Jess French Explained

Jess French
Education:Norwich School, University College London, University of Nottingham
Occupation:Television presenter, veterinarian, author
Notable Works:Minibeast Adventure with Jess

Jess French is a British television personality, veterinarian and author. She is the presenter of a television programme called Minibeast Adventure with Jess which has aired on CBeebies.[1] French is also a best-selling children's author[2] and a regular contributor to science and literary festivals such as Hay Festival, Edinburgh festival, Cheltenham Science Festival, Bath Festival of Children's Literature and Norwich Science Festival and printed press such as The Guardian, BBC Wildlife, The Week.

TV career

French has worked on a number of shows as a wildlife (in particular creepy-crawly) expert including, Live 'n' Deadly (CBBC), Deadly Mission Madagascar (CBBC), Springwatch (BBC) and Micro Monsters 3D (Sky).[3] Since April 2014 she has presented a series of twenty 9-minute episodes of Minibeast Adventure with Jess on the CBeebies channel. She has also appeared on The Pets Factor,[4] BBC Breakfast, Sunday Brunch and Springwatch. In December 2022, French appeared alongside Ken Follett, Ria Lina and Susan Collins (artist) on the University Challenge Christmas special, representing University College London.

Radio

French co-presents a radio series with Ben Garrod for BBC Radio 4 called Wild Inside, in which she carries out post mortem examinations on exotic species and discusses her findings.

On 12 August 2019, she appeared on the podcast Trees A Crowd with David Oakes.[5]

Education

French has degrees in zoology (from University College London), veterinary science and veterinary medicine and surgery (from University of Nottingham).

Books

French is one of the UK's top-selling authors of non-fiction books for children. She usually writes on the theme of animals, nature and the environment. In August 2020 she released her debut picture book. Her middle grade debut, Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain, publishes with Bonnier Group in January 2024.

French was one of the 2021 World Book Day authors, with her title 'Protect the Planet', published by DK (publisher).[6]

Awards

French won the Jane Goodall Global Youth Leadership award in 2010 for setting up a program to teach children about environmental issues.[3] [30]

In 2015, French was named number 43 on BBC Wildlife magazine's Power List of conservation heroes.[31]

French's book 'Fluttering Minibeast Adventures' was nominated for the 2017 Educational Writers' Award.[32]

In 2022, French's book 'Earth's Incredible Oceans' won a Gold Nautilus Award[33] and 'It's a Wonderful World' was named 'Top Value Toy' in the 2022 Right Start awards.

Early life

French has lived across the world, from Chile to Thailand. She grew up in Norfolk[34] and studied at Norwich School.[35] She gained a first class degree in zoology at University College London[3] [36] where she was active in the volunteering department, winning awards for her work teaching children about conservation[37] and for setting up a sign language society.[38] She has studied primates across the world and has a particular interest in gorillas.[39] She gained her degree in veterinary medicine and surgery from the University of Nottingham and she now works as a small animal and zoo vet.[40] [41] [42] She can speak fluent Spanish and can use British Sign Language.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vet student makes CBEEBIES big time . University of Nottingham. 25 April 2016.
  2. Web site: https://twitter.com/zoologist_jess/status/1122231346838081538. 2020-09-29. Twitter. en.
  3. Web site: Jess French. Bath Literary Agency. 16 June 2015.
  4. Web site: The Pets Factor – Pets Fact-or-Not: Golden Cat. 2020-09-29. bbc.co.uk. en.
  5. https://www.treesacrowd.fm/dr-jess-french/ Trees A Crowd
  6. Web site: Protect the Planet. 2020-12-10. World Book Day. en-gb.
  7. News: Eyre. Charlotte. Egmont signs CBeebies presenter. 16 June 2015. The Book Seller. 8 April 2015.
  8. Web site: Tickly Minibeast Adventures – Egmont. egmont.co.uk. 25 April 2016.
  9. Book: Jess French – Born Free Chimp Rescue – Hachette Children's Group. Hachette Children's Group. 9781510100534. 25 April 2016. French. Jess. 5 May 2016. Hachette Children's .
  10. Book: Jess French – Born Free Bear Rescue – Hachette Children's Group. 15 May 2019. 9781510100756. en-GB. French. Jess. Hachette Children's .
  11. Web site: Amazon.co.uk: Jess French: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, Kindle. Amazon.com. 6 January 2018.
  12. Web site: National Trust: How to Help a Hedgehog and Protect a Polar Bear. 2020-09-29. Nosy Crow. en-US.
  13. Web site: Saving Species. 2020-09-29. North Somerset Teachers' Book Award. en-US.
  14. Web site: What a Waste. 2020-09-29. goodreads.com.
  15. Book: Lost Species. 2019-05-15. 9781526361370. en-US. French. Jess. Hachette Children's .
  16. Book: French, Jess. The Book of Brilliant Bugs. Claire McElfatrick. 27 February 2020. DK Children.
  17. Book: French. Jess. Slow Down, Monkey!. Kuijl. Eefje. 6 August 2020. Buster Books.
  18. Book: French, Jess. Let's Save Our Planet: Forests: Uncover the Facts. Be Inspired. Make A Difference. Alexander Mostov.
  19. Book: French, Jess. Earth's Incredible Oceans. Claire McElfatrick. .
  20. Web site: Cat Chat. 2022-01-10. Nosy Crow. en-GB.
  21. Web site: How to Be a Vet and Other Animal Jobs. 2021-10-15. Nosy Crow. en-GB.
  22. Web site: Puppy Talk. 2022-01-10. Nosy Crow. en-GB.
  23. Web site: It's a Wonderful World by Jess French: 9780744050189 PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books. 2022-01-10. PenguinRandomhouse.com. en-US.
  24. Web site: Bella Loves Bugs: Volume 2 : Jess French : 9780711265608. 2022-01-10. www.bookdepository.com.
  25. Web site: Billy Loves Birds: Volume 1 : Jess French : 9780711265561. 2022-01-10. www.bookdepository.com.
  26. Web site: Andy McNab leaves Transworld for 'significant long-term partnership' with Welbeck . 2022-05-31 . The Bookseller . En.
  27. Book: Ava Loves Rescuing Animals . 2023-04-20 . 978-0-7112-6771-8 . French . Jess . Happy Yak .
  28. Book: French, Jess . Pets and Their People: The Ultimate Guide to Caring For Animals – Whether You Have One or Not! . 2023-04-06 . DK Children . 978-0-241-58508-5 . English.
  29. Web site: Piccadilly Press bags fantasy adventure trilogy from TV presenter and zoologist French . 2023-09-08 . The Bookseller . En.
  30. Web site: Jane Goodall Global Leadership Awards 2010. The Jane Goodall Institute. 16 June 2015.
  31. News: Price. Jo. UK's top 50 conservation heroes. 7 May 2016. Discover Wildlife. 26 June 2015.
  32. Web site: ALCS 2017 Educational Writers' Award: CODES & INVENTIONS & ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL. alcs.co.uk. 6 January 2018.
  33. Web site: Nautilus Winners – Nautilus Book Awards . 2022-05-31 . en.
  34. News: Nottingham student is new face of CBeebies. 16 June 2015. Nottingham Post. 17 April 2014.
  35. Web site: Norwich School – ON Jess French presents a new show about creepy crawly pets on CBeebies. norwich-school.org.uk. 3 November 2016.
  36. News: ON Jess French presents a new show about creepy crawly pets on CBeebies. 16 June 2015. Norwich School. 22 April 2014.
  37. Web site: Student volunteers scoop award for school project. 25 May 2010. University College London. 25 April 2016.
  38. Web site: UCLU Sign Language Society. UCLU. 25 April 2016.
  39. Web site: Falconer . Daniel . Jess French exclusive interview: Minibeast Adventure . 2023-01-20 . www.femalefirst.co.uk . en.
  40. News: Vet student makes CBEEBIES big time. 16 June 2015. University of Nottingham. 17 April 2014.
  41. News: Falconer. Daniel. Jess French exclusive interview: Minibeast Adventure. 16 June 2015. Female First. 18 April 2014.
  42. Web site: Jess French on BBC Breakfast. Vimeo. Kindle Entertainment. 16 June 2015. 25 April 2014.