An Interview with CBeebies Alex Winters
Just about every parent and pre-school child in the country counts CBeebies as part of their daily routine and we are delighted to be introducing this post by our fab Parent Panel dad Ben Wakeling in which he interviews Alex Winters, co-presenter of Discover and Do and The Bedtime Hour.
Anyone who has been near CBeebies in the past two years will be familiar with Alex Winters. The cheeky-faced Welshman has been seen alongside Cerrie Burnell presenting Discover and Do and the Bedtime Hour since 2009, since taking over from Chris Jarvis and Pui Fan Lee, who had been the channel’s familiar faces for seven years since its inception. In 2002, Chris and Pui left to film Show Me Show Me and take the Chris and Pui Roadshow around the UK. Pui is expecting her first child in early August. “She is radiant right now,” says Chris on his Twitter feed. “Glowing with health.”
Taking over from such well-established presenters was a daunting task. Alex used to sit with his daughter and watch Chris and Pui present CBeebies, and describes them as ‘brilliant’. Then, in 2009, he found himself and Cerrie taking their place. So, big shoes to fill? “Yes, of course!” laughs Alex. “I felt completely overwhelmed to be following in their footsteps, but I felt it an honour too.”
There were some parents, though, who were not quite so enamoured with the two new faces, and felt that Cerrie’s disability – she was born with her right arm ending slightly below the elbow – would upset their children and lead to awkward conversations. Others felt it was simply a thinly-veiled attempt by the BBC to be politically correct.
Within days, message boards were flooded with angry parents, who locked horns with those who vehemently opposed the notion that having a disabled presenter would cause upset. Instead, they argued, it would prompt healthy discussions between parents and children. These views were echoed by disability groups across the UK: the editor of Disability Now magazine described the outrage as “gobsmacking”, and argued that the more children are exposed to disability, the less likely they are to grow up with “limiting and outmoded attitudes”.
On the face of it, Cerrie was calm and collected. She even appeared on the BBC Breakfast programme to talk about the backlash against her. But how was she behind the scenes?
“She was just amazing through it all.” remembers Alex. “She handled it like a true professional.” He, however, describes himself as being “angry and upset” when the complaints started flooding in. “It did affect me personally.” he says. “I just couldn’t understand how anyone could actually express those sorts of views.”
Cerrie had never shied away from her disability – at the age of 9, despite encouragement from her parents, she stopped wearing a prosthetic arm. Happy in her own skin, she told the Daily Mail that she “couldn’t see why others couldn’t accept me the way I was, too.”
Living with a disability, and the stigma it brings, helped Cerrie cope with the arguments levelled against her; and, through her experiences, she helped Alex overcome his frustration. “She taught me how to try and understand these people, and not to let it bother me so much. She is amazing.”
Enduring such a rocky start to a presenting career helped galvanise Alex and Cerrie, cementing their relationship; a calmness and cohesiveness which is evident on screen. They share presenting responsibilities with Sid Sloane and Andy Day, with Katy Ashworth and Justin Fletcher carrying out covering presenting roles between filming programmes for the channel. The companionship which exudes from the group when presenting the show is not acted; in fact, Alex identifies the fun he has with his colleagues as his favourite thing about being a CBeebies presenter. “There are times when the four of us just can’t stop laughing,” he smiles. “It’s great to be like that with workmates.” Who’s the funniest in the group? “Me, of course!”
The CBeebies gang
Alex studied Drama and Theatre Studies with Psychology in Liverpool, and went on to work in a number of theatre projects. Working on children’s television was always his dream, though, ever since he was a young boy. He and his sister used to pretend that they were on Blue Peter, taking it in turns to be the presenter and the cameraman. “We loved it,” he recollects, “and ever since I have really wanted to be on children’s television. I never thought it would happen, though!”
Over the two years Alex has presented CBeebies to date, he has introduced hundreds of programmes – but he has two favourites: Charlie and Lola, and Gigglebiz. He describes Charlie as a ‘saint’, and loves the brother-sister relationship they share. But it’s Justin Fletcher’s numerous roles in Gigglebiz which Alex admits has him “crying laughing”.
“It’s hilarious!” he exclaims. “Justin is just brilliant. His character Keith Fit is my favourite…genius!”
In time, Alex would love to become involved in sports presenting, describing it as a “passion”. But, for now, he is in a job he loves: even if it does involve sitting on a moon in stripy pyjamas and a nightcap. Does he ever feel embarrassed? “Naahhh!” he laughs. “It just makes me laugh, and actually reminds me that I’m in a job where I get to do daft things and get paid for it! I love what I’m doing at the moment. It really is a dream job.”
You can see Alex and Cerrie on CBeebies’ ‘Discover and Do’ from 9am-12pm and 1pm-3.30pm, and on the ‘Bedtime Hour’ from 6-7pm.
What’s your little one’s favourite cbeebies programme? We’ll send a BornFree Drinking Cup to one person who leaves a comment.
… sports presenting, eh? Well, there’s a precedent. I seem to remember watching Jake Humphreys on some CBBC show or other and look at him now. But you missed the big one, Ben – which sport would Alex front? My money’s on…
….so, tell us, what is your money on Tim?
aw i love alex on cbeebies.. i mean the kids do! hehe. the uproar over cerrie was just dumb i didnt understand it myself, but thats people for you and sure it was more to do with the parents views than the kids..someone even complained of it scaring her kids..as if! i dont even think my kids have ever noticed or if they have they have never said anything to me. well done to cerrie shes stayed strong through it all and shone like the shining star that she is. they both are brilliant at what they do, chris and pui did have very big boots to fill.. but cbeebies couldnt have found better feet to fill them! well done and thanyou for entertaining our kids (and us adults) and i wish you all the luck and success in the future
Just spoken to Alex on Twitter! This is what he said:
“What a lovely comment. Umm, I’d love to be involved with football. But I’d love to be involved in presenting light entertainment or something music/the arts related too! Feel free to add that!
”
We met Alex last month at Kidz South, a disability show for charities and helpful things! Anyone with a SEN child know that Mr Tumble is very hard to knock off the pedastool but my son loved Alex “I give Alex big hug and kiss!” and is even more transfixed than even he appears on the screen. A lovely man with a real care for the charity he is involved in and he oozes enthusiasm for the job he does.
As for the publics responce to Cerrie, it was nonsense. More to do with adults preception than anything the children actually felt. My son, in 4 years has never even noticed and surely there is nothing too notice.
Hey, my 17 month old adores waybaloo and show me show me she always counts down with the lift!
Sarah, Katie and Laura Thanks for your lovely comments x
Hello, I switched the television on this morning and the Zingzillas were on, my 8 month old Daughter stopped playing with her blocks, turned towards the television and squealed with delight, She has never done this before to any other programmes on the television, so going by her reaction this morning, I can safely say that Zingzillas are for today at least her favourite CBeebies programme.
my 2 children love cbeebies and especially alex! My son who’s 4 and autistic is glued to the screen when he’s on and he seems to have a calming influence on him! Their favourite program though is something special! Justin is fantastic!
Been watching Cbeebies for a while now with my 3 year old Daughter Ruby. We love it! The presenters are great and we love Cerri.She and all the presenters are great! Was so pleased when Ruby got her birthday card read out by Katy back in May. Ruby loves Justin Fletcher, as Mr Tumble and all the Gigglebiz characters.He is great! Also Come outside and Charlie & . We have to watch until the end of the bedtime song, only then am I allowed to change channel,
That’s so sweet Jo
It’s a tradition in our house to sing the bedtime song every night before bed xx
I love cbeebies! I even find myself watching it when my kids aren’t even in, my favourites are show me show me, mr bloom, charley bear, balamory and come outside, I can’t believe I’m actually admitting this!
Keep up the good work
My two daughters, aged one and four are glued to cbeebies all day when we are in the house. Their favourite presenter is Cerrie. My 4 year old absolutely loves her and I think shes great.
My kids fave programmes are Something Special, Gigglebiz, I Can Cook, Charley Bear, Chuggington, Abney and Teal, Waybuloo, Justins House, Green Balloon Club (my 4 yr old is a fan of Lily Rose), Raa Raa the noisy lion and I love Charley and Lola and Rastamouse lol x
I forgot to mention my kids also love Mr Blooms Nursery, Everythings Rosie, Octonauts and im sure theres a couple more I havent mentioned. Im glad they bought Postman Pat back cuz I remember that as a kid.
The only issue I have ever had with cbeebies is that my 4 yr old was asking about being on I can cook but apparantly cbeebies select kids from selected nurseries and no other kid gets a chance which I felt was unfair and didnt know what to tell my little girl : (
Hi Sarah, Cbeebies is so watchable isn’t it? They seem to have got the programming balance right for tiny tots all the way up to infant school age kids (and their parents, lol!)
Thanks for commenting x
Lol Lisa, I bet you’re not the only one who watches CBeebies when the kids aren’t there x
Leave your response!
Promote your Page too
Recent Posts
Most Commented
Recent Comments
Categories