Image source, Rebecca Keatley
Rebecca Keatley and her partner Jim, pictured in Worthing, are expecting their first child in December
For parents across the country, Rebecca Keatley is one of those magical people who can give them a little break while she entertains their little ones through the screen.
But soon the CBeebies presenter, 11, will see the process from the other side, as she prepares to give birth to her first child this winter.
The Port Talbot actress, who now lives in Manchester where CBeebies is filmed, has seen from “this side of the fence” how important shows like Let’s Play can become for families.
Keatley wanted to work in children’s and youth television from a young age.
She had her first taste of acting as a teenager, making the final three and a pitching tryout after an audition for The Disney Club, which was ultimately won by Fearne Cotton.
Image source, Rebecca Keatley
Rebecca Keatley with CBeebies’ Mr Maker, Mr Bloom and Basil Brush at a summer event
She first caught the acting bug from a group of drama students “at the back of the bus” who were “so much fun” during her trips to Gorseinon College in Swansea, where she registered to do the baccalaureate.
She quickly persuaded her parents to let her also take a BTEC in performing arts, and from there she studied acting at Mountview Drama School in London.
Her move to CBeebies came after several years working in theatre, television and promotions when her friend, CBeebies presenter Andy Day, told her she should audition for a new show being made for chain.
Although she was “a little late” in contacting us, the producers let her come and read for the role and she ended up working the role alongside Sid Sloane on Let’s Play and presenting at CBeebies House.
Working in children’s television meant for Keatley adapting to a different way of working.
“Before, I would have said that the worst thing is that there is no preparation time,” she says. “It’s low budget, it’s fast content, they want to get things out as quickly as possible.
Image source, Huw Evans Photo Agency
Rebecca, pictured on a cruise to Norway, studied acting in London after leaving Port Talbot
“I was very nervous about it because I thought I had to prepare,” she said.
“Whereas now, I find it a blessing, because without having time to think and just being spontaneous, you often get the best out of yourself.
“You’re not that valuable, and I think that’s something that I’m really happy that kids’ television gave me.”
The prospect of becoming a parent has given her a different outlook on the work she produces.
She explained: “Talking to other cast members who already have children, you know how important it is.
“(They talked) about how they really cherish the shows and the characters, and how they’re a part of your family life, so I’m looking forward to that.
“I obviously get that from being in the business. Meeting families, meeting kids, I get that when I meet them because it’s special to be on this side of the fence, and I think that I will really, really be grateful to CBeebies when my child arrives.
Rebecca does the Halloween CBeebies House with Evie Pickerill
Pregnancy is often a time of food aversion and exhaustion, but for Keatley, the opposite is true.
She suffers from an autoimmune disease, which can be triggered by the makeup required for television work.
“I’m very sensitive to chemicals, so your body reacts to a lot of foods and chemicals,” she said.
“It was a real problem with the first series of Let’s Play because of the glues, the moustaches, the make-up. It was really hard because I had all these problems,” she said.
She manages this illness by being very careful about the foods she eats.
“The first trimester was amazing because I actually felt really energized and I was able to eat and drink everything. I felt really good,” she said.
She underwent immunotherapy, which involves exposing her to very small amounts of substances that she reacts to in order to desensitize her system.
Image source, Rebecca Keatley
CBeebies presenter Joanna Adeyinka-Burford with Rebecca at the CBeebies Robin Hood panto closing night, after filming finished in Llandudno
It was an area that “sparked his interest” for years to come.
“I’ve read so many books on the subject and I’ve been really fascinated by gut health for 15 years, how diet affects our well-being, our health and our mental health as well,” she said. she declared.
“It’s a path that I would like to explore a little more, for the health of my child and future generations as well.”
With a library “mostly filled with books on gut health,” she would consider taking a nutrition course in the future to deepen her understanding of the subject.
So, is Rebecca Keatley Investigates the Gut a show viewers should be paying attention to in a few years?
She laughed, but added: “I’m really fascinated by it all, because it’s about helping yourself – that’s where it starts and then before you know it, you’re say: it’s incredible.
“The human body is incredible and we know so little about it.”
