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.

We've come to the end of the hour. Big thanks to all for joining in the discussion this lunchtime and many thanks to Kay for managing to get through so many of your questions today.

Just seen trailer for new Nuzzle and Scratch - looks like an updated Mr Benn :). (they are in a fancy dress shop and dress to go on adventures)

@madamimadam

I also wanted to second the idea of a 'retro hour' if that's possible on CBeebies.

My DS adores Ivor the Engine (Chuggington doesn't come close).

And if you're overhauling the CBeebies website, could we have the 'proper' theme for Bob the Builder and not that awful 'house' version?

(Though I know I've asked well over my allotted question. It's just so nice to feel we're being listened to on a webchat for a change!)

Thank you for your comments - it helps me do my job and I really appreciate all your feedback. I hope you all continue to enjoy CBeebies.

third

I know the hour has gone but if you could please pass on a comment - when Mr Maker cuts out shapes, he always draws them in the middle of the sheet of paper. Great look on camera, but it drives me mad when DD2 does the same. Could he please draw them near the edge, and say "we can use the rest of this paper another day"?

(Seems a really nice bloke - we me him opening a new Hobbycraft a couple of months ago, chatted to DD2 as if he really could remember the make she was telling him about!)

I've just read this thread through and it has made me . There are lots of loved programmes that I've never even heard of, because I can't access them.

Kay, if my question about paying the license fee from abroad shouldn't really be directed to you, please could you forward it internally? Since iplayer is up and running it wouldn't be too hard to put an expat, password-protected version of it with only proprietary BBC programmes online, would it?

oh that is a good webchat, well done all.
agree HUGELY about natural history stuff, we watch david attenborough's life series when dd comes home from school as it is just WOW for a 5 and a 2 year old to look at. it's our planet was absolutely brilliant in that regard.

i do loathe mighty mites, though, i'm afraid. but am an SJ fan in other regards, it's the creepy little puppet that makes me squick.

ACTUALLY. do you know what i would like to know? (wish i had thought to ask this)...

how soon do you have to send in cards and how realistic is it that they will get shown? does cerrie have another three hundred unseen cards down the back of the sofa every day?

does anyone know?

Aitch - the guidelines are on the CBeebies website - I sent in one this year for DD3 and it was shown. They need to be in 4 weeks before - I sent mine 5 weeks before, it was A3 size, landscape (they prefer that shape) with Timmy Time characters (I used the colouring pages of the CBeebies site to help me draw them). Over the time I've sent cards, I think half of mine have been shown. I pick characters that obviously DD likes, but also that are current, or new if possible. Hope that helps.

cheers, housemum, that really does. thanks.

I?m so disappointed I missed this, what a great chat! In case Kay comes back and reads could I just say a big thank you for CBeebies, which plays a big part in our lives and has always felt, like another poster has said below, like a safe pair of hands ? I feel that my children are really benefiting from quality programming that is safe, educational, commercial free and most of all fun. I?ve seen how it has helped to inform their view of the world, to inspire their play, to help them wind down and to reduce them to helpless giggles ? so thank you!

My children are 5.8 and 3.1 and mostly enjoy the ?older? Cbeebies programming at the moment ? ?Big Fun Time? works well in our house as they both enjoy Octonauts, Grandpa in My Pocket and Gigglebiz. It?s at the right time for them when we?ve come in from school and I?m making dinner. We would love to have some more of these older children programmes at the weekend too as the weekend schedules seem so repetitive.

We would love to see more Show Me Show Me and Charlie and Lola and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE could you bring back (and make more of) Tikkabilla and DoodleDo?

I also wanted to say how fab I think the team of presenters are ? I have become very fond of them all, especially Andy, Sid and Cerrie (plus Justin, Chris and Pui of course!) The CBeebies panto has been a Christmas highlight for the past 2 years, it was brilliant! We would love to see more things like this with the presenters getting together ? the clips over Christmas when they were dancing, and when Andy was trying to make them laugh had my children in fits of laughter! And I agree with the comments below about the dance routines ? we would love more of the presenters? songs (can you bring back the funky jungle conga??) and routines to dance along with.

And finally I have to say that we love EVERYTHING Justin does, he is so wonderful, talented, kind and funny. Please ignore the complaints about him being on too much!

If you are re-reading this Kay, please put The Story Makers back on at bedtime - it was a fantastic program, and great presenters. Or Jelly and Jackson could have another show. (I appreciate Jelly features on various wildlife programmes). My son loved it aged 1 and still likes it age 4.

Yes, we loved the Story makers. And more dancing and languages please - ds loves Zingzillas actually, and can identify scat and bhangra after watching it.

The transition up is really hard - ds is loving Deadly 60 on CBBC, and The Slammer, but most other programmes are v unsuitable for him.

More differently abled children on shows like I Can Cook though please - and there hardly ever seems to be a child with a sensory impairment. Not that I'm complaining though - the rest of the BBc could learn a lot from CBeebies

Know we're out of time, but Show Me Show Me and Something Special are the two absolute must-sees in our house - we have episodes recorded for emergency use when nothing else will do.
Only issue - my daughter introduces herself by saying 'Hello. I'm Justin'. We are hoping she will grow out of it.
Yes please to the seasonal songs with dance routines - she loves trying to join in.
I will also stick a word of favour in for ZingZillas - we love the music and the people you get on (although Pop Shop got turned off really quickly).
We think CBeebies is great!

The Panto was fantastic - DS could recite it word for word by Christmas Day!

Good chat :-) I agree the panto was fab. I really enjoyed it! I also miss boogie Pete. I had a bit of a thing for him a few years back when I wasn't getting out of the house enough. I love the number raps too.

I also meant to add that I think cbeebies and the cbeebies website taught my DS to read. I never taught him but at 3.5-4 yrs he started to read. We can only assume it was cbeebies which I'm equally and about.

Oh, and this is the most I have posted on MN in months. Is it sad that the most excited I have got on here is when talking about cbeebies?

omg how fit is mr.bloom hahaha