About half a year ago, George Webster refuted five prejudices about people with Down syndrome in a BBC video. The 20-year-old from Leeds lives with the genetic anomaly himself. In the video he also talks about his greatest successes to date: he danced in the finals of a national dance competition, acted in a short film and is an ambassador for the British charity Mencap. Another success came on Monday. Webster becomes the first TV presenter with Down syndrome at CBeebies, the British Kika.
The broadcaster, which belongs to the BBC and is aimed at children under the age of seven, announced this via a Twitter video. For several years now, CBeebies has been known for putting a lot of emphasis on diversity in their program. For example, the moderator Ben Cajee has already spoken to his viewers several times about racism. Cajee is “mixed race”, as they say in England, the son of a white and a black. Once he told why he is optimistic about the future despite all the sad news. Another show came with him shortly after the African American George Floyd was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis. The video ends with the words “Everyone’s welcome”.
“We should have a kitchen disco,” suggests George, later he clears up a few prejudices
“Would you like to be a presenter on CBeebies?” It comes tinny from George Webster’s cell phone. “Yes, please,” replies the 20-year-old, visibly overjoyed. Webster’s mother had filmed the phone callthat made him a TV presenter. 1.4 million people have seen the moment on Twitter alone. “Are all of your dreams coming true?” She asks him afterwards. “Yes, oh my God.”
Webster says he is so proud and happy that it will start soon. There he is already standing in the colorful TV studio, where from now on he will greet “his friends”, as the viewers at CBeebies are called. What would he like to do on the show? Cook. To prove it, he’s preparing a smoothie. “An adult should do that,” he says, looking at the young audience as he turns on the mixer. And of course he still likes to dance: “We should have a kitchen disco,” suggests Webster.
“Myth: People have Down syndrome.”
The reactions to Webster in his new job have been very positive, especially among parents of children with disabilities. The 20-year-old has become a role model for her. British actress Sally Phillips, who has a child with Down syndrome, wrote on Twitter: “Oh CBeebies, I love you so much. It means so much to us and ISN’T GEORGE GREAT!” Another user posted a photo of himself and his daughter with Down syndrome, along with the lines: “Oh George !! We are so happy to see you.”
In the BBC video, in which Webster clears up prejudices about Down syndrome, there is one point about the “myth: people have Down syndrome.” Webster is very decided: “No, that’s not true. I have a great life.” He doesn’t want to talk about suffering. He also had a lot of fun at school, for example when he appeared on a stage for the first time. “When I was little, I was taught that I could be anything,” says George in the video. His stage is really big now.