Who is Floella Benjamin? – from BBC presenter to OBE

Baroness Floella Benjamin is one of the most successful names in showbiz, with a 50-year career spanning theatre, film, radio and television.

Born in Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad, the 73-year-old – and one of Britain’s first black children’s TV presenters – first arrived on English shores as a Windrush child in 1960 at the tender age of 10.

Now she sits in the House of Lords as Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham, has authored over 30 books including her 2022 biography ‘What Are You Doing Here?’, and has been awarded a Special Lifetime Achievement BAFTA Award.

Here, Femail takes a look at the wife and mother – from experiencing racism, dreaming big and even turning down the late rock star David Bowie. 

She was born in Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad and has amassed over 50 years in show business

What was Floella Benjamin’s early life like? 

Benjamin’s illustrious TV career has solidified her as a British icon, however the mother-of-two began dreaming big from a small town on the Caribbean island of Trinidad on September 23, 1949.

Her policeman and jazz musician father came to Britain after emigrating from Trinidad, with her mother later joining him, along with their six children. 

The children’s arrival in England was staggered, causing Benjamin to spend 15 months away from her parents, which she says has caused her lasting pain in her life. 

She looks back fondly on the ‘wonderful sun drenched’ memories of Trinidad, which she says are in stark contrast to a ‘cold and unwelcoming’ Britain.

She revealed on her website: ‘My first memory of that wonderful sun drenched Caribbean island was when I was three years old and I treasure those memories.’

‘I came to Britain in 1960 and experienced a huge culture shock because I expected everyone to treat me kindly and with respect, but Britain was cold, unwelcoming’ she added.

‘It was violent and bleak. I had to learn to live in two cultures fast if I was going to survive.’

She again encountered racism when her family went to look at a house in Beckenham, Kent. The memory of neighbours calling the police to arrest them because they thought black people didn’t live in the area, is all too real for the star.

Benjamin has authored over 30 books including her 2022 biography ‘What Are You Doing Here?’, and has been awarded a Special Lifetime Achievement BAFTA Award

The much-loved TV presenter first arrived on English shores as a Windrush child in 1960 at the tender age of 10

Here, Benjamin is pictured at Christian charity, Scripture Union’s 150th anniversary in 2017 with Queen Elizabeth Il and Katherine Jenkins 

In the face of adversity, Benjamin’s parents bought the house and have lived there happily for 40 years. 

Benjamin’s dreams of a teaching career were cut short at age 16, after learning her parents couldn’t afford to pay for her A-Levels.

So instead, she dropped out of school with the aim of becoming Britain’s first ever black woman bank manager but reality quickly set in and Benjamin let go of the ‘impossible dream.’

A change of direction saw her audition to go on a national tour of a hit musical and the star hasn’t looked back since.

How did Floella Benjamin become famous? 

Benjamin realised her passion for cameras and bright lights, and was determined to make a name for herself.

After quitting her bank job, the star appeared in several 70s stage musicals, such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Black Mikado as well as several pantomimes.

A career on screen ensued after much grit and auditioning, and she finally landed a big break. She appeared in the 1975 horror film I Don’t Want to Be Born and starred in the 1977 film Black Joy. 

Further television credits include Angels, Within These Walls, Crown Court, The Gentle Touch and Dixon of Dock Green. 

Benjamin says she was the first person in Britain to wear beads back in the 70’s, and now it’s an ‘accepted fashion’

Another big break came in 1976 when the much-loved TV presenter landed a hosting stint on the BBC’s children’s series Play School, for which she went on to present for 12 years.

Benjamin spoke of the moment she knew she’d made a mark as a pioneering black female personality on British TV. 

She said: ‘I was appearing in Play School but no one recognised me as I wore a wig over my blue beads which was my trade mark at that time.’

‘I was the first person in Britain to wear beads back in the 70’s, now it is an accepted fashion.’ she added.

‘I did Playschool for 12 wonderful years and loved every moment of it. Working for and with kids is the best job in the world.’

She has since gone on to become a household name, with her broadcasting work being recognised with numerous awards, including an OBE in 2001, a Special Lifetime Achievement BAFTA Award in 2004 and the J.M Barrie Lifetime Award in 2012 for her lasting cultural legacy.

In 2013 she was made a Fellow of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and in 2017 she was appointed as President of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists.

She was also the first female Trinidadian to be elevated to the House of Lords in 2010 and in 2018, she was granted Honorary Freedom of the City of London when the Prime Minister appointed her Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee.

Who is Floella Benjamin married to and how many children does she have?

Benjamin has been married to husband Keith Taylor, a stage manager, for 43 years, with the couple saying ‘I do’ in 1980.

The pair have been together for more than half a century and share two grown up kids, Alvina and Aston.

However, the couple have suffered their share of heartbreak over the years as Benjamin suffered three miscarriages, revealing in her biography ‘What Are You Doing Here?’, that she had already had her first child Aston, when she miscarried the first time at nine weeks.

Benjamin has been married to husband Keith Taylor, a stage manager, for 43 years – and the couple share two adult children

Benjamin was the first female Trinidadian to be elevated to the House of Lords in 2010

In recent times, the couple are often seen out together in romantic perfection – with the pair even spotted on a romantic beach trip in Barbados last year.

The presenter looked incredible in a black mesh swimsuit while taking a stroll outside of their hotel, meanwhile husband Keith went shirtless and donned a pair of blue trunks while lounging by the sea.

What do we know about Floella’s personal life?

Although Benjamin has spoken of the joy she felt when her and now-husband Keith first locked eyes 53 years ago – the stunner was once on the radar of another admirer.

Benjamin described the surreal night she was seduced by late megastar David Bowie, when he offered her ‘the world’ at a party before his wife Angie went on to proposition her.

The star said she was swept off her feet by Bowie ‘at the height of his fame’ at a Christmas bash in 1973, before she caught the eye of Angie who had an open marriage with David.

She once revealed that rock star David Bowie offered her ‘the world’ at a party before his wife Angie went on to proposition her

Benjamin remembers turning down a night of passion with Bowie despite his best attempts to seduce her

Writing in her autobiography, she claimed the Let’s Dance crooner told her: ‘Would you like to come upstairs with me? I want to offer you the world. You can have anything you desire.’

The presenter was starring in Jesus Christ Superstar at the time and a fellow cast member who had worked as a backing singer for David invited her to the party. Other guests at the star-studded celebration included Mick Jagger, Cat Stevens and Marc Bolan.

Floella added in her book: ‘When David Bowie walked into the room, slim and charismatic, all eyes were drawn to him. He came straight over to me and bowed. “May I have this dance?” he said.’

Benjamin remembers turning down a night of passion with Bowie despite his best attempts to seduce her.

Bowie died from liver cancer in January 2016 at the age of 69.