Posted 4th August 2015
September 2015 marks 30 years since the launch of Children’s BBC Presentation. Devised as the “bits in-between the shows”, children’s presentation first aired at 3.55pm on 9 September 1985, hosted by Phillip Schofield, from a tiny control desk fondly remembered as the Broom Cupboard.
To mark the anniversary a 60 minute live programme, hosted by current presenters Hacker T. Dog, Cel Spellman and Katie Thistleton, will bring more than 20 former presenters and puppets together as well as exclusively announcing the newest recruit to the CBBC Presentation team live on air!
With something for every generation, viewers will be able to watch nostalgic archive clips from the past 30 years, whilst past presenters will share their own memories and play classic CBBC games. Andi Peters will reunite with Edd the Duck in the Broom Cupboard, while Zoe Ball is quizzed on her 90s fashion choices, and Phillip Schofield shares his memories of launching Children’s BBC in 1985.
A raft of household names including Zoe Ball, Andi Peters, Angellica Bell, Dick and Dom, Kirsten O’Brien, Barney Harwood, and Matt Edmondson started their careers on the CBBC presentation team.
Commenting on the milestone, Phillip Schofield said: “I can’t believe it’s 30 years since I welcomed viewers to the first afternoon of Children’s BBC. I had great fun in the Broom Cupboard, learning the skills of live TV. If you can introduce Newsround with a fluffy Gopher squeaking next to you, you can handle anything! I’m delighted to be involved in CBBC’s anniversary celebrations. Here’s to the next 30 years.”
Former presenters will be joining in the celebrations live at BBC Children’s headquarters at MediaCityUK, Salford, including Andy Crane, Simon Parkin, Debbie Flint, Toby Anstis, Josie D’arby, Steve Wilson, Simon Grant, Kirsten O’Brien, Angellica Bell, Andrew Hayden-Smith, Dick and Dom, Adrian Dickson, Otis the Aardvark, Barney Harwood, Chris Jarvis, Anne Foy, Matt Edmondson, Ortis Deley, Ed Petrie and Iain Stirling, as well as the current presenting team.
Zoe Ball, who presented on CBBC from 1993-1995, said: “30 years is a fantastic achievement. Happy Birthday Children’s BBC – and long may it continue! It’s such a joy to have been part of. Happy days!”
Andi Peters added: “I’m really looking forward to getting back in the BroomCupboard with my old mate Edd the Duck for the 30th anniversary. He’s combing his green mohican as I speak! When I last presented Children’s BBC, Take That were topping the charts and Chris Evans was everywhere… perhaps not that much has changed in the last 22 years after all!”
Hacker’s Birthday Bash: 30 Years of Children’s BBC is a Children’s Presentation production. The Producer is Jamie Wilson and the Executive Producer is Ian France.
CBBC is committed to providing high quality programmes for 6-12 year olds and has maintained to be the most-loved and most-watched channel by children in its target age group.
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