Exclusive: Around 25 layoffs are incoming in the BBC Children’s & Education department, while the BBC Studios Kids & Family team has seen a similar number depart since December.
The decisions have been made independently of each other, we understand, and a voluntary redundancy process will now commence within Children’s & Education. Staff were informed yesterday afternoon by email and affected staff were spoken with individually.
BBC Children’s hits include the likes of Hey Duggee, Oliver Twist adaptation Dodger (pictured) and Blue Peter.
Following an 18-month review that has just concluded, the circa-25 layoffs will be within the presentation sub-division, which promotes kids content via links and resources, and the educational production sub-division, which will see a senior leader restructure.
BBC Children’s & Education, which is based in Salford and runs channels Cbbc and CBeebies along with online content and educational resources, is preparing to take the older-skewing Cbbc channel online only,...
The decisions have been made independently of each other, we understand, and a voluntary redundancy process will now commence within Children’s & Education. Staff were informed yesterday afternoon by email and affected staff were spoken with individually.
BBC Children’s hits include the likes of Hey Duggee, Oliver Twist adaptation Dodger (pictured) and Blue Peter.
Following an 18-month review that has just concluded, the circa-25 layoffs will be within the presentation sub-division, which promotes kids content via links and resources, and the educational production sub-division, which will see a senior leader restructure.
BBC Children’s & Education, which is based in Salford and runs channels Cbbc and CBeebies along with online content and educational resources, is preparing to take the older-skewing Cbbc channel online only,...
- 3/22/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The BBC is reviewing its commissioning practices in its Children’s & Education department following a two-year period of sweeping change.
Deadline understands an audit took place late last month and its findings are due back shortly.
The terms of the audit are wide-ranging and include whether commissioning decisions are being made that adhere to BBC public service values and examines the relationship between Patricia Hidalgo’s department and the new BBC Studio’s Kids & Family division, which used to be an in-house producer but was subsumed by commercial outfit BBC Studios earlier this year and can now make shows for other networks.
The BBC insisted that the audit is a “routine review” but several sources from both within and outside the department described it as “out of the ordinary,” with some who have worked there for many years saying they’ve never known it to happen. While the audit is internal,...
Deadline understands an audit took place late last month and its findings are due back shortly.
The terms of the audit are wide-ranging and include whether commissioning decisions are being made that adhere to BBC public service values and examines the relationship between Patricia Hidalgo’s department and the new BBC Studio’s Kids & Family division, which used to be an in-house producer but was subsumed by commercial outfit BBC Studios earlier this year and can now make shows for other networks.
The BBC insisted that the audit is a “routine review” but several sources from both within and outside the department described it as “out of the ordinary,” with some who have worked there for many years saying they’ve never known it to happen. While the audit is internal,...
- 11/2/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Some of television’s most beloved (and reviled) children’s characters are headed to streaming. The first trailer for Netflix’s upcoming “Teletubbies” revival series has been released, promising a return to the long-running franchise’s bizarre world.
First created in 1997 by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport, “Teletubbies” is a British children’s show aimed at toddlers. Named after the main characters — a bizarre quartet of multi-colored, toddler-like creatures with antennae on their heads and television screens on their bellies — the show follows them exploring and playing in the grassy landscape they call home. The original show ran for five seasons and over 300 episodes and developed a global following thanks to syndication in over 120 countries. Even outside of its target demographic, the show quickly became famous for its surreal tone and character designs, and attracted sometimes bizarre controversy — such as when televangelist Jerry Falwell accused one of the Teletubbies, Tinky Winky,...
First created in 1997 by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport, “Teletubbies” is a British children’s show aimed at toddlers. Named after the main characters — a bizarre quartet of multi-colored, toddler-like creatures with antennae on their heads and television screens on their bellies — the show follows them exploring and playing in the grassy landscape they call home. The original show ran for five seasons and over 300 episodes and developed a global following thanks to syndication in over 120 countries. Even outside of its target demographic, the show quickly became famous for its surreal tone and character designs, and attracted sometimes bizarre controversy — such as when televangelist Jerry Falwell accused one of the Teletubbies, Tinky Winky,...
- 10/18/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Teletubbies are making a return. A new, animated incarnation of the popular British kids series, narrated by Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), will premiere on Netflix Nov. 14. The project was announced as part of the streamer’s fall preschool slate, which also includes Princess Power, a new animated series based on the New York Times bestselling book series Princesses Wear Pants by Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and Allison Oppenheim, as well as the previously announced Spirit Rangers, inspired by stories from Native American tribes and landscapes of American national parks.
Returning series on the roster include CoComelon, Gabby’s Dollhouse and Waffles + Mochi.
Teletubbies became a global phenomenon when it first aired from 1997-2001 and was later rebooted for a 2015-1018 run.
Here are details about Netflix’s new preschool series
Teletubbies (premieres November 14)
Synopsis: Join colorful friends Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po on wonder-filled adventures as they learn and...
Returning series on the roster include CoComelon, Gabby’s Dollhouse and Waffles + Mochi.
Teletubbies became a global phenomenon when it first aired from 1997-2001 and was later rebooted for a 2015-1018 run.
Here are details about Netflix’s new preschool series
Teletubbies (premieres November 14)
Synopsis: Join colorful friends Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po on wonder-filled adventures as they learn and...
- 9/7/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Studios Kids & Family has initiated a major restructure, unifying the team under one slate and budget and seeking creative, commercial and development bosses.
Cecilia Persson’s team is operating with five pillars, with respective focuses on Business, Commercial, Development, Production and Content Strategy, according to a BBC Studios spokesman.
A trio of job adverts have been issued in the past few days for a Head of Content & Strategy, Head of Commercial and VP/Creative Director, Development for the team, which is run by former WarnerMedia exec Persson. All three are newly-created and Persson will say more about them during a Mipcom keynote in October.
Once the three are onboard, the BBC Studios Kids & Family division will be significantly enhanced as it unifies to focus on one slate and budget, seeking growth in commercial kids genres such as animation, high-end drama and pre-school.
The Head of Strategy will set out...
Cecilia Persson’s team is operating with five pillars, with respective focuses on Business, Commercial, Development, Production and Content Strategy, according to a BBC Studios spokesman.
A trio of job adverts have been issued in the past few days for a Head of Content & Strategy, Head of Commercial and VP/Creative Director, Development for the team, which is run by former WarnerMedia exec Persson. All three are newly-created and Persson will say more about them during a Mipcom keynote in October.
Once the three are onboard, the BBC Studios Kids & Family division will be significantly enhanced as it unifies to focus on one slate and budget, seeking growth in commercial kids genres such as animation, high-end drama and pre-school.
The Head of Strategy will set out...
- 8/11/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: One of the BBC’s longest-serving kids executives, Michael Towner, responsible for the likes of Teletubbies and Andy and the Band, is exiting after nearly three decades with the corporation.
Deadline understands Towner has taken voluntary redundancy and his Senior Commissioning Editor role will be closed.
The BBC will subsequently recruit for an animation commissioner for ages 0-6, coming at a time when BBC Children’s & Education boss Patricia Hidalgo is prioritizing animation. She recently launched a fund and issued a callout for a British equivalent of The Simpsons.
Towner joined the BBC 27 years ago and has worked across Children’s for most of that time, producing, directing and commissioning shows for linear channels Cbbc and CBeebies.
He has produced and directed the likes of Teletubbies, Blue Peter, Get Your Own Back and the BAFTA-nominated Something Special, along with commissioning titles including Twirlywoos, Waffle The Wonder Dog and Andy and the Band.
Deadline understands Towner has taken voluntary redundancy and his Senior Commissioning Editor role will be closed.
The BBC will subsequently recruit for an animation commissioner for ages 0-6, coming at a time when BBC Children’s & Education boss Patricia Hidalgo is prioritizing animation. She recently launched a fund and issued a callout for a British equivalent of The Simpsons.
Towner joined the BBC 27 years ago and has worked across Children’s for most of that time, producing, directing and commissioning shows for linear channels Cbbc and CBeebies.
He has produced and directed the likes of Teletubbies, Blue Peter, Get Your Own Back and the BAFTA-nominated Something Special, along with commissioning titles including Twirlywoos, Waffle The Wonder Dog and Andy and the Band.
- 6/17/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Nadiya Hussain, who shot to global stardom when she won the 2015 edition of “The Great British Bake Off,” is set to voice new CBeebies show “What’s On Your Head?”
Produced by London and Bristol-based indie outfit Gold Wala, the show is a 10-part factual entertainment series inspired by the wearing of face masks during the pandemic. It was commissioned for CBeebies, the BBC’s free-to-air children’s television network aimed at children aged 7 and below.
“What’s On Your Head?” will explore the different things people wear on their face or head for religious, cultural, professional and safety reasons. From hijabs to lawyer’s wigs, scuba masks to firefighter helmets, the series is a new way for children to understand the world around them using a combination of live action and animation that celebrates diversity, humanizes difference and explains the reasons why people decide to put something on to cover their head or face.
Produced by London and Bristol-based indie outfit Gold Wala, the show is a 10-part factual entertainment series inspired by the wearing of face masks during the pandemic. It was commissioned for CBeebies, the BBC’s free-to-air children’s television network aimed at children aged 7 and below.
“What’s On Your Head?” will explore the different things people wear on their face or head for religious, cultural, professional and safety reasons. From hijabs to lawyer’s wigs, scuba masks to firefighter helmets, the series is a new way for children to understand the world around them using a combination of live action and animation that celebrates diversity, humanizes difference and explains the reasons why people decide to put something on to cover their head or face.
- 1/8/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Production has begun on the new CBeebies sketch show series, Gigglebiz (25 episodes), featuring Justin Fletcher and his cast of characters. Scheduled to launch this summer, Gigglebiz is CBeebies' first ever live-action sketch show. The series is being shot both on location and in studio at Elstree. Fletcher is best known to fans as Mr Tumble and the host of CBeebies Something Special. Gigglebiz is being produced by Michael Towner, and will feature sketches penned by writers from BBC Entertainment's Comedy School working with some of the network's squad of writers and Fletcher.
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- 5/7/2009
- by gwen@cynopsis.com
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