BBC Worldwide has greenlit a slate of new investments for international preschool brand CBeebies. The deals include a number of new properties for CBeebies, including animated and partially animated programs such as the new series Baby Jake from production company Darrall Macqueen.
The deals, which encompass broader rights across BBC Worldwide’s different business lines, have been secured by Henrietta Hurford-Jones, BBC Worldwide’s director of CBeebies investment. Working alongside independent producers, CBeebies in the U.K. and all of BBC Worldwide’s operating divisions, she is responsible for developing and investing in a new stream of original program content for the CBeebies channel internationally.
“I have so far had the privilege of working with many talented kids’ producers on a number of varied and exciting projects. I’m always on the look out for something special, something that not only travels well across our markets but has that unique ability to captivate young viewers around the world. These titles have certainly captured my imagination and I have no doubt they will be global hits,” said Hurford-Jones. “Given the growing scale of our channels and the trust placed in the CBeebies brand around the world, it’s essential that we continue to increase our investment in original properties that uphold the brand’s promise to encourage young viewers to learn through play.”
Here’s how the network described the programs;
- Andy’s Wild Adventures, series one (40 x 15’). Andy Day is a keeper at a large, busy animal park. Every day he does the rounds, chatting to the animals he sees along the way and doing his chores before reporting back to his trusty and curious sidekick, a puppet cat. Although he’s a very knowledgeable keeper, Andy doesn’t have the answers to all of his feline friend’s questions, so together they decide that a Fact File mission – beyond the zoo – is what’s needed to find out more.
- Baby Jake, series one (26 x 11’). Baby Jake, the youngest of ten children, lives in a windmill where he’s a much-loved, cute, happy gurgling boy. His six year old brother Isaac is the series narrator who can understand all Baby Jake’s giggles and gurgles and opens the door to an imaginary world where Baby Jake sings, dances and baby-talks with his animal friends Quin the Penguin, Sydney the Monkey, Nibbles the Rabbit and the Hamsternauts. The preschool series — from production company Darrall Macqueen — mixes live action and 2D photographic animation and combines gentle, enchanting storytelling, carefully crafted humour and the magical imagination of a young child.
- Jollywobbles, series one (13 x 9’). Star Justin Fletcher has many adventures as he seeks to find fun in the most unlikely of places. Wherever he goes, Justin is ably supported (and transported) by his faithful, friendly and very funny car. With an emphasis on high quality visual, slapstick, family comedy, this is a show that both little ones and grown-ups will enjoy. With original music and state of the art visuals, Jollywobbles is a real treat for the ears and the eyes and also features Phil Gallagher (from Mister Maker and Grandpa In My Pocket).
- Nina and the Neurons: In The Lab, series five (25 x 15’). Nina is a neuroscientist who works at the Glasgow Science Centre. She is fun, bubbly, but has the presence and authenticity of a real scientist who knows her stuff. The Neurons are characters who live in Nina’s brain and, like real human neurons, send messages from her brain to the parts of her body which control her senses. Nina has some dialogue with the neurons, but most of their activity and chatter is amongst themselves, commenting on the action while ‘looking out’ from Nina’s brain.
- Nuzzle & Scratch: Frock and Roll, series three (20 x 20’). CBeebies’ delightful but disastrous alpacas Nuzzle and Scratch are back in a new series of hapless adventures. They have landed themselves a job at the ‘Frock ‘n Roll’ fancy dress shop, owned by retired naval officer, Captain Carrington. This Aladdin’s cave is full of costumes stacked high and teetering with comedy potential!
- Gigglebiz, series two (15 x 15’ and 1 x 20’). A comedy sketch show for younger viewers, featuring a variety of different characters in funny situations.
- Little Human Planet, series one (16 x 5’). Little Human Planet is the little sister series to Human Planet. Each programme follows the lives of young children from around the world, giving the CBeebies viewer a glimpse into how their counterparts live wherever they may be. The programme celebrates how children differ and what makes them the same around the world in a colorful and often surprising voyage of discovery. The films were recorded by the Human Planet team whilst on their journey exploring the variety of human existence across the continents. A challenging and exciting venture for CBeebies, that has produced exceptional insights and beautiful footage which we hope will delight adults and children alike.
- ZingZillas Zingbop, series one (20 x 5’). The ZingZillas and DJ Loose show ZingBoppers how to dance to ZingBop songs.
- Show Me Show Me, series three (25 x 28’). Show Me Show Me is an enchanting and entertaining programme which explores the magic of the every day. CBeebies favorites, Chris Jarvis and Pui Fan Lee, invite children to pick up their toys and join them in a playground high in the sky.
