Being a children’s TV presenter seems like a dream job – all smiles, fun games, and a colorful, playful set.
For many children, celebrities appear to live a life filled with endless fun and games.
But away from the cheery waves and scripted laughter, there’s a far more complicated story.
Many popular shows that once seemed perfectly innocent have faced scandals over time, ranging from drug investigations to accusations of mistreatment.
What seems like innocent fun in children’s television can actually be much more complex than the simple stories it presents.
Here, the Daily Mail takes a look at the presenters who have revealed the dark side to the channel.
Angellica Bell’s struggle to ‘look smaller’
Angellica Bell is best known for presenting on CBBC between 2000 and 2006.
The actress recently shared on the Spent podcast about a strange purchase she made early in her career. She explained she felt pressured to appear thinner on television, which led to the ‘ridiculous’ decision.
She described herself as a ‘chubby kid’ and confessed that, wanting to get in shape, she once bought an abdominal toning machine that used electrical pulses, hoping it would help her get a six-pack.
Angellica shared that she never dreamed of being on TV when she was younger. She admitted she didn’t think she was attractive enough to become a presenter, and didn’t see herself as particularly noteworthy.
Before becoming a TV reporter, she held down various jobs as a teenager, including delivering newspapers and working at McDonald’s. She got her start in television in the late 1990s as a roving reporter for Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast.
Looking back, my career really took off when I joined CBBC back in 2000. I started by doing little bits in between programs, which was fantastic experience. It wasn’t long before I was given my own shows – I hosted ‘Xchange,’ ’50/50,’ and even ‘That’s Genius!’ – and it was a dream come true!
You know, even with all the amazing things someone might achieve, it’s so relatable to hear they still struggle with self-doubt. I was really struck by a recent conversation where someone admitted they still felt the need to appear ‘smaller’ on camera – it just goes to show that those insecurities don’t magically vanish with success. It’s a journey, and acknowledging that is so important.
Angellica told Matt Edmondson that she never really imagined she’d end up on CBBC.
Perhaps it was because I didn’t know the path to take. I’d always seen it and thought it seemed amazing, but I never pictured myself being a part of it.
As a kid, I wasn’t much to look at – I was a bit overweight and wore thick glasses. I didn’t think I stood out, so I just figured I’d see how things went.
I remember her telling me about buying an abs machine – she was really excited at first! But it turned out to be a bit of a letdown. She quickly figured out it just didn’t work like she’d hoped and couldn’t actually replace good old-fashioned exercise and eating well.
She added that it was a pointless expense. She also admitted feeling pressure to appear smaller on television at one point, which led her to try them. She compared it to using shapewear like Spanx.
You know, I used to feel pressure to constantly ‘shape up,’ but I’ve completely let that go. I’ve realized life’s too short to deny myself little pleasures – if I want to enjoy a treat, I absolutely will! I’ve ditched the restrictive shapewear and embraced feeling comfortable and confident just as I am. It’s about self-acceptance and enjoying life’s moments, not constantly striving for an unrealistic ideal.
I’d like to lose a little weight and get in better shape, but I just don’t have the motivation to go to the gym and put in the effort.
Richard Bacon’s haunting cocaine scandal at 22
Richard Bracon was 22 years old and had been working his dream job at Blue Peter for only 18 months when he was fired in 1997. He admitted to using cocaine at a London nightclub, leading to his dismissal. He is now 49.
After appearing on L!VE TV, Richard landed his dream role on Blue Peter. However, his newfound fame was quickly overshadowed when a tabloid newspaper exposed his past cocaine use – a story leaked by one of his friends.
Following the scandal, he was removed from the children’s show. Lorraine Heggessey, who was in charge of children’s programming at the time, made the announcement.
She expressed her disappointment that Richard Bacon, a gifted presenter, had disappointed both his coworkers and, most importantly, the many children who enjoyed watching Blue Peter.
In 2022, Richard discussed the controversy surrounding him on his show, Cancelled – which focuses on cancel culture – and recalled a moment when a Blue Peter producer told him his career was over. He said this felt like being ‘cancelled’ in practice.
If I were 22 today and used drugs at a party, I believe young people would likely be understanding and supportive.
When doctors told him he’d never work again, he refused to believe it. He thought to himself, ‘That’s not true,’ and was determined to find a way to overcome the challenge.
Let’s be real, living with ADHD means things can get messy – my life definitely has its share of chaos! I’m not perfect, and I definitely struggle with certain things. But honestly, one of my biggest strengths is resilience. I might stumble, but I’m really good at picking myself back up and moving forward. It’s something I’ve learned to embrace as part of who I am.
Richard’s situation is an early instance of what’s now called ‘cancel culture’ – when people face public criticism and backlash, often on social media, because of something they said or did in the past.
He later explained that going through the cocaine scandal actually helped him handle other difficult experiences in his life. He realized he was processing it well at the time, and believes it gave him the strength to cope better with later traumas.
Richard often thinks about the lasting impact of the scandal he was involved in. He jokes that even if he achieved something incredible, like brokering peace in the Middle East, his obituary would still lead with the fact that he was dismissed from Blue Peter.
Even if I found a cure for Covid, the first thing people would mention is my past – being fired from Blue Peter and the BBC executive’s public statement about it. It has no bearing on my current work, though.
Sarah-Jayne Honeywell’s misogynistic treatment
Sarah-Jane Honeywell, who used to present shows on CBeebies, has spoken out about the unfair and sexist experiences she had while working in children’s television.
The TV presenter, who worked during the 2000s, shared that she often felt afraid to voice her opinions, because women who did were often seen as the ones causing trouble.
I was absolutely horrified when I heard about what happened to her! She had to share a dressing room with a male presenter, and the worst part is, nobody even bothered to explain why! It’s just… unbelievable. I can’t stop thinking about how uncomfortable and wrong that must have been for her. It makes me so angry that she was put in that position with no consideration at all.
Sarah-Jane shared that when she expressed a desire to work more closely with her female colleagues, a male director reacted with anger and essentially stopped speaking to her. He seemed deeply upset by her request.
She successfully advocated for a policy allowing transgender individuals to use the dressing room aligning with their gender identity, but said it led to some coworkers excluding her by refusing to speak to her.
Sarah-Jane also experienced problems with some female colleagues. A senior staff member reportedly made hurtful comments about her appearance, calling her ‘old and ugly’ after viewing footage of her, and suggested she simply ‘cut her hair’ as feedback.
The industry was filled with prejudice against women, and a powerful male agent acted inappropriately at a dinner meeting as well.
She remembered thinking he wanted to discuss her work, but instead, he started a game of ‘truth or dare’. He then shockingly asked her to go to the restroom and remove her underwear.
I acted like I was shy, but I was actually furious. I didn’t want to upset him or risk getting on his bad side, and I’m embarrassed to admit that’s why I didn’t say anything.
Daily Mail contacted BBC for comment at the time.
Sarah-Jane became well-known as a children’s television presenter, but she was unexpectedly fired after a topless photo of her appeared, damaging her family-friendly reputation.
The TV personality participated in a controversial 2011 PETA campaign, posing nude on a large platter of food.
However, this bold action severely damaged her career, and her employers stated she was no longer suitable for working with children’s television.
She explained to BBC Radio Lincolnshire that she participated in a PETA photoshoot because she’s vegan, and the photos involved her wearing a bra and underwear.
Sarah Jane explained that she was told to remove her bra, with the suggestion it would attract more attention.
She initially believed everything would be alright, but it turned out not to be. When The Sun contacted the BBC for a statement, they confirmed she is no longer employed there.
She described her time working at CBeebies, saying there was a lot of pressure to maintain a perfect image. She recalled that her bosses were surprised when she showed them a tattoo on her back.
She recounted an experience from her time on the children’s channel, explaining that fathers often asked for photos with her, but mothers would look at her disapprovingly.
The star revealed that she is ‘still mum-shamed’ more than 10 years on from the incident.
Yvette Fielding was ‘bullied’ by her boss and molested by Rolf Harris
In 2024, Yvette Fielding publicly shared that she was sexually assaulted by Rolf Harris when she was a young teenager starting out on the children’s television show, Blue Peter.
The television presenter, who began her career with the show in 1987 at age 18, has shared that an Australian man sexually assaulted her in a TV studio within two years of joining the program, while she was alone with him.
Harris was a major BBC personality when allegations of sexual offenses surfaced 25 years later through Operation Yewtree, revealing him as a predator.
Yvette recently revealed troubling details about the show’s negative work environment in an interview. She claims crew members often ignored problems, and that she was bullied by the show’s executive producer, Biddy Baxter.
She has previously accused Biddy, who quit a year after Yvette joined of being ‘incredibly cruel’.
Perhaps the most troubling accusation she’s made is that Rolf Harris sexually assaulted her while she was unsupervised at a television studio.
She described the experience as incredibly confusing and shocking, explaining that it felt strange to realize Rolf Harris was touching her inappropriately and she was left unsure how to react.
Looking back, it’s clear others in the industry were aware of his behavior and still allowed me to be alone with him in the studio. That was a mistake, and I was so young – probably 18 or 19. I really believe they knew what he was like.
Rolf Harris, the Australian entertainer, passed away in May 2023 after a battle with cancer. This was six years after he was released from prison, where he had served time for sexually assaulting four young girls, one of whom was only seven or eight years old at the time of the offenses.
In 2013, an investigation sparked by the Jimmy Savile scandal revealed he was also a predator of children. This investigation, called Operation Yewtree, began after Savile’s death two years prior.
Yvette described a disturbing experience with Jimmy, where he took her hand and began stroking it while telling her to look into his eyes and share her thoughts.
She said that she understood certain issues were deliberately ignored, and that this was completely unacceptable. She shared these thoughts during an interview with The Sun.
In 2016, the BBC formally apologized for failing to prevent presenter Stuart Hall from sexually abusing children while working on the show Jimmy and It’s a Knockout. This apology followed a harsh review that revealed problems with the BBC’s internal culture at the time.
Rona Fairhead, who led the BBC Trust before it was dissolved, stated that the BBC let down not only those who were harmed, but also the public, its viewers and listeners, and its own employees. She explained that the BBC failed to safeguard the trust placed in it.
In 2014, the BBC declined requests for an investigation into Rolf Harris’s career there, stating that his criminal convictions didn’t involve the BBC.
Following her time on Blue Peter in 1993, Yvette hosted the children’s program What’s Up Doc? on ITV. She then went back to the BBC to present three more shows: The Heaven and Earth Show, The General, and City Hospital.
In 2002, she and her husband, Karl Beattie, created the popular paranormal investigation show, Most Haunted, which explored reportedly haunted places across Britain. The show became very successful and, even after ending its run on the Really channel in 2019, continues to be available to watch online.
Danielle Nicholls was forced to wear minimiser bras
Danielle Nicholls started her career on the CITV children’s channel as a teenager, but some viewers criticized her for having a naturally curvy figure.
The actress received a lot of feedback about her bust size, and ended up wearing minimizing bras during her appearances.
She previously shared with Daily Star that she received numerous complaints because, at 19 years old, her D-cup size didn’t match her small frame – she was a size eight – which caused issues.
Back in the 2000s, large breasts weren’t considered fashionable, so I wore a minimiser bra to make my bust look smaller.
She went on to reveal that she’s still ‘shamed’ for her assets now.
Danielle faced criticism after wearing a revealing dress on TalkTV, with one viewer calling in to complain. However, she responded strongly, declaring she wouldn’t apologize for her body.
She expressed her frustration with feeling like she needs to apologize for her natural body, specifically her large bust. She explained she’s become self-conscious over time, but feels it’s unfair to have to constantly feel embarrassed about something that’s a natural part of her.
Honestly, it really bothered me when someone seemed to be judging me for how I looked. I wasn’t dressed provocatively – it was just a little bit of cleavage, and I can’t help having a larger bust! It feels wrong to have to apologize for something completely natural like that.
Danielle spent over three years hosting shows on CITV before leaving in 2001. She later returned to children’s television, working on ITV’s Diggit and Sooty Heights.
Danielle started her career on CITV just before Sarah-Jane Honeywell lost her job presenting children’s television after some revealing photos were published.
Ben Cajee’s struggles with criticism on social media
Ben Cajee revealed that there is a dark side to being a children’s TV presenter.
The celebrity has always been a big fan of the BBC, and fondly remembers when his fifth birthday card was read on the show by Philipa Forrester back in 1992 – a dream come true for him.
Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! He’s finally talking about how tough it actually was being the guy on that kids’ show! After SIX whole years of being everyone’s favorite, he’s sharing the struggles – I’m so glad he’s finally letting us in on what it was really like. It’s amazing and heartbreaking all at once!
I was so fascinated to read Ben’s interview with The Independent! He was really honest about some tough times in his career, and he described a moment I could totally relate to – he admitted to listening to emo music while trying to hold back tears over a sad, simple dinner of leftover pasta. It was a surprisingly relatable and humanizing detail!
He confessed that appearing on TV isn’t as exciting as people think – there aren’t any fancy cars or huge amounts of money involved.
He explained he’d save the more complex and personal thoughts for his future autobiography. However, he acknowledged that appearing on national television daily creates an expectation that his life is as extravagant as someone like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – filled with luxury cars, exciting relationships, and a lot of money.
He shared that he often gets asked if he’s friends with Mr. Tumble, and he spends a lot of time dressing up in funny outfits.
Ben acknowledged that his job, while not as physically demanding or dangerous as mining, still presents its own challenges.
The star explained that ‘being a presenter is hard because it’s graft’.
He explained that the job can be surprisingly wonderful, but also incredibly tough. Dealing with criticism online and constantly appearing positive on camera is challenging.
He explained it was challenging because during his first two years creating content, he spent over 400 days in the studio, and it’s unrealistic to expect anyone to be cheerful constantly.
John Leslie’s multiple accusations of rape and sexual assault
John Leslie made a name for himself on Blue Peter from April 1989 to January 1994.
His television career ended abruptly in 2002 when Ulrika Jonsson, a TV presenter, published her autobiography. In it, she revealed she had been raped as a 19-year-old weather reporter on TV-am.
John was accidentally named, live on air, as the man in question by presenter Matthew Wright.
Ulrika wouldn’t say whether he was the one who attacked her, and she has never publicly identified her attacker.
The intense media attention surrounding the case led to more accusations of sexual misconduct from other women. One woman specifically claimed he forcibly pinned her against a bathroom wall at the Sanderson Hotel in London and sexually assaulted her.
One individual admitted to using cocaine and repeatedly pressured her to participate in group sexual activity and encounters with women. Another alleged that she met him at a nightclub, where he inappropriately touched her and exposed himself.
Yet another said that he had cornered her in a changing hut and molested her – all denied by John.
You know, I’ve always said healthy boundaries are key, and I recently had a situation that really highlighted that. I actually had to firmly tell someone to stop, and even push them away, but the most shocking part? They just…left. Like I hadn’t said anything at all! It was so bizarre, and honestly, a little unsettling. It really showed me some people just don’t process directness, and you have to protect your energy regardless.
Throughout the accusations, he was supported by his girlfriend, Abi Titmuss, a nurse he’d met in a Fulham bar back in 1999.
I stood by my boyfriend back in 2003 when he faced accusations of indecently assaulting an actress from the North East in 1997. It was a really difficult time, and I supported him through the charges that were brought against him.
He walked free from Southwark Crown Court after prosecutors dropped the case.
Abi made news when she was seen leaving court with John, and soon after appeared on the cover of several men’s magazines like Nuts, Loaded, and FHM. The couple split up the next year.
Leslie had a chance to turn things around, but his reputation suffered when photos of him using cocaine surfaced. To make matters worse, a stolen video of him with Abi in a compromising situation was released online, effectively ending any hope of a comeback.
In 2008, five years on from his last court appearance, he faced fresh rape accusations.
In this instance, the person accusing him stated she was assaulted in 1995, when she was in her early twenties. However, the case wasn’t ever brought to trial.
John has always been adamant that he is the victim and the innocent target of malicious lies.
In 2017, he was accused of inappropriately touching a woman at her bachelorette party while at a nightclub in Edinburgh.
Although he was found not guilty after a trial lasting two days at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, he subsequently lost his job as a part-time radio and club DJ, and faced further problems.
In 2020, he faced legal accusations of groping a woman at a Christmas party in London’s West End that allegedly happened in 2008.
John told the court he wasn’t a predatory sex offender and stated he mostly spoke with Jade Goody, the reality TV star who passed away three months later from cervical cancer, at the party where he’s accused of inappropriate touching.
He told the jury he had never sexually assaulted anyone, stating it wasn’t something he would ever do.
I’m outgoing and enjoy being around others. I appreciate life and try to make the most of each day, and I always aim to treat people with kindness.
Honestly, I’ve always lived a pretty straightforward life. I’ve never been one to get into trouble, and I really don’t have any interest in doing things I shouldn’t. My parents instilled good values in me – they really did a great job raising me. And, I’ve always been lucky enough to have strong female role models around me since I was a teenager.
I’m a very outgoing and cheerful person. If anyone has taken offense to that, it was certainly not my intention, and I would never want to hurt anyone’s feelings. It’s just not who I am.
I’m a very physical person – I like hugging, but it’s always platonic. People have playfully called me a big kid at times. The tabloids painted a completely false picture of me as someone aggressive and predatory, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
John faced questioning regarding his actions following accusations made by Matthew Wright that he had assaulted Ulrika Jonsson – accusations Wright later admitted were incorrect and for which he apologized. He was also questioned about the settlement he reached with News International related to the phone hacking scandal.
He described feeling deeply isolated and having thoughts of suicide. After experiencing a significant loss, he completely withdrew from public life and avoided going out at all.
Whenever I left home, people immediately knew where I was going. I lost my livelihood, my home, and everything that mattered to me.
‘I was going to take my life to stop this happening because I wanted to protect my parents.
‘I think they were suffering more than me. It was to stop what was going on.
Honestly, I really tried to fix things. I kept telling myself I could turn everything around, get back to how things should be, and just… reclaim my life. It was like I was desperately trying to steer myself back on course, you know?
Honestly, getting back out there and reconnecting with people really saved me. I’m so lucky to have amazing friends and a ton of support – I truly wouldn’t have made it through without them. They’ve been everything to me.
You know, for years, whenever I tried to speak out or share my views, the media would immediately dig up things from my past. It was a relentless cycle, and honestly, it left me feeling incredibly paranoid. It felt like everything I’d ever done was constantly being held against me, making it really difficult to move forward.
Whenever I went out, I always avoided women because of rumors that painted me a certain way. People assumed I was someone who would pursue them, and I didn’t want to deal with that.
Several of John’s former coworkers spoke up in his defense during his trial. Fern Britton, who worked with him on the ‘This Morning’ show in the 1990s, stated she believed the accusation against him was false.
A jury found the presenter not guilty after he was accused of inappropriately touching a woman at a Christmas party.
John was last known to be working DJ slots at local Edinburgh clubs.
He had previously expressed a desire to champion the right to anonymity for individuals accused of sexual offenses.
John argued to the Daily Record that the names of people accused of crimes shouldn’t be released to the public, explaining that simply being accused can ruin a person’s life before they’ve even had a chance to defend themselves.
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