PLAY SCHOOL: BBC TO REBOOT CLASSIC CHILDREN'S SERIES FOR 2027

The BBC are rebooting classic pre-school series Play School for 50x14 minute episodes to air between 2027 and 2029.

Originally devised to recreate a nursery or playgroup setting for an audience of under-fives watching at home, Play School was a live action studio-based pre-school programme that ran for over twenty years on the BBC and was a cornerstone of our programming for young children.

The BBC explain: "We’re open to new and modern takes on the classic programme and we’re looking for creative visions about how the series can retain the much-loved elements whilst evolving to meet the needs of the audience today and a shorter episode duration.

We are interested in proposals that provide an update to the original programme’s mix of songs, music, movement, poetry, games and stories all aimed at opening up the everyday world to children, tapping into their inquisitiveness, and encouraging them to learn through imaginative play.

The things which resonated with the audience in the original series were the warm and inviting tone and the way in which the presenters spoke directly to viewers to encourage them to participate.

Proposals should include suggestions for presenting talent to host each episode. Previous presenters – including figures such as Chloe Ashcroft, Johnny Ball, Baroness Floella Benjamin, Brian Cant and Derek Griffiths – all had different backgrounds and interests that they could draw on to inform the programme.

The toys – Humpty, Jemima, Big Ted, Little Ted and Hamble, later replaced by Poppy - remain some of the most cherished elements of Play School and are fondly remembered by generations of viewers.

We would like the new version of the programme to bring to life a version of the toys in a contemporary capacity aligned to the expectations of today’s children. We are open to exploring different approaches, whether that involves bringing back the full original line-up or introducing new characters alongside them and representing them through different media including animation.

An episode of Play School would typically include several key format elements, many of which have carried over into other pre-school shows including Playdays, Show Me Show Me and, most recently, CBeebies House: Time to Play on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.

As part of the commission, we are requesting an additional 70 minutes of content aimed at the parents and carers of preschool aged children which explains, encourages or contextualises play to parents. The intention is for this supporting content to be published on CBeebies Parenting, a new YouTube channel providing expert-led tips, advice and play-based resources to help support parents and carers in all aspects of their parenting journey."

More details will be announced in due course.