Floella Benjamin

The Right Honourable The Baroness Benjamin OBE DL
Chancellor of the University of Exeter
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 June 2006
Deputy	Steve Smith
Preceded by	The Lord Alexander of Weedon
Personal details
Born	23 September 1949 (1949-09-23) Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago
Political party	Liberal Democrats
Spouse(s)	Keith Taylor
Children	Aston Alvina
Profession	Actor Author Presenter Television producer Company director
Website	Official website

Floella Karen Yunies Benjamin, Baroness Benjamin OBE DL (born 23 September 1949) is a British actress, author, television presenter, businesswoman and politician. She is known as presenter of children's programmes such as Play School, Play Away and "Fast Forward". On 28 June 2010, Lady Benjamin was introduced to the House of Lords as a Life Peer nominated by the Liberal Democrats with title Baroness Benjamin, of Beckenham in the County of Kent.

Early life

Benjamin was born in Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad, and emigrated to the UK in 1960. Having left Rosemead Preparatory School to work in a bank, she studied for A-levels at night school. After a spell as a stage actress in West End musicals, she began presenting children's television programmes in 1976.

Entertainment

On stage, she has appeared in Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Black Mikado, The husband in law and pantomime. On screen, she appeared in the 1975 horror film I Don't Want to Be Born and starred in the 1977 film Black Joy. On TV, her credits include Angels, Within These Walls, Crown Court, The Gentle Touch and Dixon of Dock Green. She appeared as Juniper in the first episode of Bergerac (1981).

She read two stories for the Story Teller magazine series (1983 and 1984).

She is chief executive of Floella Benjamin Productions, which has made television programmes since 1987.

She is the voice of the 'U' and 'PG' Video Standards Council information clips.

In 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011, she guest-starred in the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures as Professor Rivers from the Pharos Institute in the stories The Lost Boy, Day of the Clown, The Eternity Trap and Sky. She also narrated three "making-of" documentaries on the Doctor Who DVD boxset, The Black Guardian Trilogy.

In 2007, she played a small role in the British comedy Run Fatboy Run.

In 2011, she attended Exeter University's Graduation Ball in a gold blouse and black mini skirt, dancing and singing for all the new graduates.

Publications

Her 20th book, an autobiography Coming To England, was published in 1997.

Honours and offices

She was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting in 2001. At that time she was chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). She has also won a Special Lifetime Achievement award from BAFTA. She was chairman of the Women of the Year Lunch for five years and a Millennium Commissioner. She is president of the Elizabeth ’R’ Commonwealth Broadcasting Fund and a governor of the National Film and Television School. She was a governor of Dulwich College, where her mother once worked and her son attended. She is a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

In 2010 she was appointed Chair of Governors at the Isle of Sheppey Academy, which has approval for a multi-million pound government investment that HAS been secured.

In 2006, she became an honorary graduate of the University of Exeter and was awarded the degree of Hon D.Litt (Exon) for contributions to the life of the United Kingdom. Lady Benjamin succeeded Lord Alexander of Weedon to become the Chancellor of the University of Exeter.

In 2008 she was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London.

In the 2010 Dissolution Honours List announced on on 28 May 2010 she was appointed a Liberal Democrat Life Peer.

Educational and charitable interests

Floella Benjamin

Her interest in education has also seen her on the "4Rs Commission" established by the Liberal Democrats to look into primary education in the UK.

She is vice-president of NCH Action for Children and Barnardo's, and was in the NSPCC’s Hall of Fame. She runs the London Marathon to raise funds for Barnardo's and the Sickle Cell Society. She is a cultural ambassador for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. In September 2011, Floella participated in the Great North Run.

She features in the BBCs CBeebies animation Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies.

In July 2007 she spoke of what she saw as the low standard of children's television.

External links

• Floella Benjamin biography and credits on BFI Screenonline
• Floella Benjamin on TV.Com
• Floella Benjamin at the Internet Movie Database
• Floella Benjamin's official website
• University of Exeter webpage on Chancellor

Academic offices
Preceded by The Lord Alexander of Weedon	Chancellor of the University of Exeter 2006–present	Incumbent