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.

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.

Her latest release is The Arms of Britannia.

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