Floella Benjamin author page

Floella Benjamin biography

Floella Benjamin is a Trinidadian-British author, television presenter, and actress. She is known for her work in children’s media and literature. Benjamin moved to the United Kingdom as a child and began her career in entertainment in the 1970s. She became widely recognised as a presenter on the BBC children’s programme Play School from 1976 to 1988.

Benjamin has written several books for children and young people. Her memoir, Coming to England, was first published in 1995 and recounts her experiences of moving from Trinidad to Britain as part of the Windrush generation. The book has been adapted for younger readers and is used in schools to support learning about migration and diversity. Other works include Floella’s Fun Book (1980), Skip Across the Ocean (2014), and What Are You Doing Here? (2023).

In addition to her writing, Benjamin has contributed to children’s broadcasting and advocacy. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001 for services to broadcasting. In 2010, she was made a life peer in the House of Lords, taking the title Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham. In 2020, she received a Damehood (DBE) for services to charity.

Her memoir Coming to England was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award in 2020.