Dawn French Made Me Do It!
This week on Backstage at The Berts, we’re going rogue… or should I say, silly. Because it’s Easter weekend, it’s not raining….yet! And frankly, I fancied a giggle.
It’s been a tough, intense and stressful week — one of those weeks where everything feels a bit heavier than usual. So filming something silly today wasn’t just a fun idea… it was a release. A little act of rebellion against the pressure to be polished, productive, or perfect.
So here it is: welcome to Silly Saturday.
Now, before you get too excited — no, I haven’t been signed up for Strictly, and no, there’s no West End audition pending. But I have done something that would make my younger self cringe and my grandchildren cry laughing… I filmed myself being silly.
Yes, that’s right. I pulled funny faces. I made daft noises. I stared into the camera like I was auditioning for a new series of The Vicar of Dibley. Dawn French — if you’re reading this (you’re not, but let’s dream), I promise I’m not coming for your job. Unless, of course, you fancy a break and need a Yorkshire understudy with a robot sidekick.
And if you haven’t seen her on Instagram or TikTok, you might be wondering what on earth I’m talking about — but bear with me! Dawn’s been sharing gloriously silly videos lately, and they absolutely cracked me up. (I recommend you check them out!) So I thought, why not me?
Truth is, I’ve always been a bit camera-shy. I prefer to be behind the scenes — writing, creating, coordinating, keeping the Bert chaos under control. But something about watching Dawn French be so unashamedly joyful online this week got me thinking… what’s the worst that could happen?
And I’ve also learnt something from the brilliant Jeremy Mason (check out his course https://lnkd.in/eFhra5Jw ) that you don’t have to be perfect on camera, you just have to be real. And that gave me the nudge I needed.
So, I set up my phone, took a deep breath, and gave it a go.
Let me tell you — it was liberating. There’s something truly freeing about letting go of the polished version of yourself and just… being a bit daft. It’s like reminding yourself that life doesn’t always have to be serious. Business doesn’t always have to be serious. Even growing a brand like Weebert’s World can have space for laughter.
And that’s what today is all about.
Because Weebert’s World is built on imagination and play. It’s about helping children to play, explore, imagine and create, and giggle at the possibilities. It’s about permission to be silly. And today, I’m giving myself that permission too.
You might not see me launching a comedy career anytime soon — although never say never — but I will be showing up more as my full, authentic self. Even if that means being the woman who pulls a daft face while standing next to a robot made from a Cold War spy camera.
So if you’re scrolling and need a smile, come and have a watch. I hope it gives you a giggle this Easter weekend.
And if any talent scouts are out there looking for an over-60-year-old Yorkshire grandmother with a dream, a camera, and a head full of scrap-built robots… well, I’m your woman.
Until then, I’ll be here — growing Weebert’s World one tiny robot adventure at a time, with a bit of daftness thrown in for good measure.
— Lotty
📺 Watch the silliness on our socials
📚 Free stories and activities for kids at weebertsworld.com
🎬 Subscribe to Weebert’s World on YouTube for robot giggles and STEM-inspired fun
