She has also narrated many commercial audio books and story tapes. She hosted her own current affairs programme on Radio London's 'Black Londoners'. Floella has also worked on numerous radio programmes, from children's education and entertainment shows to adult drama. She has appeared in many pantomimes and Christmas shows including 'Puss in Boots', 'Aladdin', 'Peter Pan' and 'Babes in the Wood'. She was critically acclaimed at the Cannes film festival for her portrayal of 'Miriam' in the film which was the British entry that year. Many drama, comedy, current affairs and magazine programmes followed, including 'The Gentle Touch', 'Angels', 'Bergerac', 'A Houseful of Plants' and 'Daytime Live' In 1977 she appeared in her first feature film, 'Black Joy'. Then fate took a hand and she found her place as a presenter of the BBC's legendary children's programmes, 'Playschool' and 'Playaway', through which she became a household name. Numerous drama roles followed and she worked with some of Britain's top directors including Richard Eyre, Martyn Friend and Jim O'Brien. She then progressed to television drama, her first appearance was in 'Within These Walls' with Googie Withers. She appeared in several successful West End shows including 'Jesus Christ Superstar', 'The Black Mikado' with Michael Denison and 'The Husband in Law' with Kenneth Williams. After leaving school she spent a short time in the world of banking and accountancy, but the staid Chief Accountants Office of Barclay's Bank just didn't suit her effervescent personality and she soon found her way into the theatre.

Visit Floella's Sea of Tears page on her website One of six children, Floella Benjamin was born in Trinidad but was brought up in England. This exciting adventure story explores issues involved in migration and feelings of loneliness and being trapped in a place where one doesn't want to be. Devlin is fascinated by her stories of England and agrees to help her stowaway on a ship to get back there.

Rescued by a fisherman and his son, Jasmine begins school and encounters more prejudice and dislike because she is English, until she is saved from a group of bullies and befriended by the fisherman's son, Devlin. In Barbados her initial attempts to make friends with local teenagers meet with ridicule and she steals a motor yacht in a foolish attempt to get back to England. Her friends all think it's a wonderful opportunity, but all she knows is that she will miss them and the only life she has known. Jasmine's parents are increasingly worried about the dangers to their precious only daughter in South London so they have decided to move back, after 20 years, to Barbados.

Sea of tears floella benjamin