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Original poster

in wondering how they choose which cards to show on CBeebies?

33 replies

LifeIsButtercream · 26/04/2011 20:03

birthday ones that is.

  • Is it random?
  • Is it the order they arrive in the post?
  • Is it based on parental/sibling effort?
  • Do they sit down and discuss it in a boardroom? (please God no, license fee payer!)
  • (do they take bribes?) Wink
  • more to the point........ why do I care? Hmm
OP posts:
MichaelaS · 26/04/2011 20:06

:-) there is a disproportionate number of cards from children with additional needs. I don't know whether more parents of special needs kids make an effort to send a card, or whether they particularly skew it.

Its my DS's 2nd birthday next week and I haven't bothered sending a card, but if I did I would be tempted to put his oxygen back on for the photo so we had a better chance of being shown! Grin

worraliberty · 26/04/2011 20:06

I imagine they show cards for families and friends of the camera men/women, make-up artists, lighting technicians, canteen staff and cleaners.

Me? Suspicious? Blush

takethisonehereforastart · 26/04/2011 20:08

They do tell you some tips on the website to help get your card chosen.

However I sent a card in for LO and it didn't get shown so even by following the tips you aren't guarenteed to have your card shown on TV.

I've just had to accept that my cut and stick skills weren't up to the Cbeebies standard.

Their loss will be Milkshake's gain next year Grin.

But I do think they could have the unchosen cards up on the wall behind them or even just do a Tony Hart style gallery for the internet with one of the presenters saying "these are all today's birthdays" without naming names or reading messages, so everyone gets to have their card on TV.

ShinyMoonInAPurpleSky · 26/04/2011 20:11

My mum sent a card into CITV for my birthday in 1992 and the bastards never showed it. It's nice to see somethings never change.

Apparently (this is only a rumour I heard, don't shoot me if it isn't true!) the winning teams on shows like Fun House were the kids who's parents paid for the prizes that they won. I wouldn't be surprised if there was bribery involved somewhere...

GwendolineMaryLacey · 26/04/2011 20:12

It can't be skills surely. I've seen some really shitey ones on there, bless them.

cfc · 26/04/2011 20:13

My nephew's card got shown in Feb.

They sent it in good time, I think that helps.

No O2 packs or bribery needed here.

happywheezer · 26/04/2011 20:14

I've had a card shown!
It was the greatest thing ever, I was so excited , my son was amused that he was on TV.
I made a card that was not one of their popular programmes, 3rd and bird and had plenty of different characters on it.
I rather sadly do take it seriously, 4 years in art college is not going to defeat me but I do think it's fairly random.

dixiechick1975 · 26/04/2011 20:18

Got DD's on 3 years on the run.

Tips were to send it in early - a month before.

I also tried to do something bright and simple to show up well on TV. Balloons, cupcakes, teletubbies.

Nice smiley pic of DD/DS

If you include characters make sure they are cbeebies ones.

I write on the back what I want them to say clearly - happy 3rd birthday x love mummy and daddy etc.

My DD does have a physical disability but wasn't visible on the 3rd card and still got on.

I helped do one for dniece and she also got on (no disability)

They do seem to show a range of ages and racial mix.

LaWeasel · 26/04/2011 20:20

Sometimes I think they pick kids because they have great names. :D

I doubt there's a boardroom, but I expect there is someone who sorts through them and makes sure they have a good mix of ethnicities/disabilities.

emmanumber3 · 26/04/2011 20:25

I think it's wacky names :-) Don't bother if you've got a Jack, Chloe etc. - change their name to Basil or Petula :-)

MollieO · 26/04/2011 20:26

Not sure about cards but Ds got me to email a photo of himself dressed up as Hacker (a CBBC character) and it was on tv 30 mins later. I'd always assumed the links were pre-recorded.

soverylucky · 26/04/2011 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tallulah · 26/04/2011 20:30

We sent 2 cards in for DD last year (her big sis sent one and we sent one) and neither got shown. I sent one this year and it didn't get on, despite sending in plenty of time, using CBeebies characters, smiley photo etc.

PumpkinBones · 26/04/2011 20:30

We did one for DS1's 2nd birthday, but it didn't get shown. I blame DH, who made it; it was enormous. I put a note in saying please could they show it as we had almost divorced over the stress of making it Grin but even that didn't work.

DS2 has quite a quirky name, so I might try again for his next birthday.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 26/04/2011 20:39

Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhh, it was my lifes ambition to get on funhouse, sod being a nurse I wanted a shot on those gokarts like you wouldn't believe

piprabbit · 26/04/2011 20:53

I did one for DDs 6th birthday (last ditch attempt, would have felt like a bad mummy if I'd never even tried). I was sooooooo excited when I showed DD the recording when she got home from school - she was a bit Biscuit.

I'd also done the email message - where you get a personalised link to one of the presenters saying the right name and birthday etc... just in case it didn't actually get on TV.

NoCarbsBeforeMarbs · 26/04/2011 20:58

It's definitely not skill.
I made one for DS' 2nd Birthday. It was pretty rubbish (but I tried hard!) and Andy struggled to hold it because in my wisdom I'd cut it into a 2 shape!

Pot luck I reckon.

wennis · 26/04/2011 20:58

I sent in two, one ropey and one a master piece even if I say so myself and they didn't show either! Both have unusual names. Followed all the instructions/tips on the website. Still feel resentful about it now at "birthday time" Grin
I sent one into Milkshake with a SAE and they showed it and sent it back signed with a little note not just to DD but to other DD as well who was on as love from. :)

cunexttuesonline · 26/04/2011 21:03

I made a truly rubbish one for Ds's 2nd birthday and they showed it! It was a bus with DS driving it, passengers were postman pat, iggle piggle and louie. it had DS's name on the side and numberjack 2. Oh and I put gold glitter on the wheels.

I think it was shown because I sent it so that it would arrive exactly 4 weeks before his birthday, which is when they tell you to send them.

Booandpops · 26/04/2011 21:10

I've seen 2 kids I know on milkshake plus my nieces try them next yr

NoCarbsBeforeMarbs · 26/04/2011 21:11

Have just put pic of Andy grappling with card on my profile Grin

NoCarbsBeforeMarbs · 26/04/2011 21:13

Wanksock, maybe they pitied us..."poor buggers, lets give them some encouragement" Wink

BertieBotts · 26/04/2011 21:15

My Dad sent one into CBBC for me in 1992 - before CBeebies obviously Grin as they used to have the pre-school section on there after school run time.

He said it wasn't read out but it did make it onto the huge birthday-card-covered noticeboard thing at the back which they used to have. I agree with whoever said it's a bit sad they don't do that any more!

I don't remember it at all and only know because he told me when I was about 14 Blush so it can't have been that monumental.

BertieBotts · 26/04/2011 21:16

Bless him Carbs Grin

tryingtoimprove · 26/04/2011 21:16

I was on TVAM birthday wall when I was 3 - I can't recall it, but my mum and gran are proud they got me on there Grin

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