salad for their friends back at school.
-
Episode 14 - Butterfly
Release Date:Mr Tumble is looking for a butterfly. He wants to film it with his new camera. But every time he sets up his camera, the butterfly flies away. Someone is playing a trick on Mr Tumble, I wonder who it is?
-
Episode 15 - Drive
Release Date:Justin and his three friends, Felix, William and Jack are off on a boys' day out. They're going for a drive in the school bus. On their way to school Justin has a special surprise for them.