The Love Story of Mr Tumble and His Co-Star
In a heartwarming tale of love, television presenter Justin Fletcher, 55, and Samantha Dorrance, 34, who plays his character’s best friend Tootsie on the CBeebies show Something Special, have captured the hearts of many. The couple, known for their on-screen chemistry, are now living together in a £2.5 million farmhouse in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Justin and Samantha are not only stars of the popular children’s show but also perform together across the United Kingdom, bringing joy to families through their stage performances. Friends of the couple have expressed their happiness that Justin has found “The One” in Samantha. A source shared: “Justin and Samantha are madly in love and couldn’t be happier. Although there is an age gap it isn’t an issue between them. For Justin, Samantha is ‘The One’. Justin was single for a while before he reconnected with Samantha and it went from there.”
Their relationship is said to have blossomed last year, with Samantha moving into Justin’s six-bedroom house shortly after. The farm is described as their sanctuary, where they both feel happiest. Friends and castmates on the tour are aware of their relationship. Samantha, who frequently shares photos from Justin’s house on social media, refers to him as “her partner” without tagging him in her posts.
In March, Samantha shared a unique story about their life together: “Last year, me and my partner hatched our own chickens. I was making breakfast one morning and noticed all the eggs we had been buying from our local honesty box were fertilised. My partner just so happened to have an old incubator, so we dug it out.”
Wayne Rooney’s Unusual Grudge Against Mr Tumble
While Justin and Samantha enjoy their love story, football legend Wayne Rooney has a different take on the CBeebies icon, Mr Tumble. In a recent episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney humorously blamed Mr Tumble for his vasectomy, claiming he “couldn’t go through” watching the TV show for a fifth time.
Rooney, 40, revealed that after watching the series with all four of his and Coleen’s kids – Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass – he simply couldn’t bear sitting through anymore and chose to “get the snip.” Sitting alongside hosts Kae Kurd, Kelly Somers and guest Steve Bracknell, the former footballer explained: “I hate Mr Tumble. I was in the dressing room for Match of the Day and he was next to me. The reason I hate him, well I don’t hate him for what he does, is just that I’ve had to sit through it four times with every kid. It’s got to the point now where I just can’t. He’s the reason I’ve got the snip. I couldn’t have another kid to go through it again.”
Rooney underwent the procedure back in 2018 after the birth of his and Coleen’s youngest child, Cass. Despite speculation that the reality TV star wanted a girl, Coleen clarified in a 2023 interview that she and her footballer husband “knew their family was complete” after the birth of their fourth son.
