CBBC Unveils New Dramas

LONDON, February 6: The
BBC’s children’s channel CBBC has unveiled a slate of new dramas, as well as
returning series like The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Among the new dramas
premiering on CBBC are Half Moon Investigations, about crime corruption and general wrongdoing in the
school playground; We Are Family
(working title), following the colorful comedic adventures of a singing family
who are a talk show's resident pop group; Roy, the story of an extraordinary cartoon boy marooned in the
real world; and Paradise Café, a
beachside mystery with a supernatural twist.

The Sarah
Jane Adventures, from
the producers of Doctor Who, will return for a second season on CBBC. Meanwhile, M.I. High, following a group of students who work
as undercover spies, will be back on the channel for a third season.

Additional
changes to the drama lineup for CBBC include the end of the long-running Grange
Hill, with the
conclusion of the series to air later this year.

Anne
Gilchrist, the controller of CBBC, said: “Drama is at the heart of CBBC and we
are very excited about these new and returning commissions. As well as the
titles we're announcing today, we are also developing an exciting drama based
in the north east of England for 2009/10 and a project from Lime Pictures with
writer Jeanette Winterson. The dramas will be from across the U.K., and I am
extremely proud of such a strong lineup.”

—By Irene Lew