CBeebies, is it just me …

[Helendee]

Or is it becoming horribly dumbed down and turning into Milkshake?
The presenters just shriek and dance around at every opportunity with no sense of rapport with their audience imho. Most of the programmes are now animation with no interaction with the children watching.
I yearn for Sid, Pui and Chris, please come back.
I do like Katy and Rebecca though.

I must admit I stopped watching cbeebies when my little two were younger as it was declining then.
DS1 loved show me show me, I can cook and numberjacks.
By the time DD and DS2 were watching I just couldn't hack it so I would YouTube old TV programmes for them

@HerRoyalRisesAgain

Yes it’s been sadly declining for a while now. I’m not fond of the current presenters either!

Bitz and Bob is one of the worst things in CBeebies atm. Cheaply animated and naff. Ditto Chuggington and Tree Fu Tom.

My favourites are Let's Go For A Walk and Jojo and Gran Gran. Both deserve BAFTAs.

I yearn for Sid, Pui and Chris,

Ah, these remind me of my first born

(And Sue)

CBeebies is wonderful. Our SALT specifically recommended Yakka Dee for our DC with speech delay. My DC have loved the pantos and ballet live shows but the Shakespeare productions are absolutely outstanding. Sensitively abridged versions of the original text with very decent speaking of the verse, mostly because they always cast a range of classically-trained actors alongside the CBeebies cast regulars. The meta-theatrical framing of an actor playing Shakespeare and explaining the plot is superbly done. I used their version of a Midsummer Night's Dream with secondary-aged children because it is just such a clear explanation of the plot.

I have to disagree mainly because of how great I think Ben is. I think he's fantastic

It’s mad isn’t it- I find the Shakespeare productions utterly pretentious. The audience are meant to be 0-5. As if they give a monkeys about Oberon. I also think the bedtime story part is also purely for adult benefit.

But I will happily agree with Yakka Dee- that has done wonders in our house. I also think Mr Tumble is great (even though I personally detest him) and the programme with Ainsley narrating at midday.

I love Hamza (Let’s Go For A Walk), he’s great with the kids and appears to be a lovely guy.

@Confiscatedpopit

It’s mad isn’t it- I find the Shakespeare productions utterly pretentious. The audience are meant to be 0-5. As if they give a monkeys about Oberon. I also think the bedtime story part is also purely for adult benefit.

The older programming on CBeebies is aimed up to top of KS1, age 7. There is a bit of an overlap with CBBC, where the lower end is from age 6. The Tempest and Midsummer held my DD spellbound at age 3-4.

I love Chris and Pui. Best presenter by far is Ben. He doesnt do as much there anymore as I think has moved on to other things.

I see they are now showing Arthur which I always though was an old ITV things. I'm wondering if Covid has had an effect, plus reduced budget. DD has moved on to CBBC anyhow but thanks to Cbeebies Numberblocks and Alphablocks is racing away at school. Really was a great resource when DD was young and Dugee made it bearable for me.

And much better than milk shake and no bloody adverts.

@HerRoyalRisesAgain

I must admit I stopped watching cbeebies when my little two were younger as it was declining then. DS1 loved show me show me, I can cook and numberjacks. By the time DD and DS2 were watching I just couldn't hack it so I would YouTube old TV programmes for them

@HerRoyalRisesAgain I quite like the old Postman Pat and frequently YouTube it for my baby

@Confiscatedpopit

But I will happily agree with Yakka Dee- that has done wonders in our house. I also think Mr Tumble is great (even though I personally detest him) and the programme with Ainsley narrating at midday.

Big Yakka Dee fans here, my 7yo autistic son LOVES it. His 3yo sister just sits there muttering the word over and over, annoyed that a show had dedicated 5 minutes to it.

My husband and I have invented rich and wondrous narratives for all the CBeebies people. In our universe Chris J and Justin F have Big Beef and have it written into their contracts that they will never share the stage together.

@mogtheexcellent

I love Chris and Pui. Best presenter by far is Ben. He doesnt do as much there anymore as I think has moved on to other things.

I see they are now showing Arthur which I always though was an old ITV things. I'm wondering if Covid has had an effect, plus reduced budget. DD has moved on to CBBC anyhow but thanks to Cbeebies Numberblocks and Alphablocks is racing away at school. Really was a great resource when DD was young and Dugee made it bearable for me.

And much better than milk shake and no bloody adverts.

My DH and I call Ben 'the estate agent'

"I love Hamza (Let’s Go For A Walk), he’s great with the kids and appears to be a lovely guy."

He shouted at onlookers whilst filming in our town because they were taking photographs. Made gestures to them and bellowed that it's illegal. Erm, no it's not mate.

Nothing wrong with Milkshake. Lots of dancing - great for toddlers.

I've been unfortunate enough to come across CITV presenters though of recent, now that was

Different to a PP but I thought the Shakespeare was brilliant - especially Romeo and Juliet. My DD loved it at age 4 and 5 (the 1 year old wasn't so interested to be fair).

In principle I do prefer shows with 'real' people interacting with the audience. Show Me Show Me is the exception though, I can't stand it.

@Confiscatedpopit

It’s mad isn’t it- I find the Shakespeare productions utterly pretentious. The audience are meant to be 0-5. As if they give a monkeys about Oberon. I also think the bedtime story part is also purely for adult benefit.

The whole ‘CBeebies Presents’ series (which includes the pantos, Shakespeare, and Northern Ballet stuff with Mr Bloom) is incredibly popular and I agree with a pp that it’s really well done.

It already provided an important introduction to live theatre for children who might not be taken otherwise, but it’s been even more valuable in the last eighteen months with all of the theatres closed.

@Blueskyemily

Different to a PP but I thought the Shakespeare was brilliant - especially Romeo and Juliet. My DD loved it at age 4 and 5 (the 1 year old wasn't so interested to be fair).

In principle I do prefer shows with 'real' people interacting with the audience. Show Me Show Me is the exception though, I can't stand it.

I was really impressed that they didn’t bowdlerise the ending of Romeo and Juliet.

@uktrippin I mean to be fair, these people would have also been taking photos of the children, he would have no idea who they were and what purposes these photos were being taken for, although it’s not illegal, you can at least understand why that wouldn’t be encouraged or why they were trying to put a stop to it.

I love Chris and Pui, I’ve met them twice. They are really lovely in real life.

My children have refused to watch CBeebies from a young age, they all hate it 😂

@Pointlessuser I live somewhere that has regular film and tv crews. Honestly, they're used to it, people take photos constantly, it's part and parcel of the industry.

He was being ridiculous, must've been an off day. The children are going to be on TV so I don't think it's privacy concerns 😂

What's on your plate is a tune, I love it

The pantos at Christmas are amazing, I find the Shakespeare ones a bit boring but the kids love it.
I do miss mr bloom, balamory and I can cook.
Tee and mo is a lovely programme and controversially I think Justin fletcher is a legend that's done so much.