If you were a child in the 2010s, you would remember watching shows like True, My Little Pony: Friendship is Forever, or The Magic School Bus. While these are all animated, some of you may remember a show about twins going through real-life experiences like getting eyeglasses for the first time. This is Topsy and Tim; and yes, they are the same characters from the children’s book of the same name.
Topsy and Tim the TV show
Although the book has been around since the 1960s, the TV version of Topsy and Tim only aired in 2013 on the children’s channel, CBeebies. They based the characters and storyline from the book series created by Jean and Gareth Adamson. With the popularity of the book, Darrall MacQueen, the producer of the TV show, thought of expanding its audience to television. BBC.co.uk describes the television show as fun-loving twins going through “their day-to-day adventures, exploring new places, and discovering new things.”
The TV series only ran 3 seasons from 2013-2015, but they left a lasting mark on many of its children viewers and parents alike. In Imdb.com, out of six reviews, there was only one low rating which criticized how boring and repetitive it became. One review wrote, “I love the positive energy of the show. The parents are fun and Topsy and Tim are adorable. Kids will learn a lot of different skills. It’s a program the family can watch together without concern. There is nothing outdated that I saw. If you believe in family and can appreciate the value in clean living, you will not be disappointed.”
Read more: What is Topsy and Tim? Exploring the Beloved Children’s Book Characters
Who Are Topsy and Tim Actors: Then and Now
Jocelyn MacNab portrayed Topsy, while Joshua Lester played twin brother Tim. Both were seven-year-olds at the time. The producers of the show apparently could not find suitable twins to play the roles, so the two eventually were cast for the role.
It will be almost ten years since the last episode was aired in 2015. The two have not done a lot of acting since, according to Imdb.com. Many children who watched Topsy and Tim TV show may wonder: Are Topsy and Tim siblings in real life? What happened to them? Where are they now, and how old are they today? It is interesting to know that although the children’s book characters are twins, the actors playing Topsy and Tim are neither twins nor siblings in real life. British tabloid, The Sun featured the two in October 5, 2024, as part of the show’s tenth anniversary. There is a video of the two recalling memories of the production and shooting scenes together; like how Joshua (Tim) was the more talkative one which annoyed Jocelyn (Topsy) some times. As of 2025, they are older teens now, Jocelyn being 19 and Joshua 18 years of age. Fans have commented on how different they look today from the five-year-old characters they portrayed.
Time really does fly when you’re having fun. For Topsy and Tim the television series, the twins left their viewers with good childhood memories of making everyday adventures interesting and fun.
Short Bio of Jocelyn Macnab
Birthday: June 9, 2005
Birth Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: England
Age: 19 years old
Mother: Maria
Father: John
How to contact Jocelyn Macnab?
You can contact to here using here social media channels like Instagram and X.com
Short Bio of Joshua Lester
Birthday: April 16, 2006
Birth Sign: Aries
Birthplace: London, England
Age: 18 years old
Mother: Michelle Lester
