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.

My children are just starting to leave CBeebies behind now but I would just like to send you a big thank you - I could not have made it through the last 5 years without your fabulous channel. Show Me Show Me is without doubt the best programme for pre schoolers on the television.

Hi Kay

I live in France and would love the option of paying the license fee from abroad if it meant I could access BBC programmes online. I know lots of other (English-speaking, but not necessarily British) mums who feel the same way. Could this ever be a possibility?

I agree with the others that there is a gap between Cbeebies and CBBC.

My DC are 6yo and 8yo.

I would like to see more fun educational programmes. Our DC are German speaking and love from German TV - where eg. they can learn how sugar is produced.

Are there any plans within the BBC to produce something like that?

I agree with thereistheball - I would love to be able to access BBC programmes online. We have internet TV so I can watch BBC but if I miss a programme, have no way of catching up.

Love Cbeebies - buzz and tell is a favourite in this house atm.

DD loves Mighty Mites and wants to know if there will be any more and if it could be put on to iplayer please?

I thought I was alone in my love for Come Outside. It appears that I couldn't be more wrong

I would like to see more programmes with real people, and less manic puppets with unclear voices. I find the Zingzillas, and Big city Park particularly annoying for this reason. I think children need to see proper facial expressions, and programmes should be calm and engaging rather than flitting from one thing to another. I like the idea of a music programme, and a programme about getting outdoors but why not have real people, and real children playing the instruments? I really like 'come outside' because it's real people and slow stories/songs which are more tailored to younger children without over-stimulating them. Same goes for Show me Show me, and I can cook,which I quite enjoy watching :)(although it is intensely irritating how the children use scissors to chop rather than safely using a proper knife!)

Agree on dirtgirlworld. I thought it was quite disturbing.

Kay, is it true that you are not allowed to show the Come Outside episode about crisps because of healthy eating propaganda policy? If so, can I just go ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGH please?!

Hi Kay, Just to say thank you as cbeebies has given a lot of pleasure in our house - and not just from my ds's, I love Gigglebiz and Octonauts, and my 7 year old still likes cbeebies better than any of the other channels! Keep up the great work!

Please bin Ker-whizz, to free up some schedule time for better programmes. The presenting is so forced, and even my 3 yr old daughter knows how thick the 'contestants' are being, when they all pick different answers.

Nina & the Neurons, Numberjacks, I Can Cook, Mister maker...all get a big thumbs up in out house. DD learns fantastic stuff, and sees the relevance to everyday life.

And please, please, please can Patrick Stweart do the bedtime story again. Just for me. I don't care that daughter wandered off and put herself to bed because she wasn't interested.....I LOVE HIM!

Ooh, yes should also have said yay for the wonderful Come Outside. Please could it come out on DVD? If you're in charge fo that too?

Hello Kay - another big fan here. Some great new programmes, particularly Octonauts (which is hugely educational as well as exciting) and Rastamouse which is fabulous!

One small gripe - it really, really winds me up when Cerrie is doing the birthday cards and says that all the female children are pretty. Can you ask her to stop please? Girls shouldn't be pushed down a route where it's all about their looks I'm sure you'll agree. It's very irksome.

Other than that, keep up the good work

ps please ditch DirtGirlWorld

Hi, my two boys love "Tinga Tinga Tales". They roar around the living room. Do you know when you will be showing some new episodes?

Hi Kay,

I just wanted to say that my son was born the very same week that CBeebies went live. It has been a wonderful fixture in our lives for the last almost 9 years.

Is there any way that we could see some CBeebies retro? The Shiny Show, The Story Makers, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Pablo the Fox and others all much loved by our son and I am sure would be loved equally by our daughter (2.5).

My sons are 4.9 and 7.2. I am delighted when they choose to watch CBeebies programmes over CBBC.

All the Year Two boys seem to be devoted Octonauts fans. Thank you for this. I am sure there will be a massive increase in marine biologists as they grow up! It is sooo much better than seemingly endless Tracey Beaker. And thanks to the scheduling they have rediscovered Charlie & Lola.

Gigglebiz is also fantastic.

I'm delighted you air programmes that draw in this older audience. So much on CBBC is not right for them (although there is obviously some great stuff such as Shaun the Sheep and M I High).

Sorry no burning questions, just praise from me!

I always assumed puppets are often used rather than live presenters because it is then easier to sell the show abroad. But real people are nicer!

(Bit annoying when the real people are re-dubbed to get rid of their regional accents which is what seems to have happened on Waybuloo.)

Agree a programme incorporating foreign language teaching would be fantastic. Spanish would be ideal as it could add to knowledge from Dora - if we are allowed to say we watch that too!

Oh yes, we would be happy with some retro shows too. That'd save the BBC some money too!

I would like to know how obvious the answer may be, why cbeebies doesnt get nominated for anything, like a specific catergory at the tv awards?... my children growin up it was always handy to have cbeebies on in the background, but because of the shows on there my children learnt an awful lot really early on from counting to sign languags from mr tumble... i think cbeebies needs to get some kind of recognition for the work that everybody does. is there anything us mums could do to try and see that this happens?

Just enjoying watching Telly Tales. Which agencies do you use to find children for things like this, Green Balloon etc?

testing

Hi Kay,
My 2 youngest love Cbeebies as a whole, but in particular Octonauts. We have found it difficult to get merchandise (party invitations, as the most pressing example) as the market seems to be saturated with Disney products. Where can we get Cbeebies related toys and games etc?

P.s. Loved Rastamouse yesterday, Wha'gwarn!

Completely forgot about Shiny Show and Story Makers. My son loved them and when we listen to the cd themes in the car he always tells me we haven't got those programmes to watch.

RebeccaMN - I like Rastamouse but find the lack of trousers on them disturbing - looked wrong to see the policeman with only a shirt and hat on!

We're delighted that Kay is here at Mumsnet Towers for the next hour to answer your questions. A big welcome to Mumsnet Kay.

I'd like to know if there are plans to develop anything for the too-old-for-beebies-too-young-for-cbbc group (v snappy title)? Grandpa in my pocket is the only thing we can really find on non-commercial channels that is suitable for my 6-year-old. There are shows on cbbc but I have to pick and choose very carefully; I am not comfortable just putting the channel on and leaving her to it.