Lauren Laverne is one of several new female faces to feature in the latest raft of commissions for CBeebies.
The Sunderland-born DJ and presenter, who fronts a daily show on BBC 6 Music and is also one of the main presenters on Channel 4’s 10 O’Clock Live, will narrate a new online brand called Tee and Mo.
New CBeebies animation Tee and Mo
The series will feature the daily adventures of a baby monkey, Tee, and his first-time mum, Mo.
It was created by Dominic Minns (Plug-in Media) with executive producers Catherine McAllister (CBeebies) and Juliet Tzabar (Plug-in Media).
Also new to the channel will be Melody (20x7min), a co-commission with BBC Learning, which through the partially sighted lead character aims to introduce pre-school children to classical music through stories and animation. The producers are Wish Films and LAAH Entertainment.
New presenter Jess French will front Minibeast Adventure – With Jess (20x9min), which will bring viewers closer to 20 creatures that live in gardens, parks and windowboxes. It’s produced by Kindle Entertainment for transmission in 2014.
And returning to CBeebies is Woolly and Tig (5x10min), produced by tattiemoon, which will later this year/early next year. The executive producers are Michael Towner (CBeebies) and Brian Jameson (tattiemoon).
Kay Benbow, controller of MediaCityUK-based CBeebies, said: “I’ve made no secret of the fact I’ve been looking for more female leads on the channel, so I’m delighted that we can announce such a strong line-up of new and established female talent and characters.
“Melody is a charming new series which I hope will inspire a love of music in our young audience, in Minibeast Adventure, new presenter Jess French will demonstrate that there are many extraordinary and beautiful creatures living right on our doorstep.
“It’s great to welcome the talents of Lauren Laverne to CBeebies in Tee And Mo and lovely to have Tig back in some longer episodes.”
