This Provocations article reviews some key moments in the history of Children’s BBC, now, since 2019, combined with Education. It refers to important and occasionally controversial programmes, such as Grange Hill, Newsround and Horrible Histories and draws on recent interviews with former head of Children’s, Anna Home, current head of Children’s In-house Production, Helen Bullough, and former head of Children’s Digital, and Director of the campaigning group Children’s Media Foundation, Greg Childs. All are asked why children’s programming matters and the article discusses their answers.
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EllisJ (2020) Provocations, I: what do we need in a crisis? Broadcast TV!Critical Studies in Television15(4): 393–398.
In the Night Garden (2007-) CBeebies. Ragdoll Productions/BBC.
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Marrying Mum and Dad (2012-) CBBC. BBC Children’s Productions.
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My Mum Tracey Beaker (2021) CBBC. BBC Children’s Productions.
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RedmondP (2021) Time for another revolution? In: WardC (ed) Our Children’s Future: Does Public Service Media Matter? Report. London: The Children’s Media Foundation, pp. 32–38.
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Sesame Street (1969-) PBS. Children’s Television Workshop/Sesame Workshop.
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The Sopranos (1999–2007) HBO. Brad Grey Television/HBO Entertainment.
