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MNHQ

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

166 replies

RachelMumsnet · 30/01/2011 13:40

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.

OP posts:
KayBenbow · 01/02/2011 13:25

@helenh75

Do you have any plans to bring back Fun With Phonics or something similar? The thing I love about cbeebies is the educational programmes. My son learnt to count before he was 2 because of Numberjacks although he still has nightmares about the numbertaker and he is nearly 4!

I'm really glad that CBeebies helped your son and perhaps Alphablocks is another show that he would like. We're always looking at ways to embed learning in our programmes and I will continue to do this in the shows I commission.

KayBenbow · 01/02/2011 13:27

@tastetherainbow

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?

There is a separate Bafta award ceremony for childrens programmes and I'm delighted to say that CBeebies won the award for children's channel of the year - Gary Barlow presented me with the award

Of course it would be lovely if children's programmess were included in national wards and we were all delighted that Horrible Histories recenlty won at the British Comedy Awards.

CharliePixie · 01/02/2011 13:28

Why older shows at the weekend particularly?

I guess in our house at the weekend we do tend to watch a wider range of things, partly because the adults are more involved, so we will put something a bit "older" on and watch with the child to see if they like it and is suitable (and it's probably more engaging for us too!) so other channels, DVDs and iPlayer come into play more.

Do you mean kind of transitioning towards CBBC with some crossover shows?

llabeiramycats · 01/02/2011 13:28

We love Gigglebiz.....one of the best things on TV for chilren and adults!! Justin is the best!! :)

IngridBergmann · 01/02/2011 13:29

Some of CBBC is great for both mine (7 and 3) things like deadly 60 are brill.

But 7yo is happy watching cbeebies a lot of the time, too. There's already a crossover imo.

helenh75 · 01/02/2011 13:32

Thanks Kay but my son is not a fan of Alphablocks. It takes a while for things to sink in and I just don't think it is on for long enough, sorry.

KayBenbow · 01/02/2011 13:32

@CharliePixie

Why older shows at the weekend particularly?

I guess in our house at the weekend we do tend to watch a wider range of things, partly because the adults are more involved, so we will put something a bit "older" on and watch with the child to see if they like it and is suitable (and it's probably more engaging for us too!) so other channels, DVDs and iPlayer come into play more.

Do you mean kind of transitioning towards CBBC with some crossover shows?

Hi CharliePixie - We're just trying to explore options for placing slightly older content.

You may want to look out for the new show from Justin later in the year which we hope will have a real family feel.

madamimadam · 01/02/2011 13:34

Kay, I just wanted to say that for me, CBeebies alone justifies the licence fee.

In view of the cuts that the BBC is planning to make, can you tell us how this will affect CBeebies and programme making? I hope we will see a fantastic channel being protected.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 01/02/2011 13:34

Hi Kay, thanks for coming. We are big CBeebies fans here though unfortunately DS1 has just discovered the website so I now have to fight him for the laptop.

I am concerned about the gender stereotyping in certain programmes: why do so many programmes have a silly, annoying, girly pink character? For instance, number 4 in Numberjacks, Panzee in Zingzillas (though Drum is cool), Upsy Daisy in In The Night Garden?

we need more non-girly girl characters, please. (Miss Mouse in Show Me Show Me is wonderful, by the way. I want to dress like her.)

KayBenbow · 01/02/2011 13:35

@RebeccaMumsnet

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!

About merchandise in general - we launch the shows first, not the toys. It's all about the children appreciating the programmes, but we know that some children want to extend that experience with games, toys and books. It's not the programme-makers who create the merchandise, that's done by commercial partners. They decide when to launch the product ranges, so we don't have direct control over pricing and availability. Ps I'm so glad you love Rastamouse!

Housemum · 01/02/2011 13:35

Alphablocks is good but a little too complicated for just starting the alphabet. DD1 learnt her alphabet mostly from the Letterland books that had memorable characters for each letter - once she had learnt these she moved onto blending/phonics. Something similar would be good for starting out with letters

madamimadam · 01/02/2011 13:35

CuppaTeaJanice Tue 01-Feb-11 13:25:01

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 01/02/2011 13:36

(add the sister in Grandpa In My Pocket to the list of awful pink girl characters....)

Querelous · 01/02/2011 13:36

"I think Rastamouse is all about making a bad thing good, it's about showing the right way to do things, it's about taking the right path. It's not about promoting any particular style of living apart from respect for your fellow human beings (or mice)."

Unfortunately the name and the use of rastafari terms like "Irie maan" etc. Have that effect.

My daughter, has a rasta father who has just left her and who I supervise access to because he believes hitting her is ok, her rasta uncles (who are in a reggae band) have numerous affairs and additional children and chose weed over being good parents and I have actually met and seen rastas who advocate and encourage their children to smoke weed (Irie maan).

They would say they fully advocate 'respect', 'one love'. You couldn't you have done the show with the same primary colours, and but without the rasta connotations?

KayBenbow · 01/02/2011 13:37

@madamimadam

Kay, I just wanted to say that for me, CBeebies alone justifies the licence fee.

In view of the cuts that the BBC is planning to make, can you tell us how this will affect CBeebies and programme making? I hope we will see a fantastic channel being protected.

Thank you for your appreciation. The truth is we don't know about any potential cuts, but children's TV has been made one of the BBC's top five priorities. At CBeebies, we always aim to provide the best possible value or money, and I can assure you that our teams work incredibly hard to ensure every penny goes on the screen. Pre-school programme-makers are a very dedicated bunch!

MNHQ
RebeccaMumsnet · 01/02/2011 13:38

Thank you Kay.

CharliePixie · 01/02/2011 13:38

I'm sure new show from Justin will go down very well with my family.

Yes, I can see, for example, Sat tea time viewing being more of a general family affair, so a weekly show to look forward to, a bit different from weekday things, would work well. I don't mean the same format, but with the same sense of anticipation as I had as a child for something like Swap Shop on a Sat or Crackerjack on a Fri...

(showing my age Confused)

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 01/02/2011 13:38

I second Seth Starkadder's concern about the gender stereotyping on some programmes.

Aside from that I really love CBeebies overall, as a mum of a toddler and think there is a good mix. I thought Zingzillas was OK music-wise and loved the Cleo Laine Episode.

One more thing - the 'Seasons' Songs / Videos - I really really like these and think they are nicely done but the last two haven't had a routine you could dance along with. My DS (and me Blush ) loves joining in with the dancing on the Summertime one - please can you bear this in mind in future?

madamimadam · 01/02/2011 13:40

And I'd like to second sethstarkaddersmackerel's comments about annoying female characters.

I think Zingzillas is a prime example - the female characters comprise an annoying girl in pink tutu, a baby and a gaggle of dolly birds...

Housemum · 01/02/2011 13:41

Re Rastamouse, notwithstanding the negative connotations, is it not a bad idea to segregate any one culture/way of living? I like the integrated nature of CBeebies when noone actually draws any attention to the race/colour/abilities of people - eg the kids in the Balanory nursery.

KayBenbow · 01/02/2011 13:41

@LadyBiscuit

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

Thanks for your comments, we do listen to feedback and let our production teams know what you think. I will be taking what the Mumsnetters think back to CBeebies.

madamimadam · 01/02/2011 13:43

Thanks, Kay. It's great to know that CBeebies is a priority for the BBC.

(You couldn't take over BBC1 and sort that out too, could you?)

CuppaTeaJanice · 01/02/2011 13:43

De-Li from waybuloo is another example of pink frilly annoyingness.

KayBenbow · 01/02/2011 13:43

@helenh75

Thanks Kay but my son is not a fan of Alphablocks. It takes a while for things to sink in and I just don't think it is on for long enough, sorry.

Thanks for letting us know, I'll take it on board.

KayBenbow · 01/02/2011 13:44

@madamimadam

Thanks, Kay. It's great to know that CBeebies is a priority for the BBC.

(You couldn't take over BBC1 and sort that out too, could you?)

I'm very happy looking after CBeebies, thanks! It's my dream job.