Actress, singer, author, businesswoman… Floella has come a long way since presenting Play School in 1976. And with a seat in the House of Lords, she’s made it in the political arena too.

Floella came to England from Trinidad in 1960. She began her entertainment career in the West End hits Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, but it was as a presenter for TV’s Play School that most of us came to know her. She’s actually appeared in a multitude of programmes, ranging from Dr Who and Bergerac to Within These Walls and Dixon of Dock Green.

Floella’s services to broadcasting garnered her an OBE in 2001, followed by a BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award. And to complement her title of Baroness in 2010, she became a Dame in 2020 in recognition of her charitable work.

As you may know, Ian loves to find out what drives someone like Floella to succeed on so many levels. So this promises to be an especially fascinating podcast.

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