BBC Commissions New Basil Brush Series

LONDON, December 20: Entertainment Rights (ER) announced
that the BBC has commissioned The Foundation, part of the U.K.’s RDF Media
Group, to produce Basil’s Swap Shop, a
new live studio-based kids’ series for the CBBC’s Saturday morning schedule.

The series will have a 13-week run on CBBC from January 5 to
March 22, airing live on Saturday mornings from 9-10 a.m. A revival of the
classic British 70s’ series Multi-coloured Swap Shop, Basil’s Swap Shop will be hosted by popular BBC character Basil Brush,
who will be accompanied by BAFTA-award winning Barney Harwood, best known for
CBBC’s Prank Patrol.

The show is a 21st century update of the Swap
Shop format, with a mix of interactive and comedy-based entertainment, jokes,
sketches, music and games, all reflecting Basil’s own unique character. In
addition to watching the series, children will also have the opportunity to
play along live or online.

From December 26, the Swap Shop will open at BBC.co.uk/cbbc,
where children will be able to leave details of their swap and have the chance
to be featured on the show. Children are not the only ones who will have items
to swap. Each week, pop stars, sporting heroes, actors and star guests will
visit the Swap Shop to trade their goods with children.

Basil regularly appears as a presenter on CBBC, CBBC on BBC
One and CBBC Xtra and has appeared on Celebrity Weakest Link on BBC Two and Comic Relief on BBC One. The Basil Brush Show has been sold across 85 territories, including, more
recently, TVE in Spain and Cartoon Network across Latin America, France and
Spain.

Anne Gilchrist, the creative director of the CBBC, said:
“Basil Brush is a well known and loved household name to CBBC viewers and is
the ideal candidate to bring swap shop to a whole new generation of children.
The digital element will enhance children’s viewing experience as it not only
allows kids to watch but to participate in the show first hand.”

—By Irene Lew