“I need to match the right colours and shapes that would fit my personality”

How many pairs of spectacles do you own?

I own three pairs of prescription glasses: one pair for normal everyday life, one special pair for presenting at CBeebies, and one pair of sunglasses. I have a few other fun glasses that don’t have a prescription for messing about in. Soon I am getting a new pair of glasses, and I am looking forward to choosing some cool ones.

George Webster

George wears round frames when presenting CBeebies

What frame shapes, colours, or styles do you usually pick?

I usually pick round for CBeebies, and something patterned and not too square for everyday glasses. The glasses must fit my personality as I’m always positive, very smiley, and bubbly.

Can you describe your favourite pair?

I don’t tend to have favourites as I have them for different reasons and needs. My CBeebies glasses are classic gold rimmed round frames that go well with all the super bright clothes we wear on the channel.

Who would you pick as your eyewear style icon?

I would pick Robert Downey Jr because I love watching Marvel, and he wears super cool glasses.

How long have you worn your glasses for, and what prompted you to go for your first sight test?

I’ve worn glasses since I was a kid. Many people with Down syndrome tend to have some issues with their vision. I used to go to Lawrence Gaunt Opticians, a lovely local practice, and he worked out how to get glasses to fit me that would not fall off. He would put a pair of glasses on with special hoops round my ears, as my ears and nose were too little. I looked very cute.

What does vision and eye health mean to you?

This means a lot to me because, with my CBeebies job, I need to be able to look at my scripts and see what’s going on around me in the studio. This is similar with my theatre work, dancing, and other acting jobs. I do some physical theatre through my work, so wearing glasses helps with looking around and seeing where I’m going. I probably would have fallen off the golden star if I hadn’t been wearing my glasses on Strictly Come Dancing! [George participated in the show in 2022].

How important is eyewear in reflecting your personality?

It’s very important because I need to match the right colours and shapes that would fit my personality as I am always full of energy and positivity, and [I enjoy] making people laugh. I wear different glasses on CBeebies to reflect this.

You have now written two books: This Is Me!, and Why Not? Could you tell us why you wanted to write these books? What messages did you want to share with readers?

I wanted to write books because there wasn’t any representation of people with Down syndrome and other disabilities in the wider media, including books, when I was younger. I wanted to improve this.

The key messages that I want to share from This Is Me! are that we’re all different and being different isn’t a scary or negative thing, it’s a positive thing. Being unique and talented need to be celebrated. We all have a glow inside us.

In Why Not? I want to get across that we should not be scared to try different things, however big or small. If you don’t try, you will never know the things that you like and that will make you glow. Maybe a different style of glasses!

Being unique and talented need to be celebrated. We all have a glow inside us

What has been a stand-out moment in your presenting and TV career so far?

There are so many things to choose from, including: joining CBeebies as the first presenter with Down syndrome, winning a BAFTA, dancing on Strictly Come Dancing with Amy Dowden, and appearing in Casualty as I love the show. The recent Big Issue takeover was brilliant too.

George Webster

In recent years, George has written two books, won a BAFTA and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing

As a Mencap ambassador, you have shared your passion for representation on stage and screen. How would you like representation to change in the future?

People with disabilities exist all around us in real life and I would like to see this in the media too. We have lives and our stories are important, just like everyone else. Things are starting to change, with more representation in mainstream programmes – like Strictly, Doctor Who, Line of Duty, and Oscar-winning films like An Irish Goodbye. But there is still so much more to do.

Do you have any recent projects that you can tell us about?

I worked across the summer festivals with CBeebies, have been working with Mr Tumble on Something Special, and appeared at the Cheltenham Book Festival. I will also be in this year’s CBeebies Panto.

Next year I am back in France as one of the leads in a play called Back to Reality, which will be in Brittany and Paris.

I am finalising my next book, George and the Mini Dragon, which is out in February 2025. It’s going to be lots of fun.

What are your next big goals?

I love working at CBeebies! I would also like to do Doctor Who, a police drama like Blue Lights or Death in Paradise, a cameo in Eastenders, and a big blockbuster Marvel or James Bond film. I am a massive film buff.