The varying fortunes of favourite children’s TV presenters

Children’s TV presenters often hold a special place in our hearts because they are familiar, smiling faces whom we grow up with.

And while some go on to successful careers hosting programmes on mainstream TV, others step away from the entertainment world to try their hand at something new. 

Many remain at large in the public eye – including Phillip Schofield, 61, who started his career by presenting ‘The Broom Cupboard’ in 1985.

Phil, who has recently come under fire for lying about his relationship with a younger colleague, has gone on to present a number of highly watched shows and is estimated to have earned around £730,000 with ITV.

But not every star stays in the industry or is given the opportunity to earn that wage, with some becoming bus drivers, MPs and even tantric sex therapists in Los Angeles.

FEMAIL takes a look at the popular faces you may recognise from your childhood and what they have been up to since their role.

DAVID JOYNER

OCCUPATION THEN: Playing Barney the Dinosaur 

NOW: Working as a tantric sex therapist  

David Joyner, 59, played the popular purple dinosaur on the PBS children’s show Barney & Friends for a decade

When he landed the job as Barney in 1991, he says he was warned by the show’s attorneys not to teach, practice, or talk about tantra while under contract with them 

Joyner earns around $36,498 to $72,996 per year, depending on how many clients he has per week

David Joyner, 59, played the popular purple dinosaur on the PBS children’s show Barney & Friends for a decade. 

When he landed the job as Barney in 1991, he says he was warned by the show’s attorneys not to teach, practice, or talk about tantra while under contract with them.

But the former kids star said he ignored their warnings and continued to practice sexual spirituality in secret.

In 2001, Joyner hung up his suit for the last time and became a spiritual healer, but nowadays he practices as a tantric sex therapist.

He even used his tantric training for parts of show, such as surviving the 120 degree heat inside his T-Rex costume, and for digging deep to find the ‘joy’ during gruelling shoots.

‘The energy I brought up [while] in the costume is based on the foundation of tantra, which is love,’ he told Vice. ‘Everything stems, grows, and evolves from love. 

‘Even when you have emotionally blocked energy, the best way to remove it is to remove it with love, and then replace it with God’s divine love. Love heals and allows you to continue to grow.’

His practice is based in Los Angeles, California and Joyner charges $350 for a full tantric massage session which includes a ritual bath, chakra balancing, a massage and orgasms. He says he meets many of his ‘clients’ on Tinder.

The sessions last between three to four hours and a normal working week would see him ‘satisfy’ around two to four women over that period. 

This means that Joyner earns around $36,498 to $72,996 per year, depending on how many clients he has per week. 

Joyner spoke to the Mail about his experience playing Barney. He said: ‘At first, you know, I had a hard time dealing with it. 

‘Barney’s getting all this popularity and no one knows it’s me.

‘After a while, it was almost like God sat me down and said ‘I’m going to use all your talents to help bring love and joy to children.’

‘Once I kind of received that message and once I knew what Barney was doing and the effect that Barney was causing to so many different children and parents, then it became an honour and then it became like, okay, this is a blessing, this is a joy. 

‘And I want to make this the best thing that I’m possibly doing at this moment and to have fun doing it.’

The show was axed in 2010 but Mattel announced that the purple dinosaur is now set to return to our screens in 2024. 

ESTHER MCVEY

OCCUPATION THEN: Presented But First This! 

NOW: Working as an MP 

Esther presented a CBBC show named But First This! in 1991 during the summer holidays. Pictured: Esther is in the red top 

Esther presented a CBBC show named But First This! in 1991 during the summer holidays. 

She graduated with a degree in law, before she became a graduate trainee with the BBC the same year she presented the programme. 

She then went onto to present other television shows such as GMTV, which is now known as ITV Breakfast Broadcasting Limited.

She returned to university in 2008 to do an MSc in corporate governance at Liverpool John Moore’s university.

Esther went into politics and became a Conservative MP in 2010 – just as David Cameron became Prime Minister after he took over from Gordon Brown. 

She was Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government between July 2019 and February 2020.

SUE MONROE 

OCCUPATION THEN: Presented CBeebies 

NOW: Children’s book author  

Sue Monroe (far right), 48, presented CBeebies in the early noughties and also played Poppy on Playdays

Sue has authored books and also has a children’s clothing and toy shop. Pictured: Sue on an Instagram story

Sue Monroe, 48, presented CBeebies in the early noughties and also played Poppy on Playdays. 

She went onto to present Wakey, Wakey on GMTV from 2006. In September 2008, the show was relaunched as The Fluffy Club.

She went from her front-facing presenter role in the broadcast sector to writing children’s books.

One of her books, The Magnificent Moon Hare, has been translated into five languages. 

Monroe also owns a children’s clothing shop named P.J and The Hare in Cuckfield West Sussex.

JUSTIN FLETCHER 

OCCUPATION THEN: Performed as Mr Tumble

NOW: Comedian and author   

Justin Fletcher, 52, shot to fame with his BBC show, Something Special which first aired in 2004. (Pictured as Mr Tumble in 2021)

Fletcher is worth £1.5 million, which he has earned through his work as a comedian, presenter and actor 

Many children will remember Mr Tumble – a funny man with a red nose, spotty tie, and who always wore colourful attire. 

Justin Fletcher, 52, shot to fame with his BBC show, Something Special, which first aired in 2004. 

Fletcher is worth £1.5 million, which he has earned through his work as a comedian, presenter and actor.

He regularly stars in Reading pantomime shows at the Hexagon, as he grew up in Berkshire.

He spoke to The Mirror about his personal life in 2012, and told them: ‘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 would love to have children so need to find someone who likes kids. A couple of kids would be lovely.’

SARAH JANE HONEYWELL 

OCCUPATION THEN: Presenter of Higgledy House 

NOW: Theatre school founder 

Children’s TV star: Sarah Jane shot to fame in 2002 as a kids’ TV presenter on shows such as Higgledy House and Mighty Mites

Sarah Jane Honeywell’s ill-fated career hit a speedbump when she posed for PETA during a break from her presenting duties in 2011 (Pictured)

She founded the Curious Theatre School in Lincoln with her husband, Ayden Callaghan, but it got ransacked early this year (Sarah Jane pictured in 2018)

Sarah Jane Honeywell, 49, shot to fame in 2002 on shows such as Higgledy House and Mighty Mites.

The former presenter enjoyed huge fame on the kids’ TV circuit in the various BBC shows, however her ill-fated career hit a speedbump when she posed for PETA during a break from her presenting duties in 2011.

After posing topless on a huge plate of food in London’s Trafalgar Square to oppose eating meat, she was met with rage from bosses and was dropped from the channel.

Sarah Jane admitted she only agreed to do the shoot for a ‘bit of fun’ and wasn’t paid for her involvement.

In December 2021, Sarah Jane discussed being sacked by CBeebies, and opened up about her problems with drugs and alcohol.

Speaking with Scott Dalton on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, she said: ‘My ex said that I did drugs as well and then they took me off air.’

Her friend pleaded with her to get help for drug and alcohol issues in 2001, with Sarah revealing: ‘It was my birthday and we were at a night club and it was just awful, and you realise the answer is not where you think it is.

‘My friends told me I had everything and they asked me ‘what are you doing.’

Sarah Jane joined alcoholics anonymous and narcotics anonymous and has also now spoken of how getting sober ‘changed her life’ and it was the ‘best thing’ she’s ever done.

Now the mother-of-two presents a weekly music show every Sunday afternoon with BBC Radio Lincolnshire. 

She also founded the Curious Theatre School in Lincoln with her husband, Ayden Callaghan, best known for his role as Miles De Souza in Emmerdale from 2007 to 2008 and as Joe Roscoe in Hollyoaks from 2013 to 2016.

At the start of the year, Sarah Jane said her birthday was ruined because someone  ransacked her theatre school.

She spoke to The Licolnite  about how ‘there was a door ripped off its hinges, while a piano and thousands and pounds worth of costumes and other items inside the building were taken or damaged.

‘Numerous other items including a Mac computer and games and expensive mirrors, were also taken and damaged, along with sentimental items belonging to the students such as a drumkit, while heaters and some electrics were pulled from the walls.’  

RODD CHRISTENSEN

OCCUPATION THEN: Spencer the Painter on Balamory

NOW: Bus driver 

When work dried up after Balamory ended, Rodd Christensen became a Stagecoach bus driver and said that children still recognise him (pictured)

Tasked with one of the most important jobs in the village, Rodd Christensen’s character Spencer the Painter decorated each home in Balamory.

He was the only American resident of Balamory, and children may remember that his ladder had musical steps and that he lived in the orange house. 

Actor Rodd was born in Las Vegas and moved to Scotland for the show. 

When work dried up after Balamory ended, he became a Stagecoach bus driver and said that children still recognise him. 

He drove the number 10 bus around Perth, Scotland as young fans tried to sneak a peek of a familiar face that they had grown up with on their screens. 

Christensen told the Daily Record at the time: ‘Being a bus driver is way tougher than being an actor.

‘You are responsible for everyone on the bus, then there’s the routes to try to remember and other people on the roads to deal with.

The father-of-two moved back to to America, but his daughter, Raylin Joy (pictured) made headlines in 2011 as she entered the adult entertainment industry

‘I definitely now have a new respect for bus drivers.’  

The father-of-two moved back to to America, but his daughter, Raylin Joy made headlines in 2011.

She entered the adult entertainment industry, which first started as nude modelling.

But then she entered a career in porn, where she would perform with her stage name  – Skin Diamond.

In 2017, Raylin said she has now ditched porn for a different sector – the music industry, as she wants to become a pop star. 

As per The Mirror, she said: ‘I’ve given so much of my sexuality to the public for such a long time. Now it’s time to show them something else.’

‘I realised I was so focused on work all the time that I was living this Skin Diamond persona 24/7 and losing sight of who I was as a person.’ 

MILES JUPP 

OCCUPATION THEN: Archie the Inventor on Balamory 

NOW: Actor  

Jupp, 43, went on to have a successful career in the industry, staring in Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Johnny English Reborn and The Legend of Tarzan 

Archie taught children how to create things from things found at home items such as yoghurt pots and boxes.

But the playing the character – who lived in a pink castle – caused problems for Miles Jupp’s career as a comedian.

Parents would bring their children to his shows, as they assumed it would be child friendly, which meant that he had to alter his act and cut rude jokes to make it more PG.

Jupp, 43, went on to have a successful career in the industry, staring in Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Johnny English Reborn and The Legend of Tarzan.   

TIM VINCENT 

OCCUPATION THEN: Blue Peter presenter

NOW: Access Hollywood reporter  

Looking back: Tim was a regular on Blue Peter between 1993 and 1997 before he jetted off to the US

He was known to millions of children’s television viewers as one of the regular hosts of Blue Peter in the nineties.

But, after leaving the programme in 1997, he made his way over to America where he became a reporter on Access Hollywood and hosted several of the Miss World contests.

And Tim Vincent, 50, is unrecognisable after returning back to the UK to dedicate time to his family in 2022. 

The broadcaster, who is from Wrexham in Wales, has interviewed a plethora of A-listers, including Robert De Niro and Angelina Jolie.

But he is now more likely to be watching Peppa Pig at home with his children, four-year-old twins Felix and Jasper.  

He told Wales Online: ‘I think having children later in life kind of gives you a whole new perspective on everything.

‘You look at everything as, “Wow that’s amazing”. I love Christmas anyway – it’s one of my favourite times of the year.

‘To have small kids running around – this morning they were running around trying to find the elf on the shelf which I’d strategically put in their little toy plastic speedboat in the bath and they were hooting in laughter that they’d found Twinkletoes as they’ve nicknamed him – is amazing.’

Tim looks different today to his days as a fresh-faced Blue Peter presenter, with the screen star appearing on the show in his 20s.

He often takes to Instagram to share pictures of himself, with his silver hair styled into neat spikes.

Tim said he has now found ‘more balance in life’, adding of his family life that he’s ‘been working since the age of 16 I can afford to put different priorities forward’.

However, Tim hasn’t totally stepped away from work in the media, adding that he recently recorded a number of voiceovers and is looking forward to more future projects.

Tim previously spoke out about how he feels new dads can often be seen as spare parts during an appearance ITV’s Loose Woman in 2020.

‘That first 6-12 months you can feel a little bit separated from the events,’ he explained. 

‘Somebody said to me, which I’m not sure is absolutely true, but for a man it takes a bit longer to bond with children because the child doesn’t have any recognition of you.

‘The mum has 90 percent of the time carried the baby once it’s arrived, so it takes us a little bit of time to bond on the same level.’ 

LESLEY JUDD

OCCUPATION THEN: Presenter of Blue Peter 

NOW: Conference organiser 

Talented: Lesley Judd on Blue Peter in 1977, left, and at Buckingham Palace in 2008, right

Dancer Lesley Judd joined the team after teaching Valerie, John and Peter a routine on one edition of the show.  

She left the show in 1979 to look after her husband Terry Gabell, a editor on the show, who had multiple sclerosis.    

Judd went on to front her own children’s show, In The Limelight With Lesley, and was a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour between 1982 and 1988.

Judd, 76, now lives near Toulouse, France, and works as a conference organiser.

GEOFFREY HAYES 

OCCUPATION THEN: Presenter of Rainbow 

NOW: Died in 2018 

When Rainbow ended, Geoffrey Hayes struggled to find work in the television sector and therefore got a job at Sainsbury’s, stacking shelves

He died in October 2018 aged 76 surrounded by his family and many took to social media at the time to pay tribute to the star. Pictured in 2015 

Geoffrey Hayes was a presenter on the show between 1974 to 1992 alongside the puppets Zippy, George and Bungle. 

Prior to landing his big break at Rainbow, Geoffrey worked on The Great Pony Raid in 1967 and appeared in BBC’s police drama Z-Cars. 

But when Rainbow ended, he struggled to find work in the television sector and therefore got a job at Sainsbury’s, stacking shelves.

He told The Express: ‘Like most actors, I’ve had spells of unemployment and for four months I worked two nights a week shelf-stacking in my local Sainsbury’s.

‘I didn’t do it for the money – it was just that I’d been out of work for five months and was hanging around the house becoming a pain.

‘My wife told me to do something to take my mind off it. I also did a stint taxi driving.’

Glassdoor estimates that a shelf stacker at Sainsbury’s could be paid around £10 an hour.

He died in October 2018 aged 76 surrounded by his family and many took to social media at the time to pay tribute to the star. 

STANLEY BATES 

OCCUPATION THEN: Rainbow star 

NOW:  Self-employed lighting manufacturer

Bates, who played Bungle from 1973 to 1988, was bound over to keep the peace by magistrates in 2001 after appearing on a charge of assaulting a mother in a ‘road rage’ incident

Bates, who played Bungle from 1973 to 1988, did more than just play the fluffy, clumsy bear, he also helped write the script and was ‘thrilled’ when the show did well.

He appeared in front of magistrates in 2001 after for one charge of assaulting a mother in a ‘road rage’ incident. 

At the time of the court case he was said to have become a self-employed lighting manufacturer. He is now 80 years old.

Speaking from his home in Woolpit, he told the East Anglian Daily Times: ‘I always thought Rainbow was a good, fun, educational programme, but it was all such a long time ago and it is amazing people still regard it as the best.

‘We all had such a good time making the show, and it is lovely viewers still remember it.’