George Webster (presenter): Difference between revisions

| caption = WebstersWebster in 2021

Webster was born in Rawdon in [[West Yorkshire]]. He was born with [[Down's syndrome]],<ref name=":0" /> a condition caused by an extra copy of [[chromosome 21]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Lois |date=2021-10-01 |title=Could this be the last generation of Down's syndrome children? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/life/could-last-generation-downs-syndrome-children/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Growing up, he struggled to enunciate properly, prompting him and his family to learn [[Makaton]];<ref name=":0" /> [[Mr Tumble]] was his role model due to his use of the language.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-02 |title=CBeebies presenter releases debut children's novel 'This is Me' |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/23358311.cbeebies-george-webster-releases-novel-world-book-day/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |language=en}}</ref> He attended St. Peter's Primary School, [[Benton Park School]],<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing: Viewers heap praise on Leeds TV presenter George Webster after he wows with Charleston in Christmas special |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/strictly-come-dancing-viewers-heap-praise-on-leeds-tv-presenter-george-webster-after-he-wows-with-charleston-in-christmas-special-3966049 |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=[[Yorkshire Evening Post]]}}</ref> and [[Shipley College]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Rawdon man with Down's Syndrome 'excited' to become CBeebies presenter |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19597939.rawdon-man-downs-syndrome-become-cbeebies-presenter/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |language=en}}</ref> Aged eight, he joined Stage Door,<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=New sci-fi film starring Bethany and George |url=https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/news/our-voice-our-stories/new-sci-fi-film-starring-bethany-and-george/ |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=[[Down's Syndrome Association]]}}</ref> a performing arts and music school in [[Guiseley]], which he was a member of until he was nineteen. He also later joined Mind the Gap,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-21 |title=Dancers with autism and learning disabilities devise bold new show |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18250366.world-not-set-guys-artforms-like-helm-changing/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |language=en}}</ref> a performing arts college in [[Bradford]],<ref name=":7" /> and spent a few years at a drama class at Elev8 in [[Horsforth]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=George Webster in new short film, S.A.M |url=https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/news/our-stories/george-webster-sam-film/ |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=[[Down's Syndrome Association]]}}</ref>

In 2016, he started spending his Saturday mornings volunteering at a Parkrun in [[Woodhouse Moor]] in Leeds,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Delgado |first=Kasia |date=2022-12-20 |title=George Webster on his Strictly debut: 'Down's syndrome doesn't stop me doing anything' |url=https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/george-webster-strictly-debut-downs-syndrome-2039168 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> Hyde Park Harriers.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Danny |date=2023-10-01 |title=Presenter George Webster: 'I feel like a revolutionary' |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/presenter-george-webster-i-feel-like-a-revolutionary-9j3xmn3wj |access-date=2024-05-28 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> He later took over the course himself and became a Parkrun ambassador.<ref name=":2" /> While volunteering, a [[Sky UK]] TV crew who were filming nearby asked if they could film him for a day for a series they were making.<ref name=":0" /> They released a film about his running in 2019,<ref name=":2" /> which aired as part of ''Jessica's Parkrun Heroes'', which was presented by [[Jessica Ennis-Hill]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Jessica's parkrun heroes with Sky On Demand |url=https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/news/29877/11688778/watch-jessica-s-parkrun-heroes-with-sky-on-demand |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref> That year, Webster took a post at Café 21 Co in [[Leeds]],<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=George |date=2024-03-15 |title=I'm famous but I still work in a cafe - it's great fun |url=https://inews.co.uk/opinion/famous-work-cafe-fun-2940236 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> a café launched in 2019 and staffed by people with Down's syndrome.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Petter |first=Olivia |date=2019-01-21 |title=Café staffed by people with Down's syndrome launches in Leeds after successful trial {{!}} The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/downs-syndrome-cafe-21-leeds-sunshine-and-smiles-charity-2019-a8738396.html |access-date=2024-05-30 |work=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> He has credited the café with giving him "a sense of independence", and stated in 2024 that he still put in shifts there when he could.<ref name=":5" />

After being scouted by the [[BBC]] following his work with Mencap,<ref name=":2" /> he recorded a video for [[BBC Bitesize]] called ''Busting Myths'',<ref name=":0" /> in which Webster talked about common misconceptions of Down's syndrome.<ref name=":2" /> The clip went viral on social media, prompting CBeebies to contact him and offer him an interview,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Wollaston |first=Sam |date=2023-02-28 |title='Why can't we be the hero?': George Webster on acting, ambition, romance and big breaks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/28/george-webster-interview-cbeebies-downs-syndrome |access-date=2024-05-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and he began presenting for the channel as a guest presenter.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Pidd |first=Helen |date=2021-09-22 |title='I'm loving life,' says first CBeebies presenter with Down's syndrome |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/22/im-loving-life-says-george-webster-first-cbeebies-presenter-with-downs-syndrome |access-date=2024-05-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> His first CBeebies show, broadcast 20 September 2021, saw Webster perform [[Saturday Night Fever]]-style dance moves, make a smoothie, and recite a poem. A clip of this went viral on Twitter, and within two days of broadcast it had been viewed over 1,200,000 times.<ref name=":1" /> Hayley Newman of the ''i'' wrote that Webster had "effervescence, bubbly charm, a quick wit", "a trendy vibe that his viewers aspire to emulate", and "an extra chromosome",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Hayley |date=2021-09-23 |title=My child has Down's syndrome, her joy seeing George Webster on CBeebies matters |url=https://inews.co.uk/opinion/downs-syndrome-daughter-george-webster-cbeebies-representation-matters-1214250 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> while his appointment was praised by [[Sally Phillips]], Mencap, and [[Cerrie Burnell]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Hannah J. |date=2021-09-21 |title='A brilliant role model': CBeebies hires first presenter with Down's syndrome |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/sep/21/a-brilliant-role-model-cbeebies-hires-first-presenter-with-downs-syndrome |access-date=2024-05-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He was later hired as a full-time presenter, and won Best Presenter at the British Academy Children's Awards in 2022.<ref name=":0" />

Webster then appeared with Bethany Asher in ''Bebe A.I.'',<ref name=":8" /> a sci-fi short which aired as part of the [[Oska Bright Film Festival]] in March 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Jason |date=2022-04-10 |title=Oska Bright Film Festival Review |url=https://brightonsource.co.uk/reviews/oska-bright-film-festival-2022-review/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Brighton Source |language=en-US}}</ref> in which he and Asher played a couple with Down's syndrome who were fighting to save an android baby they wanted to adopt.<ref name=":8" /> He then played a telegram boy in ''The Railway Children Return''.<ref name=":0" /> In 2022, he participated in that year's ''Strictly Come Dancing'' Christmas special, where he performed a [[Charleston (dance)|Charleston]] to "Good News" from [[Nativity! The Musical|''Nativity! The Musical'']].<ref name=":6" /> He and his dance partner [[Amy Dowden]] practiced for three weeks beforehand, as often as they could fit into Webster's schedule.<ref name=":2" /> His other competitors were [[Nicola Roberts]], [[Larry Lamb]], [[Rickie Haywood-Williams]], [[Rosie Ramsey]], and [[Alexandra Mardell]], who won the episode.<ref name=":6" /> He later appeared on ''Casualty'',<ref name=":4" /> where he played the drug dealer Josh Milner,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-31 |title=George Webster |url=https://tresamagazine.com/2023/05/31/george-webster/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=TresA |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''World on Fire'', where he played Ted.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is World on Fire based on a true story? |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/world-on-fire-true-story/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}</ref> On [[World Book Day]] (2 March) 2023,<ref name=":3" /> he published an autobiography, ''This Is Me'',<ref name=":0" /> which initially stemmed from the poem he read during his first day presenting on CBeebies.<ref name=":3" /> A further book, ''Why Not?'', was published in 2024.<ref name=":5" />

[[Category:Living21st-century peopleBritish actors]]

[[Category:English21st-century children'sBritish television presenterswriters]]

[[Category:Television presentersActors with disabilitiesDown syndrome]]

[[Category:ActorsEnglish withchildren's Downtelevision syndromepresenters]]

[[Category:21st-centuryTelevision Britishpresenters writerswith disabilities]]