
CBeebies is a channel created by The BBC for kids aged 1-6, a younger children's version of CBBC, the channel for 6-12-year-olds. There are shows ranging from science, art, to learning about vegetables and fruits to learning British Sign Language to cooking for children. It was launched on 11th February 2002.
The channel shares bandwidth with BBC Four, which used to take over after CBeebies signs off for the day, and ran until morning when they would sign off to give way to CBeebies again.
The channel is compared to ITV's CITV and Channel 5's Milkshake! slot a lot.
The BBC's Worldwide arm also transmits an international feed of CBeebies, of which there are several notable differences. Firstly, the channel runs 24 hours and does not shut down for the night, mainly because it has to cater to many different countries and it doesn't need to share bandwidth with other channels, being funded by subscription. Secondly, it has licenses to shows that otherwise belong to other networks in the UK (e.g. Humf) and also does not carry several shows that are broadcast by the UK version because the rights of those went to different provider (e.g. Postman Pat, which in Asia was snapped up by Cartoon Network for its Boomerang network, and Chuggington, whose rights in Asia remained with Disney and is seen on Disney Junior instead). And lastly, it is also often transmitted in multiple languages; some cable TV providers carry up to three different language audio feeds for its shows. The Scottish Gaelic channel, BBC Alba, has a CBeebies block that airs on weekdays featuring Gaelic presenters.
For the American equivalent, see PBS Kids.
Programmes that have aired on CBeebies's UK feed (as of February 2023) include:
- 3rd & Bird
- 64 Zoo Lane
- Abadas
- The Adventures of Abney and Teal
- Andy's Adventures - Stars CBeebies presenter Andy Day. The franchise began with Andy's Wild Adventures, and eventually became a full franchise with multiple spin-offs, all listed below.
- Andy's Dinosaur Adventures
- Andy's Prehistoric Adventures
- Andy's Safari Adventures
- Andy's Aquatic Adventures
- Andy's Global Adventures
- Andy's Sound Adventures - Podcast spin-off for CBeebies Radio.
- Andy's Baby Animals
- Andy's Dino Toybox
- Andy's Secret Hideout
- Andy Pandy
- Angelmouse
- Apple Tree House
- The Baby Club
- Baby Jake
- Balamory
- Barnaby Bear
- Biff And Chip - a programme based on the 2000s children's book series 'The Magic Key'.
- Big and Small
- Big Barn Farm
- Big City Park
- Big Cook, Little Cook
- Biggleton
- Bill And Ben The Flower Pot Men
- Bing
- Binka
- Bits and Bobs
- Bitz & Bob
- Bluey
- Bobinogs
- Bob the Builder (original incarnation only, 2015 reboot broadcast on Channel 5 and Cartoonito)
- Boj (notable for featuring the voice of Jason Donovan)
- Boo
- Boogie Beebies (has two incarnations: the original was broadcast regularly from 2004 until 2014 and starred Peter Hillier and Nataylia Roni (Pete and Nat); the second has been aired since 2020 and is presented by Oti Mabuse)
- B.O.T. and the Beasties
- Brum
- Carrie And Davids Popshop
- Catie's Amazing Machines
- Grace's Amazing Machines
- CBeebies Bedtime Stories (CBeebies Bedtime Stories feature stories read by celebrities, aired at around 6:50pm, as the final programme of the day.)
- CBeebies Pantomimes - lots!
- Charlie and Lola
- Chuggington
- The Clangers (2015 remake)
- Clifford the Big Red Dog
- Cloudbabies
- Come Outside
- Danger Mouse (remake)
- Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (A British dub of this show was produced for the CBeebies section of the BBC iPlayer)
- Dinopaws
- Dipdap
- Dirtgirlworld
- Dog Loves Books
- Dog Squad
- Doodle Do
- Down on the Farm
- Driver Dan's Story Train
- Ethelbert the Tiger
- Everything's Rosie
- Fab Lab
- Fred and Pete's Treasure Tales
- Fimbles
- The Roly Mo Show
- Finley the Fire Engine
- Fireman Sam (original and 2005 series; CGI reboot is broadcast on the Cartoonito channel)
- Footy Pups
- The Furchester Hotel (with Sesame Street characters)
- Garden Tales
- Garth and Bev
- Get Squiggling
- Get Well Soon
- Go Jetters
- Gordon the Garden Gnome
- Grandpa in My Pocket
- Green Balloon Club
- Guess with Jess
- Harry and Toto
- Hey Duggee
- Hushabye Lullabye
- I Can Cook (hosted by presenter Katy Ashworth)
- Iconicles
- In the Night Garden...
- Jackanory Junior
- Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks
- Jamillah and Aladdin
- JoJo and Gran Gran
- Junk Rescue
- Kate & Mim-Mim
- Katie Morag
- Kazoops!
- Kerwhizz
- Kiri and Lou
- Kit and Pup
- The Koala Brothers
- The Large Family
- LazyTown
- Learningblocks:
- Alphablocks
- Colourblocks
- Numberblocks
- Let's Celebrate
- Let's Dance
- The Let's Go Club
- Let's Go For A Walk
- Let's Play (fancy dress-themed series starring CBeebies presenters Rebecca Keatley and Sidney Sloane)
- The Lingo Show
- Little Charley Bear
- Little Robots
- Little Roy
- Louie
- Love Monster
- Lunar Jim
- Maddie's Do You Know?
- Maddie, Space and You
- Maddie, the Home and You
- Maddie, the Plants and You
- Maddie, the Zoo and You
- Magic Hands
- Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies
- Melody
- Messy Goes to OKIDO
- Me Too
- Mike the Knight
- Mister Maker
- Molly And Mack
- Monty and Co.
- Moon and Me
- Mr Bloom's Nursery
- Muffin the Mule (2005 animated adaptation)
- My First
- My Very First
- My First Festivals
- My Pet and Me
- Ferne and Rory's Vet Tales
- My World Kitchen (with Ainsley Harriott)
- Nelly and Nora
- Nina and the Neurons - Many great series of this science-based programme; first two were unthemed, others had themes e.g. 'Go Eco', Go Engineering' etc..
- Noddy's Toyland Adventures
- Numberjacks
- Number 1 Newton Avenue
- The Numtums
- Nuzzle and Scratch
- The Octonauts
- Old Jack's Boat
- Olga da Polga
- Olobob Top
- Our Family
- Pablo
- Pablo the Little Red Fox
- Patchwork Pals
- Penelope K, By the Way!
- Peter Rabbit
- Pingu (original series only; Pingu in the City broadcast on ITVBe)
- Pinochio And Friends
- Pinky Dinky Doo
- Postman Pat
- Q Pootle 5
- Raa Raa the Noisy Lion
- Ranger Hazma's Eco Quest
- Rastamouse
- Razzledazzle
- Roots and Fruits
- Rubbadubbers
- Ruff Ruff, Tweet and Dave
- Sarah & Duck
- School of Roars
- Sergeant Stripes
- Sesame Tree
- Show Me Show Me (Chris and Pui's programme which aired following their time as the CBeebies presenters)
- Small Potatoes
- SMarteenies (removed from rotation after the death of co-host Mark Speight's fiancée Natasha Collins, causing himself to commit suicide)
- Something Special - the show that launched children's comedian Justin Fletcher and his iconic alter-ego Mr Tumble into stardom. It's CBeebies' longest running original show to date, having been broadcast continuously since 2003. The popularity of this show has allowed Justin to host other shows, including:
- Gigglebiz - can be fundamentally described as Little Britain for kids, as both shows are sketch comedies where the main stars (Justin in this case) play almost every single character. Received a game show-style Spin-Off in the form of Gigglequiz in late 2019.
- Gigglequiz - A panel game show where the Gigglebiz characters answer questions in teams.
- Justin's House - filmed in front of a live studio audience, it introduces Robert, a humanoid housekeeping robot, and Little Monster, a puppet who causes trouble for Justin.
- Space Pirates
- Spidey and His Amazing Friends
- Spot Bots
- Spot the Dog (channel hopped to CITV)
- Step Inside
- Stargazing (Features Chris Jarvis and scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock)
- The Story Makers
- Supertato
- Swashbuckle
- Take A Bow
- Teacup Travels
- Tee and Mo
- Teletubbies - The iconic programme first aired in 1997, starring Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po
- Tikkabilla
- Tilly and Friends
- Timmy Time
- Tinga Tinga Tales
- Tinpo
- Tish Tash
- ToddWorld
- Tommy Zoom (started as a series of web shorts in 2005 before becoming a full show two years later)
- Topsy and Tim
- Treasure Champs
- Tree Fu Tom
- Tweenies
- Twirlywoos
- Underground Ernie
- Waffle the Wonder Dog
- Waybuloo
- What's On Your Head?
- What's In Your Bag?
- Where in the World?
- Wibbly Pig
- Woolly and Tig
- Yakka Dee!
- Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto!
- Yolanda's Band Jam
- Zigby
- ZingZillas
Tropes that apply to CBeebies:
- Animesque: The bugs from the 2023 rebrand have a noticeably more chibi appearance.
- Bathroom Control: The Bobinogs: In "Wash, Soap, Rinse and Dry", the band makes plans to go on a hot air balloon for Nib's birthday. Nib says she needs to use the bathroom before they leave, but the other two are too excited to pay attention to her statement and tell her to go later.
- Excited Kids' Show Host: Type 1 for the live-action hosts and the presenters. Some of the more informative shows (eg, Nina and the Neurons and Maddie's Do You Know?) have their presenters/hosts border more on the Type 3 category despite the difference in an age range.
- Go-to-Sleep Ending: The channel closes down every night with a montage of the channel's characters going to sleep with a goodnight song playing in the background.
- Long-Runners: The channel's original branding. While some bumpers were retired over the years, the overall theme of the channel lasted 21 years before being refreshed.
- "Sesame Street" Cred: The bedtime stories often have celebrities reading out stories.