BBC Worldwide Press Releases

BBC Worldwide Channels has announced a raft of acquisitions for its international pre-school channel CBeebies.

The new titles include the highly anticipated landmark pre-school series, Waybuloo (100 x 20 mins), as well as new comedy drama Grandpa in My Pocket and the breakthrough multi-platform entertainment format Kerwhizz.

All of the titles were originally commissioned by CBeebies in the UK, and will now roll out on the international version of the channel, which currently reaches 8.9 million homes around the world.

David Weiland, Senior VP, Programming, BBC Worldwide Channels, commented: "CBeebies commissions some truly fantastic programming for the under sixes in the UK and we are delighted to have secured this line-up of top quality new titles for our young viewers all over the world. Internationally, the channel is fast becoming established as the home for CBeebies' UK productions, whether made by the BBC's in house production team or independents."

Produced by The Foundation, part of the RDF Media Group, Waybuloo is a unique mix of animation and live action and is like nothing children will have ever seen before. Taking a completely original approach to pre-school programming, the series transports children into a magical land called Nara – a real world, which is inhabited by animated characters called Piplings who embody a range of emotions including love, wisdom, happiness and harmony.

Set to air in the UK in 2009, the series will roll out on the CBeebies channel internationally later this year.

Also from The Foundation are two more CBeebies commissions, Big Barn Farm (20 x 15 mins) and Mister Maker (60 x 20 mins).

Mister Maker is the ultimate interactive arts and crafts show for younger kids. Combining live action, CGI and animation techniques, Mister Maker brings the world of arts and crafts to life in a ground breaking way. The series was CBeebies' top rating show of 2007 and has been recommissioned for two new series, to be broadcast in 2009.

Big Barn Farm for four to six year-olds, tells the stories and adventures of a group of animals who all live together on the farm. The use of real animals combined with the simplicity of good storytelling produces a world that is compelling, charming, funny and utterly magical.

All three series were acquired from RDF Kids & Family, a division of RDF Rights. BBC Worldwide Channels has acquired series one to three of Mister Maker and series one and two of Big Barn Farm.

From Canada's DECODE Enterprises, meanwhile, BBC Worldwide has acquired Grandpa in My Pocket (26 x 12 mins).

Produced by independent production company Adastra Creative, Grandpa In My Pocket is CBeebies' first comedy drama commission and features such well-known faces as James Bolam, Susan Jameson, Lisa Goddard, Rula Lenska and Meera Syal. The series explores the hugely important grandparent-grandchild relationship and combines live action with CG animation and visual effects. Made with participation from Finance Wales, Grandpa in my Pocket has only just started airing on CBeebies but is already scoring very highly in the ratings.

Rounding out the slate of deals, BBC Worldwide has picked up pre-school puppet show Big & Small (52 x 11 mins) and multi-platform entertainment format Kerwhizz (26 x 22 mins), from Belgium's Studio 100.

An in-house CBeebies Production, Kerwhizz sees three teams of CGI characters competing to answer questions that will give them add-ons or "Pod-Mods" for their high tech racing machines. These Mods can help them to win a race against their opponents. A live action audience adds to the excitement by cheering on their favourite contestants.

Pre-school puppet show Big and Small follows the comic adventures of two unlikely best friends, featuring the voices of Lenny Henry and Imelda Staunton. Lenny voices both Big and Small whilst Imelda voices their friends Ruby (a mouse) and Twiba (The Worm who lives in Big's Apple). The series is a co-production between Kindle Entertainment and the 3J's Productions, produced in association with Treehouse in Canada and Studio 100.

The deals were all brokered on behalf of BBC Worldwide Channels by Karin Marelle, Acquisition and Content Consultant, Programming.
The raft of acquisitions follows a busy two years for CBeebies, which launched in India in April 2007, followed by launches in Singapore, Hong Kong and Poland that year. In 2008, it continued its international roll out, with launches in Indonesia, Latin America, Africa, Australia and the U.S. Hispanic market.


Dominic Schreiber/Harriet Otoo