A Love Story on and Off the Stage
Mr Tumble, a beloved character from the children’s television show CBeebies, has captured the hearts of many. But behind the scenes, the actor who brings Mr Tumble to life, Justin Fletcher, has found love with his co-star Samantha Dorrance, who plays his best friend Tootsie. The pair have reportedly fallen for each other while working on a pantomime and traveling on their live tour.
Justin, 55, and Samantha, 34, are so smitten that Samantha has moved into his £2.5 million farmhouse. According to reports, the couple enjoys a quiet life together, taking care of their chickens and spending time in their countryside home.
A source close to the couple told a publication that they are “madly in love and couldn’t be happier.” They bonded over their shared passion for musical theatre, and despite the age gap, it doesn’t seem to affect their relationship.
Both Samantha and Justin’s friends are thrilled for them and believe they’ve found the right person. For Justin, Samantha is considered “The One.” He was single for a while before reconnecting with Samantha, and the relationship quickly blossomed.
The farm is their sanctuary, where they both feel happiest. Their friends and castmates on the tour are aware of their relationship, and it’s clear that this new chapter in Justin’s life has brought him a lot of joy.
Justin has been open about his struggles to find love, even joking about being approached by mums who watch his show. However, his workaholic tendencies have often taken priority over his personal life. In 2012, he mentioned that he had been single for a while due to his busy schedule, which included filming shows like Something Special, Justin’s House, and Gigglebiz.
- “I’m not married, live alone, and have been single for a while now because I’ve been a workaholic,” he said at the time. “But I do want to free up some time for myself and my family. I’d love to have children, so I need to find someone who likes kids.”
Samantha first hinted at their relationship in March when she shared a picture on Instagram, mentioning she and an unnamed “partner” had been rearing chickens. She wrote about how they discovered fertilized eggs from their local honesty box and used an old incubator to hatch them.
- “Last year, me and my partner hatched our own chickens. I was making breakfast one morning and noticed that 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.”
The couple has also been spotted together for the first time since it was reported that they started dating. Justin, whose real name is Justin Fletcher, was seen arriving at a four-star hotel in Wolverhampton alongside Samantha, who plays Tootsie on the children’s show. They were wearing matching New York Yankees baseball caps and carrying bags into The Mount Country Manor Hotel & Golf.
- Fletcher, who has played Mr Tumble since 2003, was seen in a low-key green gilet with sunglasses, while Samantha opted for a more summery look in a dress and sweater. They are currently on a break from the Justin Live: Justin Time to Rock! tour, in which they both star.
Dorrance, who is twenty years younger than Fletcher, is understood to have moved into his £2.5 million farmhouse in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Friends of the couple are said to be “thrilled” that he has “found the one,” especially after previously admitting that he struggled to find love due to his hectic work schedule.
- A source told a publication that the couple’s romance “blossomed” last year, after which Dorrance moved into his six-bedroom house. The source added, “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.”
Dorrance landed the role of Tootsie in The Tale of Mr Tumble in 2015 and has performed on stage with Fletcher, playing Cinders in Cinderella in 2024. At the time, she shared a snap of her casting photograph alongside Fletcher and wrote, “I couldn’t ask for a better Buttons.”
On social media, she refers obliquely to her “partner” and does not tag Fletcher’s Instagram account. In March, she shared a slideshow of chicks and eggs, writing about how she and her partner hatched their own chickens.
Something Special, which stars Mr Tumble, is the longest-running programme on the BBC’s Children’s channel. The show has been a staple for young audiences for many years. While no official comment has been made by Justin Fletcher and Samantha Dorrance, their relationship seems to be a happy one, filled with love and mutual support.
As they continue to build their lives together, it’s clear that their bond goes beyond the stage. Whether they’re tending to their chickens or enjoying quiet moments at their farmhouse, the couple appears to be content and deeply connected.
