Live online chat with Creative Director of CBeebies, Michael Carrington, 1-2pm Wed Jan 30th

[CarrieMumsnet]

Micheal Carrington, creative director of CBeebies will be coming to chat live next weds, Jan 30th from 1-2pm. In his previous job, he brought, amongst other programmes Lunar Jim and Charlie and Lola to the BBC, and he's now editorially responsible for the CBeebies digital channel as well as for all CBeebies output on BBC ONE and BBC TWO; and for bbc.co.uk/cbeebies.

So if you've got a burning question about the future of Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy, or want to start a campaign to bring back Chigley, please join us at 1pm next weds (that was Watch with Mother time in my day ).

If you can't make it on the day, you can of course post your questions in advance here.

Have you considered doing a more 'blatant' foreign language programme - I know Tots TV has an element of French, but in the same way as numberjacks include counting, Something Special includes teaching some makaton, could you do a 'teaching French or Spanish' style programme? I think primary schools are going to have to start doing some foreign language, so would be good to have something on CBeebies.

DD1 (nearly 4) loves Nina and the Neurons and Mister Maker and DD2 (1) loves ITNG.

We all especially love the songs done by Sid and Andy.

But,

• why is it always Blue Cow on storymakers?
• why is Space Pirates so rubbish?
• And why is the weekend shcedule so poor with obviously dated programmes?

Oh please don't extend the airing until 9pm my dd knows that when CBeebies/CBBC Finish it is time for bed.. she must go to bed at 7pm or I will soon be driven insane.

personally I think there is a gap for those who are age about 4-6/7
they are growing out of Cbeebies but not old enough for a lot fo things on CBBC.
My dd loves music programmes, Boogie Beebies and Big School which is on Milkshake is great but is only on or 10 minutes, it show her what school is going to be like and is really good preperation for what can be very scary.
More real life programmes, real families and children doing things is alot more interesting at that age. Children going to the DRs, Shopping and helping parents, swimming and things like that

please can you sell some more shows to Fox Australia? Kids' tv is a bag o' sh*te here, well most of it is American. I mean even Clifford comes with an American Accent. I can hardly bear it.

Thank you

Dear gitch - we all have very fond memories of the programmes that were around when we were young. Not all of them were made for us but we enjoyed them nonetheless. I have been considering bringing back some of the classics but I haven't worked out where they would best sit in the CBeebies schedule. The Wombles would look very ropey against Nina or Numberjacks. There is also a case to be made that we should be producing new content for a modern audience. These days we specifically target the different age groups to ensure they have something which is engaging and relevant to them.

yes big gap for 5 year olds

a nice real life (not cartoon) programme that is also something to do with princesses and ponies

thank you

My dd is starting to show signs of growing out of CBeebies, she prefers SBBC these days. I think that is too grown up for her (she's 5) so we are having to make do with your competitors which do seem to bridge the gap.

no god no old stuff

I mean they are great when you are a stoned student but please use your power to develop new things

Ignore my question about blue cow as I see it has been answered.

I agree with Justine888 that the Wiggles is good

Please promise us that you will NEVER bring Barney to the channel.

Hi Michael
Know you have lots of questions to answer but someone this week was asking why all the merchandise is so gender specific - i.e. everything for Fifi is pink - boys like Fifi too.
Any thoughts on this and on making the programmes (and moneymaking spinoffs) appeal to boys and girls?

can we have more programmes that show you how things are made?

eg on Come Outside, my dd1's favourite bit is when she flies off to visit a toothpaste factory or whatever

ditto Big Cook Little Cook when they show custard being made etc

Thank you Michael - for some reason I didn't know that Cbbc was also shown on BBC1 after school . Those progammes seem fine.

I do not agree that Tracey Beaker is suitable viewing for a 6/7 year old though!

No questions, just wanted to thank you for saving my sanity on many occasions

YES YES i remember seeing jeans being made on play school(?) when iw as little
fascintating

have had ot buy loads ever since to recreate.

please cna i be a focus group

Wombles, Bagpuss, Ivor the Engine etc,. could go at 7pm on BBC4! That way they'd bridge the nostalgia and pre-bedtime markets...

there are on nick 2 after 8pm.

Hi cappuccino - we have been careful to re-zone CBeebies to mirror the availability and mood of the audience. I wanted to do that quickly when I was first appointed to stop the flow of boys and girls going to our competitors. CBeebies was very young and quite soft just 18 months ago, which seemed to alienate older children. Unfotunately, it takes longer to produce content that is specifcially targeted at any one group. Occassionaly we have to use whatever content is available to fill some gaps. We are working on closing those gaps. Programmes like Finley actually appeal to a very broad audience so is not just a Discover and Do programme. We get a lot of mail from 6 year old boys who love it!!

Have to agree with the fact that there appears to be a gap for 5 year olds. Apart from NumberJacks, my nearly 5 year old doesn't like anything else, and so we too are prone to flicking channels......

Tracy Beaker is hideous programme dd loves it. I don't think it's appropriate for a 5yo

What's SummerHill all about, I quite like that but again not sure what age it's aimed at

got no questions but wanted to say cbeebies often saves my sanity!so i thankyou!

Please NEVER show again the Come Outside programme where she goes to a sewage factory and sings a song about poo. Please.

No no no Ruty, my dd LOVED the sewage episode. Please show it again and again and again!

I agree with Cod though - more programmes that show how things are made. It is the only good thing about Big Cook Little Cook.

Talking of which....

Please can we have a proper cookery programme where they actually cook real food, not silly fiddly play food that is meant to look like something but always looks too vile to actually eat?

Can we have "Junior Torchwood" with all the sex, swearing (and plot) cut out? It would go well at 6.45.

oh ruty - that episode is an absolute classic