Pui Fan Lee
Encyclopedia
Pui Fan Lee is a British Chinese
actress and presenter, best known for portraying Po (the red Teletubby
) in the children's television programme Teletubbies
. She was the first presenter, alongside Chris Jarvis
, to introduce programming on the BBC digital channel CBeebies
. In January 2009, Pui left presenting CBeebies.
, and began her acting career while still at school when she was chosen to be part of Central Independent Television
's children's workshop. During her time there she appeared in children's dramas such as Murphy's Mob and sketch comedy show Your Mother Wouldn't Like It
.
After graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
(LAMDA), Lee has enjoyed a wide and varied career. She appeared in the Channel 4
series Metrosexuality
, she portrayed Debra in the second season of the BBC
television comedy series Chef!
and she was 'Joy Cipriani' in Paul Abbott
's BBC drama State of Play
. She also played a small part in the film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
as one of the detainees of the Thai prison. She played a part in M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team
as a solicitor in 2005 and a prefect in The Worst Witch
. Lee has also appeared in the TV series Desmond's
as Debbie.
In 1996, Lee successfully auditioned for the part of Teletubby 'Po'. As well as playing the character in costume, she also provided the voice.
In 2001, Lee became the first face on CBeebies alongside Chris Jarvis. After 8 years hosting the channel and appearing in programmes such as Fun With Phonics, she and Chris devised Show Me Show Me
which is currently in its third series.
In February 2011, she and Jarvis toured UK theatres in The Chris and Pui Roadshow.
Lee speaks English, Cantonese
and Hakka.
On Thursday 11th August 2011, Chris Jarvis announced the birth of Pui's second child, a boy named Sacha, via Twitter
.
British Chinese
British Chinese , including British-born Chinese are people of Chinese ancestry who were born in, or have migrated to, the United Kingdom. They are part of the Chinese diaspora, or overseas Chinese...
actress and presenter, best known for portraying Po (the red Teletubby
Teletubbies
Teletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
) in the children's television programme Teletubbies
Teletubbies
Teletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
. She was the first presenter, alongside Chris Jarvis
Chris Jarvis (presenter)
Chris Jarvis is a television actor and presenter and has appeared on BBC television since 1992 - apart from 2001-02 when he was with ITV and Channel 4....
, to introduce programming on the BBC digital channel CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
. In January 2009, Pui left presenting CBeebies.
Life and career
Lee was born in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and began her acting career while still at school when she was chosen to be part of Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
's children's workshop. During her time there she appeared in children's dramas such as Murphy's Mob and sketch comedy show Your Mother Wouldn't Like It
Your Mother Wouldn't Like It
Your Mother Wouldn't Like It was a children's sketch show broadcast on ITV between 1985 and 1988. A unique aspect of the show was that the performing cast were almost entirely children....
.
After graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art is a leading British drama school in west London. LAMDA's president is Timothy West and its new principal is Joanna Read, who recently succeeded Peter James...
(LAMDA), Lee has enjoyed a wide and varied career. She appeared in the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
series Metrosexuality
Metrosexuality
Metrosexuality is a British television drama, which aired on Channel 4 in 2001 as a short-run series of six episodes. It was later re-edited into a single feature for DVD release...
, she portrayed Debra in the second season of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television comedy series Chef!
Chef!
Chef! is a British situation comedy starring Lenny Henry that aired as twenty episodes over three series from 1993 to 1996 on the BBC. The show was created and primarily written by Peter Tilbury based on an idea from Lenny Henry and produced for the BBC by Henry's production company, Crucial...
and she was 'Joy Cipriani' in Paul Abbott
Paul Abbott
Paul Abbott is a BAFTA award-winning English television screenwriter and producer. Abbott has become one of the most critically and commercially successful television writers working in Britain today, following his work on many popular series, including Coronation Street, Cracker and Shameless,...
's BBC drama State of Play
State of Play
State of Play is a six-part British television drama serial directed by David Yates and written by Paul Abbott. The serial, first broadcast on BBC One in 2003, was produced in-house by the BBC in association with the independent production company Endor Productions...
. She also played a small part in the film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (film)
# Will Young - "Your Love Is King"# Jamelia - "Stop"# Kylie Minogue - "Can't Get You Out of My Head"# Joss Stone - "Super Duper Love Pt. 1"# Mary J...
as one of the detainees of the Thai prison. She played a part in M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team
M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team (TV series)
MIT: Murder Investigation Team was a British police procedural drama series produced by the ITV network as a spin-off from the long running series, The Bill. The series is based around the investigations of a London Murder Investigation Team, and is closely styled after the American series CSI:...
as a solicitor in 2005 and a prefect in The Worst Witch
The Worst Witch (TV series)
The Worst Witch is a British ITV television series about a group of young witches at a Magic Academy. The series stars Georgina Sherrington and Felicity Jones, and is based on The Worst Witch books by Jill Murphy. It aired for a total of 3 series between 1998 and 2001 before being followed by...
. Lee has also appeared in the TV series Desmond's
Desmond's
Desmond's is a British television situation comedy broadcast by Channel 4 from 1989 to 1994. The first series was shot in 1988, with the first episode broadcast in January 1989...
as Debbie.
In 1996, Lee successfully auditioned for the part of Teletubby 'Po'. As well as playing the character in costume, she also provided the voice.
In 2001, Lee became the first face on CBeebies alongside Chris Jarvis. After 8 years hosting the channel and appearing in programmes such as Fun With Phonics, she and Chris devised Show Me Show Me
Show Me Show Me
Show Me Show Me is a television show on CBeebies presented by Chris Jarvis and Pui Fan Lee. They teach and show children and read stories about their toys...
which is currently in its third series.
In February 2011, she and Jarvis toured UK theatres in The Chris and Pui Roadshow.
Lee speaks English, Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
and Hakka.
On Thursday 11th August 2011, Chris Jarvis announced the birth of Pui's second child, a boy named Sacha, via Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
.
External links
- Profile at Blackburn Sachs Associates
- Interview on CBeebies.com
- The Chris and Pui Roadshow website