STRIDING across the arena floor, the colossus of CBeebies clowns Mr Tumble got the kind of reception from a packed house of fans that Messrs Cameron, Miliband and Co could only laugh about receiving. Those of us chuckling our way through our second childhood, with three-year-old granddaughter hanging on Mr T's every (ahem) tumble, can only place award-winning entertainer Justin Fletcher on the same pedestal as Richard Hearne's endearing Mr Pastry. As few onlookers were old enough to make the same connection, let's just say that if Mr T launched the circus party as General Election contenders he'd probably be running the country.

The main difficulty for Justin is that his many guises – some say he has a passing resemblance to Mr Tumble – ensures that a live show can only feature a few, while the remainder appear on the giant video screen at the back of the stage.

Fortunately, cod Geordie Keith Fitt made the trip and entertained with an audience participation game alongside the bouncing figures of presenters Andy Day and Cat Sandion, plus Swashbuckle host Gemma Hunt and Steven Kynman's worrywart of Justin's House, Robert the Robot.

The fact that Fletcher uses his fame to promote the cause of disability, and sign language in particular, makes him one of best all-round family entertainers since slapstick started.

Our three-year-old swept down to the front to wave goodbye to her hero and was genuinely concerned that granddad hadn't been chosen to take part in any games on stage. One tumble-taker in the family is quite enough.

Viv Hardwick