CBeebies

Logo and idents

Presenters

As well as hosting some of the shows, a number of presenters fill the gaps between the CBeebies shows, performing little sketches, showing viewers' birthday cards, and introducing the shows. Many of the presenters have histories as characters on other services or on children's programmes.

In the UK, presenters seen on the channel and the stranded service are:

• Andy Day (2007–present)
• Katy Ashworth (2011-present)
• Cat Sandion (2013–present)
• Rebecca Keatley (2014–present)
• Ben Cajee (2015–present)
• Dodge T. Dog (2015-present)
• Ryan Russell (2017-present)
• Evie Pickerill (2018-present)

Former presenters:

• Sue Monroe (2002–2006)
• Nicole Davis (2003–2006)
• Justin Fletcher (2006–2007)
• Sarah-Jane Honeywell (2006–2007)
• Eva Alexander (2006-2007)
• Chris Jarvis (2002–2009)
• Pui Fan Lee (2002–2009)
• Sidney Sloane (2002–2013)
• Alex Winters (2009–2015)
• Cerrie Burnell (2009–2017)

The longest serving member is Sloane who introduced the programmes, along with most of the other presenters, for just over a decade (11 years) and still presents on the South African CBeebies feed.

The international variants feature different personalities per broadcast region.

• The Australian feed is the only non-UK CBeebies to feature more than one presenter, as this feed features 3 presenters. Tara Colegrave has presented since 2008^[11] and when the continuity links moved from the UK CBeebies studio to an especially made Australian studio, she was joined by Robbie Harding and Duncan Fellows in 2011.
• The Asian feed shown in countries like Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore has Nisha Anil is the main presenter.^[12][13][14]
• The now-defunct Latin American feed variant had Roser Cabañas as the presenter.^[15]
• The Polish channel has had Aneta Bożena Piotrowska as main presenter since it's launch in 2008. On some occasions between November 2014 to 2016 Aneta appeared on the UK channel.^[13][16]
• The South African feed utilises former UK presenter Sidney Sloane.</ref>^[12]

Stranded Segments

In the UK, the CBeebies channel uses stranded segments throughout the day.

From 3 April^[17] to 19 December 2004, each weekend afternoon was divided into five segments, which were presented by one of the then-current presenters, namely Chris Jarvis, Nicole Davis, Pui Fan Lee, Sidney Sloane and Sue Monroe. Each was given a core theme (for instance Sid's segment included "building and making" programmes such as Bob the Builder, Sue's included arts and crafts theme programmes and so on). The five segments aired from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm; the segmentation was later dispensed in December 2004. For many months after, though, the presenters still wore their respective colours. They also cropped up in props used in links, such as coloured plates.

The five coloured room sections ran from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm and included the following:

• Pui's Exploring Hour (Red Room), with programmes such as Come Outside, Teletubbies Everywhere, Bits and Bobs, Open a Door, Tots TV and Fab Lab^[18]
• Sid's Fix-It Hour (Green Room), with programmes such as Fireman Sam, Postman Pat, Bob the Builder, Dr Otter and Little Robots^[19]
• Chris's Singalong Hour (Blue Room), with programmes such as Tweenies, Zingalong, Balamory and Boogie Beebies^[20]
• Sue's Make and Do Hour (Pink Room), with programmes such as SMarteenies, Tikkabilla, Pingu, and Big Cook, Little Cook^[21]
• Nicole's Furry Friends Hour (Orange Room), with programmes such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Barnaby Bear, The Magic Key, Teletubbies and The Koala Brothers^[22]

A new strand entitled Pick and Play was shown for the first time in June 2004,^[23] in which viewers contacted CBeebies via the website and other means to suggest programmes they would like to see. Also, in September 2005,^[24] a new strand called Bear and Butterfly launched, showing on weekend mornings. Presented by a cartoon bear (voiced by Chris Jarvis) and butterfly (voiced by Sue Monroe), and with an occasional appearance from a caterpillar, the characters interacted in an animated environment. They also showed pictures that had been sent in on their Message Tree.

New strands were introduced on 3 April 2006; Get Set Go from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, Explorers from 9:00 am to 10:00 am and 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Busy Beebies from 10:00 am to 11:45 am and 2:00 pm to 3:45 pm, Story Corner from 11:45 am to 12:00 pm and 3:45 pm to 4:00 pm and Little Lunchers from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. The Bedtime Hour was retained.^[25]

On 19 March 2007,^[26] until 2017, these segments were dropped (apart from Get Set Go and Bedtime Hour) and modified to denote the time of day and the levels of activity, including:

• Get, Set, Go! – Early morning schedule between 6:00am and 9:00am; retained from 2006 and given longer hours. Includes programmes such as Fimbles, Tweenies, Boogie Beebies, LazyTown, Balamory, Pingu, Tikkabilla, Teletubbies, Bob the Builder, Little Red Tractor and Brum (TV series)
• Discover and Do – Late morning and early afternoon, weekdays between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. The strand is aimed at young children who would not be attending school or pre-school. It often contains programmes that give a learning opportunity to viewers, such as Balamory, The Shiny Show, Bill and Ben, Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies, Tots TV, The Story Makers, Barnaby Bear & Higgledy House. The hour between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm is branded as Lunch Time and features shows such as Big Cook, Little Cook, Me Too! (UK TV series) & Step Inside.
• Big Fun Time – Late afternoon weekdays between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. This strand is notable for aiming at the higher end of its remit, airing programming for children who have recently returned from school. Programs include Clifford the Big Red Dog (TV series), Come Outside, Postman Pat, The Large Family, LazyTown, LazyTown Extra, Boogie Beebies, Lunar Jim, Underground Ernie & ToddWorld.
• Bedtime Hour – The final hour of CBeebies broadcasting between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The original stranded section of the channel (and the only to still air to this day), Bedtime Hour helps to prepare children for bed and features calm-natured programming. Programmes include Clangers, The Adventures of Abney & Teal, Charlie and Lola, Fimbles, The Roly Mo Show, Rubbadubbers, Step Inside, The Story Makers, 64 Zoo Lane and In the Night Garden... Story-telling is often told during the programmes. The final programme is always the Bedtime Stories slot (see below) and is followed by a final song, "The Time Has Come to Say Goodnight".

When these segments were initially introduced, each segment featured its own presenting team and set, with Chris Jarvis and Pui Fan Lee (Alex Winters and Cerrie Burnell after they left in January 2009) presenting Discover and Do in the CBeebies "living room"; Lunch Time in the "kitchen"; Bedtime Hour in the "bedroom"; Sidney Sloane (plus Andy Day when he joined the channel later in 2007) presenting Get, Set, Go! in the "living room" and Big Fun Time in the "garage". However, since moving production to Manchester this is no longer the case, with the exception of Bedtime Hour which is presented from the area nearest the house's bed.

Since 2017, these strands were dropped and shows can now be rolled out any time of the day, expect for the Bedtime Hour which still remains.

The Bedtime Hour on-screen ident from March 2003 to March 2016.

Storytimes

While the lunchtime story is usually read by one of the regular presenters, the final show of each day, the "Bedtime Story" is read by a guest storyteller, including well known actors, comedians, and past presenters of BBC children's television. Some notable storytellers in this slot have included James McAvoy, Simon Pegg, David Hasselhoff, Lulu, Damian Lewis, Rosamund Pike, Toby Stephens, David Tennant, Ben Faulks, Michael Rosen, Floella Benjamin, Shayne Ward, Chris Evans, Big Bird, Tom Hardy, Dolly Parton and Sir Elton John.

In an unusual move, James Bolam appeared on "Bedtime Story" in costume and in character as Grandpa from Grandpa in My Pocket, not as himself.

Lesser-known storytellers James Blishen and Elliot King have appeared and taken inspiration from CBeebies' storytime slot, with a programme for James in pre-planning called 'Storytime with James'.

CBeebies website

The CBeebies website coincided with the launch of the UK channel in February 2002 and showcases a child friendly site with activities themed to all CBeebies programmes, past and present, with games, songs and print-outs featuring for nearly all shows. The UK version also features links to CBeebies iPlayer, a child friendly version of the BBC iPlayer featuring CBeebies programmes only, to CBeebies radio player and a dedicated micro site containing advice for raising children and toddlers called CBeebies Grown-ups, which was relaunched in 2011.^[29][30][31]

The international channels and associated websites are run by BBC Studios. As a result, not all of them are the same and some channels have less extensive websites than other services. CBeebies channels in Asia, Australia, Poland, South Africa and the USA all have their own international variant.

VHS and DVD releases

BBC Video (and later 2Entertain) have released several VHS/DVD compilations featuring shows airing on CBeebies at the time. As of 2014 Abbey Home Media releases the compilations.

Album releases

Five CBeebies-branded CDs have been released, 'CBeebies: The Official Album' in 2002, 'My CBeebies Album' in 2006, 'My CBeebies Album (Christmas Edition)' in 2007, 'CBeebies: Song Time' in 2010, and 'CBeebies: The Album' in 2012.

CBeebies Land

CBeebies Land opened in May 2014. Designed as a retheme of the previous Storybook Land and Old McDonald's Farmyard areas of the Alton Towers Resort theme park. It contains a range of themed rides, attractions as well as live entertainment based around various popular programmes. Containing various indoor and outdoor activities aimed at making an immersive and interactive world for children and young families.

The site based within Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire includes some of the more popular characters from the original channel for guests to meet. Described as a 'fun environment for pre-schoolers to play and learn' by critics.^[32]

At the start of the year, the theme park sporadically released information on the characters involved in the development via their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

• On 4 January, Mr Tumble was the first character confirmed - featuring in the Something Special Sensory Garden^[33] and 5 January saw Mr. Bloom confirmed as featuring in the development in the form of Mr Bloom's Allotments.^[34]
• On 6 January, the park revealed an In the Night Garden... redesign of their existing Riverbank Eyespy. On the re-themed attraction, In the Night Garden Magical Boat Ride, guests will be able to drift around the 'enchanted dreamworld'; an area that will use colours, sights and sounds to bring picture books to life. Iggle Piggle, Makka Pakka and Upsy Daisy will all be on the Night Garden Island to help children appreciate the values of diversity, and enjoy the wonder in the world around them.

Stephen Gould, commercial director at DHX Media who licence In the Night Garden... commented, "We are extremely excited to be working in partnership with BBC Worldwide, Merlin Entertainments and Alton Towers Resort on this new venture. In The Night Garden is the ideal draw brand to provide a fun, nurturing, inspiring and immersive environment for CBeebies Land and its visitors."^[35]

The fourth reveal on 7 January was that of Nina and the Neurons^[36] Based around the popular show which sees Nina, with the help of her animated sense Neurons, explain how and why the world around us works as it does. Nina's Science Lab will bring together the Neurons to show how they control your five senses. In a hands-on scientific attraction, children will learn how their bodies work and what they do.^[37]