CBBC
Encyclopedia
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC
's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14. Today, CBBC is joined by two dedicated digital channels, launched in 2002 and using the same brands and presentation and the programme strands.
CBBC is the name given to the digital channel for children aged 6-12, and also the brand used for CBBC programming on BBC One
and BBC Two
. CBeebies
is the digital channel for children aged under 6, and also airs its own strand on BBC One and Two. In 2006, as part of the BBCs Creative Futures strategic review, the CBBC brand was redefined as being for children aged 6-12. A new brand for teenagers, BBC Switch
, was created, though this did not have a dedicated channel and was not part of the BBC Children's division.
CBBC currently broadcasts as a 12-hour-a-day digital channel (the CBBC Channel) available on most UK digital platforms from 7am to 7pm. The brand is also used for the broadcast of children's programmes on BBC One
(weekday afternoons) and BBC Two
(mornings, daily). CBBC programmes are also broadcast in high definition alongside other BBC content on the BBC HD
channel, generally from 3:30pm to 7pm on weekends, unless the channel is covering other events. BBC-produced children's programming, in native languages of Scotland and Wales, also airs on BBC Alba
and S4C
respectively.
, first broadcast on what was then the single 'BBC Television Service' on Saturday 24 April 1937; it was only ten minutes long. It lasted for two years before being taken off air when the service closed due to the Second World War in September 1939.
Following the war, For The Children recommenced on Sunday 7th July 1946, with a twenty minute slot every Sunday afternoon and the addition of programmes for pre-school children under the banner For The Very Young., and over the years they became an established feature of the early afternoons on the BBC's main channel BBC One.
In 1952, the "For The Children" / "For The Very Young" branding was dropped; older children's programmes (such as Blue Peter 1958) would now be introduced by regular announcers whilst younger children's programming was broadcast under the Watch With Mother
banner. The 1964 launch of BBC Two
allowed additional room for children's programming with an edition of Play School technically being the first official programme to air on BBC Two due to a power cut blacking out most of the previous night's programming. On 1 October 1980, Watch With Mother was replaced by See-Saw, which was moved to BBC2 five years later.
Meanwhile, weekday afternoon children's programmes on BBC One were introduced by the usual off-screen continuity announcer, though often specially-designed menus and captions would be used.
On 9 September 1985, this long-standing block of children's programming was rebranded as Children's BBC, and for the first time the children's block had dedicated idents and an in-vision presenter. Previously the BBC had broadcast children's programming using BBC1's team of regular duty announcers. The launch presenter for this block, and thus the first Children's BBC presenter of the current format, was Phillip Schofield
.
During the 1990s, Children's BBC began to be referred to informally on-air as 'CBBC' (this occurred at around the same time that ITV
's rival service "Children's ITV" began to be referred to as CITV
in a similar manner). The official billing name of Children's BBC remained in place, however, until the BBC's network-wide branding refresh of October 1997, when the official on-air branding changed to CBBC. (CITV officially adopted their short name in their own branding refresh the following year).
Further changes to the schedule were rolled out during the 1990s and 2000s, including the introduction of Sunday morning programmes on BBC Two, initially in the Open University
's summer break and then subsequently year-round; the introduction of a regular weekday morning 'breakfast show' format, also on BBC Two; the relocation of the 10am pre-school slot to BBC Two and the relocation of the 1pm pre-school slot to run on BBC One at the start of the afternoon block.
The launch of digital channel BBC Choice in 1998 saw the channel broadcasting children's programming in a Saturday afternoon slot which was subsequently replaced by the daily 6am-7pm service CBBC On Choice, which aired archive pre-school programming and was itself the precursor of the current CBBC Channel
and CBeebies
services.
In 2002, the launch of the CBBC Channel
and the CBeebies
Channel saw a wide variety of programmes, both new and archive, being shown again on the new channels from 6/7am until 7pm.
In 2009, a report published by the BBC Trust
found that scheduling changes which took place in February 2008, where programming ended at 17:15, had led to a decrease in viewers. This was especially noticeable for Blue Peter
and Newsround
, two of CBBC's flagship programmes; Blue Peter is now recording its lowest viewing numbers since it started in 1958, and Newsround now receives fewer than 100,000 viewers compared to 225,000 in 2007. The changes were made following the BBC's loss of the rights to soap opera Neighbours, which had for many years been broadcast between the end of CBBC and the start of the 6pm news; when the decision to move daytime editions of The Weakest Link
from BBC Two to One to fill the gap, CBBC had to move to an earlier slot, as Weakest Link" is longer than Neighbours was.
in May 2011, after being based in the East Tower of TV Centre in London since 1964. Management of the division, and broadcast and production of presentation links for CBBC and CBeebies is now based there. In September 2011 flagship magazine show Blue Peter
began live broadcasts from its new home. It will be joined in November 2011 by daily news programme Newsround.
The BBC Children's division also operates CBeebies
. Overall strategic responsibility for all of the BBC's services for children rests with the Director of Children's, Joe Godwin (since late 2009), with commissioning decisions for the two channels being made by a Controller of each channel; Daian Kavanagh (since 2009) is Controller of CBBC, and Kay Benbow (since 2010) is Controller of CBeebies.
) and children's birthday cards, with BBC2 showing a 5-10 minute programme or programmes at around 13:00, before BBC1 ran the main afternoon block aimed at older children. Weekend programmes consisted chiefly of Saturday morning programmes on BBC1, such as Going Live!
. Children's BBC would also broadcast on weekday mornings during school holidays on either BBC1 or 2, which was done under the But First This banner for a time.
This schedule altered little throughout the 1990s, with the introduction of Sunday morning programming and a full breakfast show being the only changes. The current general schedule for children's shows on BBC terrestrial TV is as follows:
These schedules are subject to change, particularly around holiday times; the current holiday-time arrangement.
, entertainment
, and documentary and factual programming. CBBC therefore is often seen as offering a similar mix of formats to the wider BBC
, albeit tailored to suit a young audience. Byker Grove
was one of the very few shows that was not aimed at young children, rather a more teenage/young adult audience as it dealt with some controversial themes.
The longest-running CBBC programme is the magazine show Blue Peter
. Other notable current and former CBBC programmes include Grange Hill
, Newsround
, Live & Kicking
and recent hit Tracy Beaker Returns
.
The booth became known as 'the Broom Cupboard' due to its small size (the term was first used to refer to a smaller temporary booth, but was later retroactively applied to the main booth). The plain booth wall behind the presenter would be livened up with elements of set dressing, VT monitors and pictures sent in by viewers. Occasionally, when Children's BBC was going out on BBC2 rather than 1 due to events coverage, the presenter would be located in the BBC2 continuity booth, which was not set dressed for Children's BBC, for transmission purposes.
There were two presentation studios - larger than the Broom Cupboards but smaller than full programme studios - known as Pres A and Pres B. It was not initially thought economically viable to use these for daily Children's BBC links, hence the use of the Broom Cupboard. However, by 1987 these studios were being used for the mid-morning 'birthday card' slots and weekend and holiday morning strands such as 'But First This". The main afternoon strand remained in the Broom Cupboard.
In 1994, Pres A was refurbished and became the regular home for all Children's BBC presentation including the weekday afternoon block; the presenters no longer had to operate the broadcast equipment, although a broom cupboard-style area in the corner of Pres A contained its own mixer was used for the birthday slot and weekend mornings to save on crew, and the larger set allowed for more dynamic presentation, with more presenters, characters, features, games and guests. A new 3D version of the then logo of Children's BBC was commissioned to mark the move.
In 1997, Children's BBC moved again when 'Pres A' was decommissioned and CBBC moved to the purpose-built Studio TC9, adjacent to the Blue Peter garden at BBC Television Centre
. The first broadcasts from Studio 9 were in June 1997; this was followed in October by the launch of the new-look CBBC branding. TC9 continued to be the regular home of CBBC broadcasts on BBC One and Two until 2005 and was also used to record CBBC On Choice links between 2000 and 2002.
In 2002, TC2 became the home of CBBC Channel links, plus the channel's XChange and UK Top 40 programmes, whilst CBeebies operated from the smaller TC0.
In Autumn 2004 the studio arrangements for CBBC were changed again. The CBBC Channel moved from TC2 to TC9, with BBC One / Two links and the UK Top 40 show moving to TC10 located on the sixth floor of TV Centre. BBC One and Two links then moved back into TC9 alongside CBBC Channel in March 2006 as the number of studios available to CBBC was reduced.
In December 2006, there was a further reduction in CBBC facilities. A CSO set was assembled in TC12, becoming the home of all CBBC links on BBC One, BBC Two and CBBC Channel until September 2007. There was also a reduction in the team of on air presenters. The last live CBBC links from TC9 were broadcast on Friday 1st December 2006; the studio was then mothballed but has since been brought back into use for individual programmes including TMi
and SMart
.
On 3 September 2007, the CSO studio was dropped in a relaunch which saw a small studio set built in TC12. As part of the relaunch, new logos, presenters and idents were introduced. The design of the new 'office' set has been compared to the original 'broom cupboard', though unlike the 'broom cupboard' the 'office' is not a functioning continuity suite. CBBC presentation originated from Studio HQ5 at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays
for the first time on Monday 5 September 2011 as part of the relocation of the BBC's Children's department (incorporating both CBBC and CBeebies
).
Guest and relief continuity presenters have included Adam Fleming
, Sam Nixon
, Mark Rhodes
and Dani Harmer
.
to replay CBBC programmes for up to seven days.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14. Today, CBBC is joined by two dedicated digital channels, launched in 2002 and using the same brands and presentation and the programme strands.
CBBC is the name given to the digital channel for children aged 6-12, and also the brand used for CBBC programming on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
and BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
. CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
is the digital channel for children aged under 6, and also airs its own strand on BBC One and Two. In 2006, as part of the BBCs Creative Futures strategic review, the CBBC brand was redefined as being for children aged 6-12. A new brand for teenagers, BBC Switch
BBC Switch
BBC Switch was the brand for BBC content aimed at UK teenagers. The brand launched on Saturday 20 October 2007 on BBC Two And ceased broadcasting on Saturday 17 December 2010...
, was created, though this did not have a dedicated channel and was not part of the BBC Children's division.
CBBC currently broadcasts as a 12-hour-a-day digital channel (the CBBC Channel) available on most UK digital platforms from 7am to 7pm. The brand is also used for the broadcast of children's programmes on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
(weekday afternoons) and BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
(mornings, daily). CBBC programmes are also broadcast in high definition alongside other BBC content on the BBC HD
BBC HD
BBC HD is a high-definition television network provided by the BBC. The service was initially run as a trial from 15 May 2006 until becoming a full service on 1 December 2007...
channel, generally from 3:30pm to 7pm on weekends, unless the channel is covering other events. BBC-produced children's programming, in native languages of Scotland and Wales, also airs on BBC Alba
BBC Alba
BBC Gàidhlig is the department of BBC Scotland that produces Scottish Gaelic language programming. This includes TV programmes for BBC Alba and BBC Two Scotland, the BBC Radio nan Gàidheal radio station and the BBC Alba website.-Television:...
and S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
respectively.
History
The BBC has produced and broadcast programme for children since the 1930s. The first children-specific strand on BBC television was For The ChildrenFor The Children
For The Children is a British television programme, the first to be designed especially for young children of school age. First broadcast on the BBC Television Service at 3pm on Saturday 24 April 1937, for its first two years the series was only ten minutes in length...
, first broadcast on what was then the single 'BBC Television Service' on Saturday 24 April 1937; it was only ten minutes long. It lasted for two years before being taken off air when the service closed due to the Second World War in September 1939.
Following the war, For The Children recommenced on Sunday 7th July 1946, with a twenty minute slot every Sunday afternoon and the addition of programmes for pre-school children under the banner For The Very Young., and over the years they became an established feature of the early afternoons on the BBC's main channel BBC One.
In 1952, the "For The Children" / "For The Very Young" branding was dropped; older children's programmes (such as Blue Peter 1958) would now be introduced by regular announcers whilst younger children's programming was broadcast under the Watch With Mother
Watch with Mother
Watch With Mother was a cycle of children's programmes broadcast from 1952 by BBC Television which was created by Freda Lingstrom.It was the first BBC television programme specifically aimed at pre-school children, like its radio equivalent Listen with Mother that also started in 1950...
banner. The 1964 launch of BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
allowed additional room for children's programming with an edition of Play School technically being the first official programme to air on BBC Two due to a power cut blacking out most of the previous night's programming. On 1 October 1980, Watch With Mother was replaced by See-Saw, which was moved to BBC2 five years later.
Meanwhile, weekday afternoon children's programmes on BBC One were introduced by the usual off-screen continuity announcer, though often specially-designed menus and captions would be used.
On 9 September 1985, this long-standing block of children's programming was rebranded as Children's BBC, and for the first time the children's block had dedicated idents and an in-vision presenter. Previously the BBC had broadcast children's programming using BBC1's team of regular duty announcers. The launch presenter for this block, and thus the first Children's BBC presenter of the current format, was Phillip Schofield
Phillip Schofield
Phillip Bryan Schofield is an English broadcaster and television personality best known for presenting shows such as This Morning, Dancing on Ice, and various game shows including The Cube.-Early life and career:...
.
During the 1990s, Children's BBC began to be referred to informally on-air as 'CBBC' (this occurred at around the same time that ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's rival service "Children's ITV" began to be referred to as CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
in a similar manner). The official billing name of Children's BBC remained in place, however, until the BBC's network-wide branding refresh of October 1997, when the official on-air branding changed to CBBC. (CITV officially adopted their short name in their own branding refresh the following year).
Further changes to the schedule were rolled out during the 1990s and 2000s, including the introduction of Sunday morning programmes on BBC Two, initially in the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
's summer break and then subsequently year-round; the introduction of a regular weekday morning 'breakfast show' format, also on BBC Two; the relocation of the 10am pre-school slot to BBC Two and the relocation of the 1pm pre-school slot to run on BBC One at the start of the afternoon block.
The launch of digital channel BBC Choice in 1998 saw the channel broadcasting children's programming in a Saturday afternoon slot which was subsequently replaced by the daily 6am-7pm service CBBC On Choice, which aired archive pre-school programming and was itself the precursor of the current CBBC Channel
CBBC Channel
CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different...
and CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
services.
In 2002, the launch of the CBBC Channel
CBBC Channel
CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different...
and the CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
Channel saw a wide variety of programmes, both new and archive, being shown again on the new channels from 6/7am until 7pm.
In 2009, a report published by the BBC Trust
BBC Trust
The BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers....
found that scheduling changes which took place in February 2008, where programming ended at 17:15, had led to a decrease in viewers. This was especially noticeable for Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
and Newsround
Newsround
Newsround is a BBC children's news programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children...
, two of CBBC's flagship programmes; Blue Peter is now recording its lowest viewing numbers since it started in 1958, and Newsround now receives fewer than 100,000 viewers compared to 225,000 in 2007. The changes were made following the BBC's loss of the rights to soap opera Neighbours, which had for many years been broadcast between the end of CBBC and the start of the 6pm news; when the decision to move daytime editions of The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
from BBC Two to One to fill the gap, CBBC had to move to an earlier slot, as Weakest Link" is longer than Neighbours was.
Management
CBBC is operated by the BBC Children's division, part of BBC North. The division relocated to MediaCityUK in Salford QuaysSalford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
in May 2011, after being based in the East Tower of TV Centre in London since 1964. Management of the division, and broadcast and production of presentation links for CBBC and CBeebies is now based there. In September 2011 flagship magazine show Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
began live broadcasts from its new home. It will be joined in November 2011 by daily news programme Newsround.
The BBC Children's division also operates CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
. Overall strategic responsibility for all of the BBC's services for children rests with the Director of Children's, Joe Godwin (since late 2009), with commissioning decisions for the two channels being made by a Controller of each channel; Daian Kavanagh (since 2009) is Controller of CBBC, and Kay Benbow (since 2010) is Controller of CBeebies.
Scheduling
The original scheduling from the mid/late 1980s consisted of a routine whereby BBC1 would broadcast a 25-minute block at around 10:00 usually including the 'main' pre-school show (Play School, then from 1988 Playbus/PlaydaysPlaydays
Playdays was a children's television programme from the United Kingdom. The series ran from 17 October 1988 to 28 March 1997 on Children's BBC , and was aired in reruns until 2003. The show was the successor of Play School, and, like its predecessor, was designed as an educational programme...
) and children's birthday cards, with BBC2 showing a 5-10 minute programme or programmes at around 13:00, before BBC1 ran the main afternoon block aimed at older children. Weekend programmes consisted chiefly of Saturday morning programmes on BBC1, such as Going Live!
Going Live!
Going Live! was a Saturday morning magazine show, broadcast on BBC1 between 1987 and 1993. It was presented by Phillip Schofield and Sarah Greene.Other presenters included Trevor and Simon, Peter Simon, Emma Forbes, and puppet Gordon the Gopher....
. Children's BBC would also broadcast on weekday mornings during school holidays on either BBC1 or 2, which was done under the But First This banner for a time.
This schedule altered little throughout the 1990s, with the introduction of Sunday morning programming and a full breakfast show being the only changes. The current general schedule for children's shows on BBC terrestrial TV is as follows:
- CBeebies content (under 6) from 06:00 - 07:00 every morning on BBC Two and from 08:30 - 11:35 on BBC Two weekdays.
- CBBC content (ages 6–12) from 07:00 - 08:30 on BBC Two (weekdays), 07:00 - 12:00 on BBC Two (Saturdays), 07:00 - 10:00 on BBC Two (Sundays) and 15:05- 17:15 on BBC One (weekdays).
These schedules are subject to change, particularly around holiday times; the current holiday-time arrangement.
Programming
CBBC produces a wide range of programme types, including drama, newsNews
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
, entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
, and documentary and factual programming. CBBC therefore is often seen as offering a similar mix of formats to the wider BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, albeit tailored to suit a young audience. Byker Grove
Byker Grove
Byker Grove was a British television series which aired between 1989 and 2006 and was created by Adele Rose. The show was broadcast at 5.10pm after Newsround on CBBC on BBC One...
was one of the very few shows that was not aimed at young children, rather a more teenage/young adult audience as it dealt with some controversial themes.
The longest-running CBBC programme is the magazine show Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
. Other notable current and former CBBC programmes include Grange Hill
Grange Hill
Grange Hill is a British television drama series originally made by the BBC. The show began in 1978 on BBC1 and was one of the longest running programmes on British television...
, Newsround
Newsround
Newsround is a BBC children's news programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children...
, Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking was a BBC Saturday morning children's magazine programme, running from 1993 to 2001. The fourth in a succession of Saturday morning shows, it was the replacement for Going Live!, and took many of its features from it, such as phone-ins, games, comedy, competitions and the showing of...
and recent hit Tracy Beaker Returns
Tracy Beaker Returns
Tracy Beaker Returns is a BAFTA winning British children's television series, which premiered on 8 January 2010 on CBBC and BBC HD. Based upon the novels by Jacqueline Wilson, It is the spin-off series to The Story of Tracy Beaker...
.
Studio Set
From its launch in 1985 until 1994, Children's BBC was presented from the regular continuity announcer's booth in the BBC1 network control area, which had a fixed camera so that the presenter could appear in vision; as it remained an operational continuity booth, the presenter would partly direct their own links by way of vision and sound mixers built into the studio desk.The booth became known as 'the Broom Cupboard' due to its small size (the term was first used to refer to a smaller temporary booth, but was later retroactively applied to the main booth). The plain booth wall behind the presenter would be livened up with elements of set dressing, VT monitors and pictures sent in by viewers. Occasionally, when Children's BBC was going out on BBC2 rather than 1 due to events coverage, the presenter would be located in the BBC2 continuity booth, which was not set dressed for Children's BBC, for transmission purposes.
There were two presentation studios - larger than the Broom Cupboards but smaller than full programme studios - known as Pres A and Pres B. It was not initially thought economically viable to use these for daily Children's BBC links, hence the use of the Broom Cupboard. However, by 1987 these studios were being used for the mid-morning 'birthday card' slots and weekend and holiday morning strands such as 'But First This". The main afternoon strand remained in the Broom Cupboard.
In 1994, Pres A was refurbished and became the regular home for all Children's BBC presentation including the weekday afternoon block; the presenters no longer had to operate the broadcast equipment, although a broom cupboard-style area in the corner of Pres A contained its own mixer was used for the birthday slot and weekend mornings to save on crew, and the larger set allowed for more dynamic presentation, with more presenters, characters, features, games and guests. A new 3D version of the then logo of Children's BBC was commissioned to mark the move.
In 1997, Children's BBC moved again when 'Pres A' was decommissioned and CBBC moved to the purpose-built Studio TC9, adjacent to the Blue Peter garden at BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre at White City in West London is the headquarters of BBC Television. Officially opened on 29 June 1960, it remains one of the largest to this day; having featured over the years as backdrop to many BBC programmes, it is one of the most readily recognisable such facilities...
. The first broadcasts from Studio 9 were in June 1997; this was followed in October by the launch of the new-look CBBC branding. TC9 continued to be the regular home of CBBC broadcasts on BBC One and Two until 2005 and was also used to record CBBC On Choice links between 2000 and 2002.
In 2002, TC2 became the home of CBBC Channel links, plus the channel's XChange and UK Top 40 programmes, whilst CBeebies operated from the smaller TC0.
In Autumn 2004 the studio arrangements for CBBC were changed again. The CBBC Channel moved from TC2 to TC9, with BBC One / Two links and the UK Top 40 show moving to TC10 located on the sixth floor of TV Centre. BBC One and Two links then moved back into TC9 alongside CBBC Channel in March 2006 as the number of studios available to CBBC was reduced.
In December 2006, there was a further reduction in CBBC facilities. A CSO set was assembled in TC12, becoming the home of all CBBC links on BBC One, BBC Two and CBBC Channel until September 2007. There was also a reduction in the team of on air presenters. The last live CBBC links from TC9 were broadcast on Friday 1st December 2006; the studio was then mothballed but has since been brought back into use for individual programmes including TMi
TMi
Sam & Mark's TMi Friday was a British children's television show that was presented by Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes . It originally aired on Saturday mornings on BBC Two from its launch on 16 September 2006, until the end of its fourth series on 19 December 2009. Sam & Mark were joined by Caroline...
and SMart
SMart
SMart was a British CBBC television programme based on the subject of art, which began in 1994. The programme was recorded at BBC Television Centre in London, previously it had been recorded in Studio A at BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham. The format is similar to the Tony Hart programmes Take Hart...
.
On 3 September 2007, the CSO studio was dropped in a relaunch which saw a small studio set built in TC12. As part of the relaunch, new logos, presenters and idents were introduced. The design of the new 'office' set has been compared to the original 'broom cupboard', though unlike the 'broom cupboard' the 'office' is not a functioning continuity suite. CBBC presentation originated from Studio HQ5 at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays
Salford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
for the first time on Monday 5 September 2011 as part of the relocation of the BBC's Children's department (incorporating both CBBC and CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
).
Current presenters
| Name | Presenter since | Days presenting | Time presenting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iain Stirling | 23 May 2009 | Weekdays | 7:25am - 8:20am & 4:00pm - 6:00pm |
| Hacker T. Dog | 23 May 2009 | Weekdays | 7:25am - 8:20am & 4:00pm - 6:00pm |
| Chris Johnson Chris Johnson (presenter) Christopher David Johnson , born 25 January 1991, is a voice actor & presenter for CBBC. His first television appearance was for BBC Three, introducing Family Guy. He began presenting on the CBBC Channel in January 2010... |
9 January 2010 | Weekends | 8:00am - 10:00am |
| Dodge T. Dog | 9 January 2010 | Weekends | 8:00am - 10:00am |
Former Presenters
- Phillip SchofieldPhillip SchofieldPhillip Bryan Schofield is an English broadcaster and television personality best known for presenting shows such as This Morning, Dancing on Ice, and various game shows including The Cube.-Early life and career:...
- Andy CraneAndy CraneHoward Andrew 'Andy' Crane is an English television and radio presenter, best known for presenting Children's BBC , amongst many others.-Career:...
- Simon Parkin
- Andi PetersAndi PetersAndi Eleazu Peters is an English television presenter and television producer.-Education:Peters was educated at Emanuel School, a co-educational independent school in Battersea, in south-west London.-Life and career:...
- Philippa ForresterPhilippa ForresterPhilippa Forrester is an English television and radio presenter, producer and author. Having presented shows such as Tomorrow's World, The Heaven and Earth Show and Robot Wars, she now makes wildlife programmes with her husband, Charlie Hamilton James.-Education:Forrester was educated at Westgate...
- Toby AnstisToby AnstisToby Anstis is a radio presenter on Global Radio's Heart Network of stations. He presents his morning show weekdays from 10.00am - 1.00pm across the Heart branded network....
- Zoë BallZoë BallZoë Louise Ball is an English television and radio personality, most famous for becoming the first female host of the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show and for her earlier work presenting the 1990s children's show, Live & Kicking.-TV career:The daughter of the children's TV presenter Johnny Ball and his...
- Josie D'ArbyJosie D'ArbyJosie d'Arby is a Welsh actress and television presenter from Newport, Wales.-Biography:d'Arby went to Lliswerry High School in her younger years then went on to attend the Anna Scher Theatre School, and later the London School of Journalism.d'Arby began a presenting career while still a student...
- Simeon Courtie
- Kirsten O'BrienKirsten O'BrienKirsten O'Brien is an English television presenter and stand-up comic.She is known for presenting SMart, and presented Smile and Totally Doctor Who alongside Barney Harwood on CBBC....
- Chris JarvisChris Jarvis (presenter)Chris Jarvis is a television actor and presenter and has appeared on BBC television since 1992 - apart from 2001-02 when he was with ITV and Channel 4....
- Ana BoulterAna BoulterAna Boulter is a British television presenter, who currently lives in Hong Kong. She attended The Minster School in Southwell Notts, and then Nottingham Trent University and studied broadcast journalism. She presented CBBC between 1998 and 2001, as well as BBC regional programme Inside Out and has...
- Angellica BellAngellica BellAngellica Bell is a British television and radio presenter.-Early life:Born in 1976 of St. Lucian heritage, Bell was educated in Ealing, West London at Notting Hill & Ealing High School. She later earned her BA Honours degree in Politics.-Television career:2000–2006Bell joined CBBC in May 2000...
- Andrew Hayden-SmithAndrew Hayden-SmithAndrew Hayden-Smith is a British actor and television presenter best known for his work with CBBC.-Early years:...
- Gemma HuntGemma HuntGemma Hunt is a CBBC presenter who also used to be on the TV series Xchange.-CBBC:Gemma joined the CBBC continuity team in 2002, since then she has presented on the CBBC Channel and also on BBC One and BBC Two. In 2004 she was noticed by CBBC series Xchange and later became a presenter until its...
- Liam Dolan
- Richard McCourtRichard McCourtRichard "Dick" McCourt is an English actor and presenter of radio and television, best known as one half of the comic duo Dick and Dom, with the other being Dominic Wood...
- Dominic WoodDominic WoodDominic Simon "Dom" Wood is an English entertainer, magician and presenter of radio and television, best known as one half of the double act Dick and Dom, with the other being Richard McCourt....
- Michael UnderwoodMichael UnderwoodMichael Paul Underwood is a British television presenter. He famously won a six week CBBC presenting contract on Gaby Roslin's BBC television show Whatever You Want.-Career:...
- Sophie McDonnellSophie McDonnellSophie McDonnell was a presenter for CBBC until 2006. She was in Precious, the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999.-Biography:...
- Matt EdmondsonMatt EdmondsonMatt Edmondson is an English television and Sony Award-nominated radio presenter, specialising in music, entertainment and celebrity news.-Television career:...
- Anne FoyAnne FoyAnne Foy is a children's television presenter for the BBC. Until March 2008, she worked for the CBBC Channel and on CBBC. She can currently be heard as the voiceover on the music channel 4Music and is also working for Current TV.-Recent work:Anne has been presenting CBBC weekdays on BBC One or on...
- Simon GrantSimon GrantSimon Grant in Falmouth, Cornwall is a British television presenter and actor.-Biography:Before becoming a CBBC presenter, he studied acting at Middlesex University....
- Holly WalshHolly Walsh (comedian)Holly Walsh is an English comedian and comedy writer from Guildford in Surrey, known mainly for her work on TV and radio in the UK.- Early life :...
- Ed PetrieEd PetrieEdward 'Ed' Oliver James Petrie is a British actor, comedian and television presenter. He was born, and grew up in, the seaside resort of Rustington, and was educated at Broadwater Manor in Worthing and the independent school Ardingly College in the village of Ardingly in West Sussex...
- Oucho T. Cactus
- London Hughes
- Crab E. Crab
Guest and relief continuity presenters have included Adam Fleming
Adam Fleming
Adam Fleming is a Scottish news reporter, best known for his work on CBBC's news programme, Newsround. He also reports for Sportsround and has recently begun appearing as a political correspondent for BBC News.-Early life and career:...
, Sam Nixon
Sam Nixon
Sam Nixon is an English singer and television presenter. He came third on the Pop Idol television series in 2003 and is now one half of the duo Sam & Mark, with the other being Mark Rhodes.-Early life:...
, Mark Rhodes
Mark Rhodes
Mark Thomas Rhodes is an English singer and television presenter.-Career:...
and Dani Harmer
Dani Harmer
Danielle Jane "Dani" Harmer is an English television actress and singer. Harmer is best known as the title character in the UK television programme The Story of Tracy Beaker/Tracy Beaker Returns, and as Molly Venables in the BBC sitcom After You've Gone...
.
Logos and idents
CBBC Extra
CBBC Extra is a free interactive television service from CBBC provided by BBC Red Button. It is accessible from the CBBC Channel by pressing red and then selecting CBBC Extra. It can also be accessed from any other BBC channel by pressing red and going to page number 570. The service differs across digital platforms, for example digital satellite (i.e.: Sky) viewers can access a video loop. Its availability on digital terrestrial (Freeview) is dependent upon BBC Red Button not showing other interactive services, such as major sports events coverage. CBBC Extra also had a feature called CBBC Quiz. This feature allows the viewers to play a quiz and for viewers to send in their question which could be shown to the nation. There are 5 levels, each containing 5 questions.CBBC UK VHS Releases
Numerous CBBC Programmes have been released on VHS by BC Video]. Video releases either contained numerous videos from one particular programme, or were a compilation tape of numerous episodes from lots of different programmes. A list of these compilation tapes is shown below.| VHS Title | Release Date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| BBC Children's Favourites (BBCV 4011) | 1981 | Ivor The Engine, Bagpuss, The Clangers |
| Beebtots (BBCV 4111) | 1981 | Ivor The Engine: Snowdrifts [Part 1], Noggin the Nog and the Pie, Ivor The Engine, Snowdrifts [Part 2], Bagpuss and the Small Soft Hamish, The Clangers: A Lonely Bag |
| 4 Fun Favourites (BBCV 4883) | 1992 | Funnybones: Dinosaurs, Fireman Sam: Dily's Forgetful Day, Pingu Plays Fish Tennis, Noddy and the Pouring Rain |
| BBC Television Children's Favourites (BBCV 5118) | 1993 | ,Noddy and the Broken Bicycle, Pingu and Pinga at Home, Funnybones: The Pet Shop, Postman Pat's Finding Day, Spider: Just a Spider, Joshua Jones: Haywire, Tales of the Tooth Fairies: The Stolen Present, Fireman Sam: Bentley the Robot, Pingu Goes Fishing, Charlie Chalk: Arnold's Night Out |
| BBC Children's Christmas Cracker (BBCV 5399) | 1994 | Noddy and Father Christmas, Pingu: Skiing, Barney: Barney's Christmas Surprise, Pingu: Sledging, The Little Polar Bear: The Snow Storm, Fireman Sam: Snow Business |
| BBC Children's Collection (WHS 5475) | 1994 | The Little Polar Bear: The Ice Floe, Pingu: Ice Hockey, Noddy and the Pouring Rain, Barney's TV Act, Postman Pat's Thirsty Day, Fireman Sam: Halloween |
| The Greatest BBC Children's Video Ever (BBCV 5653) | 1995 | Fireman Sam: Spot of Bother, Pingu's New Kite, Spider in the Bath, William's Wish Wellingtons: William the Conkeror, The Clangers: Fishing, Nursery Rhyme Time, Noddy and the Special Key, Funnybones: Bumps in the Night, Hairy Jeremy: Ice To See You, The Little Polar Bear: The Egg, The Animals of Farthing Wood: Adventures of Fox |
| Children's Sensational Summer Fun (BBCV 5858) | 1996 | Fireman Sam: Deep Trouble for Sam, William's Wish Wellingtons: Sweet William, Pingu at the Funfair, Monty Gets The Blame, The Adventures Of The Garden Fairies: The Garden in Summer, Noddy Cheers Up Big Ears, Oakie Doke and The Wishing Well, Spider: Classroom Distractions |
| Children In Need - Party for Pudsey | 1997 | Postman Pat's Birthday, Fireman Sam: Halloween, Pingu's Birthday, Oakie Doke and the Party, Monty's Magic Trick, Noddy Cheers Up Big Ears, Dinobabies: Ebegeezer Scrimp |
| Toybox 1 (BBCV 5982) | 1997 | Noddy Tastes Some Cake, William's Wish Wellingtons: William and the Sheep, Little Bear: A Present for Mother Bear, Pingu Pretends to Be Ill, Fireman Sam: Disaster For Dinner, Oakie Doke and the Monster, Dinobabies: Some Like it Hot |
| Toybox 2 (BBCV 6185) | 1997 | Noddy The Dancer, William's Wish Wellingtons: William of Arabia, Little Bear: Hide and Seek, Pingu Makes a Mistake, Oakie Doke and the Birthday Cake, Dinobabies: Jurassic Ark, The Little Polar Bear: The Concert, Fireman Sam: Lost in the Fog |
| Toybox 3 (BBCV 6226) | 1998 | Noddy and The Broken Bicycle, Willam's Wish Wellingtons: Sweet William, Oakie Doke and the Orchestra, Pingu's First Kiss, Dinobabies: Scarebusters, The Little Polar Bear: The Book, Spider: Little Miss M, Fireman Sam: Lost Ring |
| Toybox 4 (BBCV 6538) | 1998 | Noddy and The Milkman, Willam's Wish Wellingtons: William and the Alien, Oakie Doke and the Hiccups, Pingu the Icicle Musician, Spider: Hedgehog Hunt, The Little Polar Bear: The Teddy Bear, Postman Pat's Difficult Day, Fireman Sam: Brass Band |
| Toybox Bumper Video (BBCV 6785) | 1999 | Noddy and The Special Key, William's Wish Wellingtons: Willam and The Pirate's Wreck, Oakie Doke and the Lonely Mouse, Pingu's Curling Game, Fireman Sam: Spot of Bother, Spider: In My Tent, Little Bear: Duck, Babysitter, Dinobabies: The Cloneheads, The Little Polar Bear: The Flower, Postman Pat's Thirsty Day |
| Toybox Christmas Video (BBCV 6915) | 1999 | Fireman Sam: Snow Business, Pingu's Family Celebrate Christmas, Postman Pat Goes Sledging, The Little Polar Bear: The Ice Floe, Noddy and Father Christmas |
| Toybox 2 on 1 (BBCV 6833) | 2000 | Contains 15 episodes from both 'Toybox 1' and 'Toybox 2', Noddy Tastes Some Cake, William's Wish Wellingtons: William and the Sheep, Little Bear: A Present for Mother Bear, Pingu Pretends to Be Ill, Fireman Sam: Disaster For Dinner, Oakie Doke and the Monster, Dinobabies: Some Like it Hot, Noddy The Dancer, William's Wish Wellingtons: William of Arabia, Little Bear: Hide and Seek, Pingu Makes a Mistake, Oakie Doke and the Birthday Cake, Dinobabies: Jurassic Ark, The Little Polar Bear: The Concert, Fireman Sam: Lost in the Fog |
| Toybox Animal Adventures (BBCV 6941) | 2000 | Postman Pat: The Sheep in the Clover Field, Willam's Wish Wellingtons: William and Barksure, Pingu and the Game of Fish, Spider: Frog Change, Noddy Meets Some Silly Hens, The Little Polar Bear: The Snow Storm, Fireman Sam: Lost Cat |
| New Toybox (BBCV 7144) | 2001 | Tweenies: Have Fun with Dot-To-Dots, Postman Pat Has the Best Village, Teletubbies: Happy Days, Fireman Sam: Quarry Rescue, Yoho Ahoy: Chairs With Grog, Noddy and the Driving Lesson |
CBBC website
The CBBC website provides a wide range of activities for viewers aged 6–14, such as games, videos, puzzles, printable pages, pre-moderated message boards and frequently updated news feeds. It contains pages for the majority of its current programming with various content on each. There are also micro-sites from Newsround and Sportsround, providing children with news and sport, as well as the CBBC iPlayerBBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer, commonly shortened to iPlayer, is an internet television and radio service, developed by the BBC to extend its former RealPlayer-based and other streamed video clip content to include whole TV shows....
to replay CBBC programmes for up to seven days.