BBC Children’s announce a stellar line-up of new titles coming to the UK’s most loved children’s TV channels, CBeebies and CBBC.

The roster of new commissions is full of home-grown talent and includes a host of animated favourites like Hey Duggee, the multi award-winning hit animation from Studio AKA and BBC Studios Kids & Family, back for series 5, and the totally new Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club. The spin-off brings all the beloved characters from the original hit series to screen in a brand-new format where viewers at home are invited to be a part of the Squirrel Club.

Pre-schoolers will also get to meet Mojo Swoptops producedby Blue Zoo and Tararaboom, the little truck that can SWOP her TOP! A vehicle with a difference using her ‘cardrobe’ of swoptops, Mojo finds creative solutions to the problems facing her local community, the town of Swopsea.

CBeebies audiences will also be able to discover brand-new animated adventures like Rafi the Wishing Wizard and her apparently ordinary family who are actually an extraordinary household of modern-day wizards, produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions.

For older children, original dramas include series two of A Kind of Spark, produced by 9 Story Media Group, that blazed a trail with its representation of neurodiversity across both cast and crew, and recognised this week by its nomination at the RTS North West awards.

In addition, there is the much-anticipated return of the iconic Odd Squad, a co-production between Sinking Ship Entertainment and BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions, now filmed in Manchester. The new series, Odd Squad UK, features a brand-new world of oddness and group of agents with a predominantly British cast filmed exclusively in the UK.

Children and parents alike will enjoy the reimaging of the much-loved children’s books; The Famous Five in three feature-length episodes. The first, directed by Tim Kirby will be aired in during the festive period bringing families together to watch the classic stories retold for a new generation. The series follows five daring young explorers as they encounter treacherous, action-packed adventures and is produced by Moonage Pictures andbyNWR Originals, and in co-production with ZDF in Germany.

Animation fans won’t miss out as BBC Ignite is also set to return with a second round of funding opportunities for the UK animation industry bringing fresh, bold and innovative ideas to life for audiences across CBBC.

Patricia Hidalgo says: “The BBC is one of the biggest investors of quality children’s programming across all genres. From more Numberblocks, a Hey Duggee spin-off to a new series of A Kind of Spark, our latest commissions demonstrate our commitment to providing home-grown, relevant programming to the millions of children across the UK we entertain and educate every day.”

CBeebies

Numberblocks and friends will be returning as part of a four year output plan for the Blocks universe, following BBC Children’s and Education investment in multiple series in the Blocks franchise. Produced by Alphablocks Ltd and Blue Zoo animation studios, the order will include a second series of Colourblocks, further series of both Numberblocks and Alphablocks, as well as brand new title Thinkingblocks which introduces coding to a preschool audience.

Hey Duggee from Studio AKA and BBC Studios Kids & Family, follows the adventures of the big friendly dog and the leader of the Squirrels; Roly the hippopotamus, Norrie the mouse, Happy the crocodile, Tag the rhinoceros and Betty the octopus for adventures in the Clubhouse as they learn new skills and earn badges. The hugely popular series that has amassed half a billion streams on iPlayer and counting, returns for series five with series one of its brand-new spin-off Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club.

Hey Duggee's Squirrel Club also from Studio AKA and BBC Studios Kids & Family, brings all the beloved characters from the original hit series to screen in a brand-new format where viewers at home are invited to be a part of the Squirrel Club.

Mojo Swoptops is a new animated series from producers Blue Zoo and Tararaboom. Mojo is a vehicle with a difference – as she can be anything and everything at the swop of a top. With her fresh and imaginative approach to problem solving, Mojo swops predictable outcomes for exciting adventures – learning and laughing along the way. Together with her best friend, Bo the mechanic, Mojo brings her curiosity and a mischievous sense of fun to every challenge.

Olga da Polga Series Two from Maramedia follows the further adventures of Michael Bond’s loveable guinea pig heroine Olga da Polga and her animal friends, including new companion Daisy the guinea pig, as their stories come to life in this funny, colourful and heart-warming show.

Rafi The Wishing Wizard is a new series from BBC Studios Kids &Family. This family sit-com is set in an ordinary town, on an ordinary street – but this is no ordinary family. Rafi and her two Dads are extraordinary because they are a family of modern-day wizards. Rafi is a spirited 7-year-old with her very first wishing wand, and very much like the CBeebies audience, is learning to manage her magic.