Live webchat with Kay Benbow, Controller of CBeebies 1 - 2pm on Tuesday 1st February

[RachelMumsnet]

On Tuesday 1st Feb between 1 and 2pm we'll be joined by Controller of CBeebies, Kay Benbow. This weekend sees the launch of the new season of programmes on CBeebies. There will be some brand new shows in there - like Little Charley Bear and the upcoming animation Rastamouse - and some returning favourites. All will be revealed on Monday when we'll be linking to a trail for you to have a taste of what's coming up.

Kay was appointed Controller of CBeebies in May 2010, having worked in children's television for over 20 years. She was a producer on Tweenies and was insturmental in building the pre-school department as the CBeebies Channel was launched, devising and developing Tikkabilla and bringing in mumsnetter's favourite, Justin Fletcher.

Join us next Tuesday lunchtime or send a question to Kay in advance of the live chat to this thread.

love dipdap, Penelope and Show Me Show Me.

why do you have to commision such toss as Balamory and Me Too?

what's in the pipeline re: new shows?

doh. just read op properly re: new shows. ignore me.

read that as Ken Barlow

Oh dear I just completely misread read this as being a web chat with ken barlow [doh]

anywho, my almost 3yr old dd loves little charley bear, she has to watch it 5 times in a row and would watch it more if she could. Love James cordans voice on it, works really well.

Will try and think of a question now.

We loooooooove Tikabilla! Is it coming back?!

I'd like to comgratulate Kay for her work on Tikkabilla, that is a truely fab childrens programme (almost as good as my nostalgic fav Playdays)

I would like some new shows to have real people in, instead of being strictly animated/puppets.

That said my two do seem to like Charlie Bear (seemed to me like Wibbly Pig which is on a sky channel) and they adore Uugle (not sure if thats right) the creature who sleeps in the flower in show me show me.

I am sad that were are switching from cbeebies to commercial channels alot now that mine are older, i think cbeebies has the preschool childrens market covered but should do more for infant school children (my dd is 4 and in reception)

Could you develop something educational and interesting, like Come Outside maybe?

Oh and I think Zing Zilla's, Waybuloo and Space Pirates are dreadful.

Hi Kay
How much TV do you think children should watch? Are you comfortable with CBeebies being on all day as "wallpaper"?

I love CBeebies because there are no adverts, no pester power - well, not much - unlike other channels. We love Come Outside and Show me Show me because mummy fancies Chris and Tikabilla, and agree that there should be more like that. Less animation, fewer dubious puppets like that one with the lassie in red and yellow which I have only caught once.

Please can you have a word with the Powers That Be and ask them to make the BBC DVDs a bit cheaper - especially ones like Something Special.

Thanks.

There's great stuff on cbeebies, but the music programs always seem to miss the mark. Carrie and David'd pop shop was dire and space pirates just as bad. ZingZillas is slightly better, but no overacting children in it, which helps.

Do you have plans for any better new music programs?

Just wanted to say thank you for Octonauts. My two adore it, and it's fun and educational. The DSs now know their narwhal from their elephant seal. Delighted to see some new episodes on now. More please!

Are you not concerned that Justin Fletcher has a few too many appearances? Nothing against the man, but he does seem to have a monopoly on the channel. Whatever happened to diversity?

Posted and it disappeared - try again..
We love cbeebies especially show me show me, octonauts and now charley bear.
My two also love Dora and Handy Manny and I was wondering if there are any plans for language learning programmes of cbeebies?

ooh good question scrappydappy.

I agree there's a gap in the age 4/5 ish market. DS (5.5) is past most of cbeebies shows and wants Nickjr or Cartoon Network. DD (4) is growing out of them too. However CBBC is just too grown up for them.

Am I the only person that loves Space Pirates? My kids don't like it, but I think it's hysterical.

Suzi2 - I agree totally. My dd is 6.5 and she prefers cbbc which I'm not happy with because it's content is just too old for her(Tracey Beaker especially).... she's inbetween. Thank goodness I have a ds who is 2.5 so we compromise on cbeebies alot because she still will watch some of it.

Any plans for trying to bridge this gap Kay?

DD loves Space Pirates! She also likes Me Too, which is not a favourite of mine. Is Lenny Henry going to rival Justin on the voiceover front on CBeebies (is Rastamouse the same one as the Jackanory Junior story?)

My personal least favourite CBeebies show is Jakers. Whose idea of Ireland is that?!

DD loves Alphablocks - I think that's a really engaging programme. I don't feel the same about Numberjacks, we need 'numberblocks'!

Thanks for a fab (ad-free) channel, we love it!

I thought CBeebies was aimed at the 6 and under market, and CBBC was 6 and over.

We are big fans of Charley Bear and the Octonauts here but find anything with Sarah Jane in v v annoying!!

i'm sure some would disagree, but is there any chance of a bit more rotation in the schedules?
like most families we know, we tend to have certain times when the telly goes on - late afternoons in our case. this means dd1 has seen every episode of driver dan, and grandpa in my pocket twice, but never gets to see charlie and lola, or show me show me.

my ds loves octonoughts,and numberjacks

If you'd like to hear more about the new season of programmes on CBeebies, watch the showreel. Do pass on your thoughts/questions to Kay.

Why is the merchandising relating to CBeebies programmes, particularly the magazines, so much more expensive than programmes from commercial channels? For example a Fireman Sam magazine (Cartoonito) is significantly cheaper than a Waybuloo or In The Night Garden magazine of similar size and with similar free gifts.

A lot of parents choose CBeebies because there are no adverts, to avoid the issues of 'pester power'. This benefit is negated when your child is then pestering you to buy an overpriced magazine, toy or DVD because the characters from their favourite programmes are on it!

Does the management team at CBeebies have full control over merchandising and pricing, or is it a case of licensing use of your characters images and therefore not having a say in the pricing structures?

My DD's still love Charlie and Lola but its never on at a time they watch anymore. Any chance of moving in the night garden and putting C & L back on? Or as someone else has suggested, rotating the programmes a bit more.

Also agree with other comments re Cbeebies being yoo young but CBBC too old. What about what they do in CITV, you could do daytime for younger tots and after school for those slightly older but not old enough for CBBC. Just a thought.

Ooh and we love Justin in our house so keep him whatever you do!

Please keep I Can Cook - i know some people on MN don't like smily Katie but compared to Big Cook Little Cook she is fantastic - it's about children making real food rather than playing with food which is what BCLC did.

If you are showing children about real life (eg the new gardening programme) please make it real - I'd hate the new programme to be the Big Cook Little Cook of the garden world.

yes, i quite like i can cook for the reasons Housemum gives

Agree with above poster who mentioned language learning programmes. Dora is a big hit in our house - would love something similar (not animated though) on CBeebies.

Progs I will sit and watch with DD are Show me Show Me and Something Special. Please don't get rid of Come Outside, it is just so calm and lovely.