Floella Benjamin

Baroness Floella Benjamin, OBE, DL was born in Trinidad in 1949 and came to England in 1960, aged 10. She is an actress, presenter, writer, producer, working peer and an active advocate for the welfare and education of children. She is best known as a presenter of the iconic BBC children’s television programmes Play School and Play Away, and she continues to make children’s programmes. Her broadcasting work has been recognised with a Special Lifetime Achievement BAFTA and OBE. She was appointed a Baroness in the House of Lords in 2010 where she continually promotes legislation to protect children’s wellbeing. In 2012 she was presented with the prestigious J. M. Barrie Award by Action for Children’s Arts, for her lasting contribution to children’s lives through her art. Floella has written thirty books, including Coming to England, a Guardian Children’s Book of the Year 2016, which is used as a resource in schools in social and cross-curricular areas. The book was adapted into an award-winning film for BBC Education. She was also appointed Chancellor of the University of Exeter until 2016 and this year had honorary Freedom of the City of London bestowed upon her.