Former CBBC star Angellica Bell was moved to tears as she opened up about the impact she had as the face of CBBC in the early 2000s – and admitted: “Sometimes I feel like I failed”.
The presenter, now 48, became a familiar face on children’s TV channel CBBC at the turn of the century, hosting a range of popular programmes such as 50/50 and Short Change during her time on the channel from 2000 to 2006.
But in an emotional conversation on Hits Radio with Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two host, Fleur East, Angellica was left fighting back tears as she admitted that she felt like she “hasn’t done enough”.
During the discussion, Angellica and Fleur reflected on the significant impact she had, particularly for Black children who saw themselves represented on television during that era, reports The Mirror.
In her conversation with Fleur, Angellica, who has also co-hosted the Martin Lewis Money Show, and who gained a Politics degree from UWE in Bristol in 1996, opened up and said: “I didn’t realise the impact of being on CBBC at that time.”
She recounted an encounter with a fan who told her: “Angelica, you were my childhood”.
Angellica went on: “I’m grateful for those experiences, and maybe the tough time I went through when I was trying to work out who I was, actually was worth it.”
And Fleur praised Angellica for her impact on the community, remarking: “Like you said, you weren’t comfortable to wear braids and things like that in the beginning, and maybe if you did you maybe wouldn’t be in the position you are now.
“You just being on TV, for all the young black kids just watching you on TV, gave people hope. Maybe if you’d had more of an example before you got in that position, you’d could’ve stepped into who you are a lot sooner. Thank you, on behalf of a whole generation,” Fleur added sincerely.
However, Angellica was overcome with emotion as she tearfully responded: “Sometimes I think I failed. Sometimes I think that I haven’t done enough.”
Fleur then comforted her, assuring Angellica: “Never ever think that you haven’t done enough. You’ve done more than enough.”
In light of the conversation, dozens of Angellica’s fans have rallied around her on social media, calling her an “icon” and an “inspiration”.
It began with BBC Newsround presenter, De-Graft Mensah, sharing the clip of Angellica and Fleur’s conversation on X (formerly Twitter), and writing: “This actually made me sad.
“Angellica Bell, you have never failed us! The amount of times you come up in conversation as someone who was SO important to have on TV growing up. Your impact and legacy will never be forgotten. A genuine ICON.”
And others quickly joined the chorus of support, with one writing: “Shout out to Angellica Bell. She deserves her flowers. One of the very few black faces I saw on CBBC growing up.”
Another commented: “Angellica Bell is a legend and the blueprint. You never failed us, not one bit.”
A third added: “Angellica Bell, I went to school with a girl who had a photo of you in her locker. Don’t ever say you failed and that you didn’t do enough. She aspired to be you. You are enough.”
And a fourth posted: “Realising the significance of Angellica Bell’s presence as a child, now I’m an adult pulls at my heart. I would wake up, go to school and she’d be there, glowing, unapologetically. How amazing I felt to be a little black boy. You will always be loved. Thank you so much.”