Nottinghamshire born and bred, Sarah-Jane Honeywell has been one of the main faces of BBC children's channel - CBeebies - for the last three years. But she started her professional career doing something rather different.
When she was a youngster she went to dance school and gymnastics and discovered she was very bendy. At 18 she got her first job as a contortionist. "I can still do elements of it but I am 31 now."
 | | CBeebies' Sarah-Jane and Amit Sharma |
She says that she decided being a contortionist was too much like hard work and instead moved into musical theatre. "My dream was to be in Cats so I went for an open audition in London and got the job as a kitten... and moved to London at the age of 19." From musical theatre she was surprised to then get a job on TV. "I got sent to an audition, didn't think that I'd get a job... and I did... that was another dream come true." On CBeebies she works on a show called Tikkabilla. The show has some of the elements of former BBC programme Playschool.
 | | CBeebies' Sarah-Jane Honeywell |
"It's got the old Playschool windows... so we've got the round window, my favourite, the square window, my least favourite and the arch window, I quite like that one." She's loved her three years working on CBeebies, especially as it brings her so close to one of her favourite penguins. "Pingu... he's one of my favourites. I love Pingu because he is quite naughty." Her next big adventure is going on the road with some of the channel's mega stars. Sarah-Jane will be presenting CBeebies Live! at the Nottingham Arena, alongside fellow CBeebies presenter Justin Fletcher, on Saturday, 17th December 2005. She's looking forward to working live with children.
 | | CBeebies' Sarah-Jane and Amit Sharma |
"Usually they ask me if I'm a real grown up as I'm not that tall or I've been told before by a child that she didn't realise that I was a real person... they are the best audience to work for." But there's another reason why she's so happy to go on the road. "I'm so excited because I'm going to be home for Christmas."
Sarah-Jane was born in Worksop and still often visits her parents in Retford. She now lives in South East London but says: "I'd come back home any day." CBeebies Live! in Nottingham Sarah-Jane will be presenting the show at the Nottingham Arena, alongside fellow CBeebies presenter Justin Fletcher, on Saturday, 17th December 2005. CBeebies Live! has the largest cast of pre-school characters ever including Andy Pandy, Bill and Ben, Bob the Builder, Boo!, Fireman Sam, Pingu, Postman Pat with Jess The Cat, Roly Mo Show, Something Special, Tamba from Tikkabilla and the Tweenies. Tickets are priced between £19.50 and £12.50 (plus booking fee)... the 24 hour ticket hotline is 0870 121 0123, online tickets are at www.nottingham-arena.com or tickets can be purchased in person at the Nottingham Arena Box Office, Bolero Square, The Lace Market, Nottingham. | 
