OPINION: Mr Tumble Silence on Israel and Gaza is deafening By Scarlett Penwick

In an era when celebrities are expected to double up as foreign policy analysts, one figure’s silence is becoming harder to ignore: Mr Tumble.

While world leaders, pop stars, and Instagram influencers race to post their essential stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, the beloved CBeebies entertainer has yet to break his monk-like silence. Not a tweet, not a Tumble Tap message, not even a strongly-worded Makaton sign.

Parents across the UK are beginning to ask the tough questions: Where does Mr Tumble stand on a two-state solution? Why hasn’t he released a joint statement with Aunt Polly? Does Grandad Tumble have a secret position on ceasefire negotiations?

As I was watching Something Special with my 4-year-old, Banana May, it suddenly hit me, Justin Fletcher is using puppets and slapstick humour to distract us from his geopolitical ambivalence.

I’ve created a Change.org petition titled ‘Demand Mr Tumble engages with Middle East Diplomacy’ and it already gathered 27 signatures and counting. The petition calls for an emergency episode of Something Special where Mr Tumble discusses conflict resolution using magic balloons and a talking spoon. Is that too much to ask of the greedy BBC presenter?!

The nation waits confused, divided, and slightly embarrassed for expecting a man in a polka-dot tie to resolve one of the worlds most intractable conflicts. Come on, Mr Tumble!