Mr Tumble’s New Romance: Inside Justin Fletcher’s Happy Family Life
The beloved CBeebies star, known to millions as Mr Tumble, is reportedly head-over-heels in love, marking a significant new chapter in his personal life. Justin Fletcher, 55, the energetic presenter behind the iconic Mr Tumble character and a host of other children’s favourites, has found his “one” in Samantha Dorrace, who is 21 years his junior. The couple, who have been living together at Fletcher’s £2.5 million farmhouse in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, were recently spotted arriving at The Mount Country Manor Hotel & Golf in Wolverhampton, looking every bit the happy couple.
Fletcher, who has dedicated his career to entertaining young audiences through shows like Something Special, Justin’s House, and Gigglebiz, previously admitted to a struggle in finding a life partner due to his demanding work schedule. He had openly expressed a desire to “settle down” and start a family, stating, “I’m not married, live alone and have been single for a while now because I’ve been a workaholic filming Something Special, Justin’s House and Gigglebiz. 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. A couple of kids would be lovely.”
It appears that wish has now come true, with friends of the couple reportedly “thrilled” that Justin has found Samantha. A source close to the pair revealed, “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.”
The pair’s romance reportedly blossomed last year, with Samantha moving into Fletcher’s spacious six-bedroom home shortly after they reconnected. The farmhouse is described as their “sanctuary” and a place where they both feel most content. Their relationship is known to their close friends and colleagues who participate in Fletcher’s current “Justin Live: Justin Time to Rock!” tour, where both he and Samantha are actively involved.
While Samantha maintains a degree of privacy on social media, refraining from directly tagging Justin, she frequently shares glimpses of her life at his home, referring to him affectionately as “her partner.” In a sweet anecdote shared in March, Samantha recounted a charming domestic project: “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.” This detail paints a picture of a shared life filled with simple joys and a strong partnership.
A Surprising Connection: Mr Tumble and Wayne Rooney’s Vasectomy Quip
In an amusing twist, the CBeebies icon has also become the unlikely subject of a light-hearted confession from football legend Wayne Rooney. The former Manchester United star, 40, jokingly attributed his vasectomy to the sheer endurance required to watch Mr Tumble. During an episode of “The Wayne Rooney Show,” Rooney declared his supposed “hatred” for the character, explaining that after enduring the show with each of his four sons – Kai, Klay, Kit, and Cass – he simply couldn’t face another viewing.
“I hate Mr Tumble,” Rooney confessed to hosts Kae Kurd, Kelly Somers, and guest Steve Bracknell. “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 in 2018, following the birth of his youngest son, Cass. While there had been speculation that the couple might have been hoping for a daughter, Coleen Rooney clarified in a 2023 interview that they felt their family was complete after welcoming their fourth son.
The contrasting narratives – one of blossoming romance and family aspirations, the other of a humorous, albeit exaggerated, anecdote about a child’s television character – highlight the broad impact and recognition that figures like Mr Tumble command, even extending into the personal lives and anecdotes of high-profile celebrities. For Justin Fletcher, it seems, the joy he brings to children has now translated into profound personal happiness, a sentiment warmly embraced by those close to him.
