Floella Benjamin

Floella Benjamin is known as presenter of children's programmes such as Play School and Play Away. She claims to be the first woman to appear "fully pregnant" on British television.

On stage, she has appeared in Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, 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.

She is chief executive of Floella Benjamin Productions, which has made television programmes since 1987. Her autobiography Coming To England, was published in 1997.

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.

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. She is styled Dr Floella Benjamin by the University on its website. She succeeded Lord Alexander of Weedon to become the Chancellor of the University of Exeter.

Fact file

Name: Floella Benjamin

Date of birth: 23/9/1949

Education: Penge Secondary Girls School - University of life.

Born: Marabella, Trinidad

Current home: South London