Baroness Floella Benjamin, OM, DBE, DL is an actress, singer, presenter, author, businesswoman, philanthropist, and politician. She was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in 2008 and was listed in the 2020 Powerlist as one of the Top 100 most influential people in the UK of African/African-Caribbean descent. 

She celebrates 54 years in the entertainment industry, receiving numerous accolades, including a BAFTA Special Lifetime Achievement Award, an OBE in 2001 for services to broadcasting and the ACA-JM Barrie Award for her lasting legacy tochildren.

She was president of the Elizabeth R Commonwealth Broadcasting Fund and a governor of the National Film and Television School for 17 years, championing their diversity and inclusion policy.

She has written over 30 books including the bestselling ‘Coming to England’ which is now part of the UK National Curriculum and the 20th anniversary version was awarded a Guardian ‘Children’s Book of the Year’. The picture book version for younger children was published in 2021. Her autobiography ‘What Are You Doing Here?’ won the 2023 Parliamentary Book Award - Best Autobiography by a Parliamentarian. 

In 2006 she was the first Afro-Caribbean woman to be appointed as Chancellor of  aUK university - the University of Exeter, where there is now a statue to celebrate her chancellorship.  

She became a Lib-Dem peer in 2010 and has successfully got legislation through for the Children’s Performance Act so that children could appear on live televised broadcasts after 7pm and for the resurgence of children’s television production output by commercial broadcasters. 

She chaired both the Windrush Commemoration Committee, overseeing the creation a National Windrush Monument at Waterloo Station and the Windrush Portraits Committee for His Majesty the King to celebrate the Windrush 75th anniversary. She is actively involved with numerous charities, including the Sickle Cell Society, Transplant Links and is Vice-President of Barnardo’s.

She was made a Dame in the 2020 for services to charity and was appointed into the Order of Merit in 2022, which was one of the late Queen’s last wishes.

She was chosen by King Charles to carry the Sceptre with Dove at his coronation.

She was awarded the 2024 BAFTA Fellowship, their highest accolade for her contribution to the television industry, including broadcasting and championing legislation in parliament for the sake of children’s happiness and wellbeing.

www.floellabenjamin.com