Channel 5′s preschool block Milkshake! today announced an extensive slate of kids’ commissions and acquisitions at The Children’s Media Conference 2023, which takes place in Sheffield this week. Speaking at the Commissioner Conversations Preschool panel this morning, Louise Bucknole, General Manager, Kids & Family U.K. & Ireland at Paramount, revealed the fresh slate building on Milkshake!’s commitment to high-quality U.K. entertainment and educational content.
Milkshake!, the only public service broadcast segment to air children’s content seven days a week, will introduce five new series to its broad existing content mix — these include two all-new preschool commissions, a new acquisition and two stop-motion animation series.
New Commissions
Stan & Gran (52 x 11′, Jellyfish Originals / Jolly Wise)
A funny and heart-warming CG animated series following the mystery-busting adventures of Stan Breakwater, a curious and excitable young nature lover, and his fun-loving, dynamic Gran, as together they investigate the strange goings-on in the fictional British coastal village of Porthole. Stan & Gran blends comedy and intrigue with factual entertainment and focuses on core themes including discovery, exploration, nature, science and inter-generational relationships.
Animal Care Club (25 x 11′, eOne Unscripted)
Animal-loving kids get a chance to get up close and personal with all sorts of amazing pets, farm animals, wildlife, and exotic critters in this new factual entertainment series. Across the UK, pets, farm animals, wildlife, and zoo animals are in real need of help. Thankfully, there are a dedicated bunch of experts working hard every day to help them, but assistance is required, so young helpers, many with limited animal care experience, are about to get their opportunity!
In each episode, two different pairs of young carers team up with experts at a variety of locations around the U.K. One episode might see the pairs team up with a vet, in others they’ll help a zookeeper care for amazing exotic animals, or they might be helping at an animal sanctuary or at a farm. Each episode will feature natural history, behavioral content, showing why animals do what they do and tips for how we can all help make the lives of all kinds of animals better through our own actions and behavior.
New Acquisition
Chip & Potato (40 x 11′, WildBrain Studios / Darrall Macqueen)
Chip is a cute, friendly, curious and big-hearted four-year-old pug puppy. As Chip takes little steps towards independence at kindergarten, she always has Potato with her for comfort, snuggled deep down in her pocket. Everyone thinks Potato is just a funny little fluffy pink snuggly toy! But shh … Potato is actually a teensy tiny, furry, curled up real mouse, who springs out of her hoodie and into action whenever Chip needs her!
Potato is Chip’s secret friend, there to discreetly and daringly provide Chip with all the security, comfort and confidence she needs to embark on the new stages of her life, without her Momma and Poppa, challenge by challenge, adventure by adventure, giggle by giggle — yip yip!’
Coming Autumn 2023:
Tweedy & Fluff (40 x 5′, Second Home Studios and Stitchy Feet; previously announced commission)
Like a child with their first pet, Tweedy and Fluff go everywhere together. These big-hearted pals made from woolly yarn met in the corner of a weaver’s cottage and couldn’t imagine life without each other. Hugely rewarding and frequently hilarious, a pet relationship is unique; no shared common language means physical, sensory communication is everything. Love is everything.
Written and created by children’s author and producer, Corrinne Averiss, Tweedy & Fluff explores nature, nurture (and patience!) through visual comedy. Tenderly realised in handcrafted stop-motion at Second Home Studios, the series is directed by Chris Randall.
Mixmups (52 x 10′, Raydar Media/Mackinnon and Saunders, previously announced commission)
Inspired by all children’s love of “mixing” and combining items as a way of playing, exploring and discovering, the show centers on three loveable friends, the “Mixmups.” Neat and tidy Pockets, creative and inventive Giggle and boisterous and physical Spin, along with their lovable assistance pets, Roller Guinea and Yapette the guide dog, all live in a wheelchair-accessible Helter-Skelter house in Mixington Valley.
Each episode sees the friends use their magical wooden spoon and mixing box to ‘Mix Up the Magic’ of play and transport themselves on a host of comical adventures. Through their young, imaginative minds they embrace a variety of ways to play, entertain each other and embark upon day-to-day problem-solving challenges with the help of the trunky-beaked Lucky Loover Bird. Core themes include the joy of individuality, imagination, friendship and flexible thinking.
Mixmups is the first disabled-led preschool brand commission by Milkshake! (created by Rebecca Atkinson) and celebrates the magic of play in all children.
The new titles will be joined on Milkshake! by returning favorites, including the second season of Odo (52 x 11′) produced by Sixteen South and Letko, the second season of Milo (26 x 11′) by Fourth Wall, the second season of Meet The Experts (21 x 11′) by Boom Kids, seasons 14 & 15 of Fireman Sam (26 x 11′) from WildBrain and series 27 & 28 of Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! from Mattel Television.
“Milkshake! is a beloved brand for preschoolers and families in the U.K. with a compelling combination of top-rated U.K. power brands and new, highly anticipated children’s series,” said Bucknole. “We’re excited to announce our expanding lineup of content for 2023 and beyond, which will engage our preschool audience through universal themes of creativity, play, adventure, friendship and teamwork, to help them understand their world.”
