New commissions mark BBC Children's anniversary

The BBC's Salford-based children's department has commissioned a raft of new programmes to mark the 10th anniversary of both CBBC and CBeebies.

A number of new literacy and numeracy programmes will launch on CBeebies this month under the 'The Love to Learn' banner. There will also be a new series designed to introduce children to rhyme and verse.

CBBC has also announced a range of new commissions. New dramas Wolfblood, The Knot, Stepping Up and Russell T Davies’ Aliens Vs Wizards are all in production, with Young Dracula, The Sparticles Mystery, M.I. High and Leonardo returning to the channel in 2012-13.

Around 50% of the BBC's children's output is produced in house while 25% is guaranteed for indies. Both sides compete for the remaining 25%. Of the £80m-a-year commissioning budget some £60m goes to CBBC.

The corporation said the audience of both channels had grown significantly since their launch, with CBBC now reaching more than five times the audience it had in its first year.

It is watched by more than 1.8 million six to 12-year-olds every week. CBeebies has also grown, doubling its audience since its launch, and is now watched by around half of the children in the UK who are under six. (2.3 million)

BBC Children's director Joe Godwin said: “It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate our 10th birthday in our brand new home in MediaCityUK, looking back at the quality programming that the department has produced, and looking ahead at all the exciting content we have in store.

"I believe what makes BBC Children’s so special is that we produce original British programming to help children make sense of the world around them. And we take children to places they wouldn’t otherwise be able to experience.

“We really do have world-class talent working here at BBC Children’s and I’m looking forward to seeing these new programme commissions on air in the coming year.”

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