Greenlight for Preschool Quiz Show from Studio100 and CBeebies

CANNES, April 7: Belgium’s Studio100 and the
in-house CBeebies production team are working together to co-produce the
first-ever preschool quiz show, Kerwhizz, for the BBC’s preschool channel.

Kerwhizz will be ready for delivery in fall 2008, with distribution of the new
series shared between the co-production partners.

Three teams of CGI characters compete to answer
questions that will give them add-ons or ‘pod-mods’ for their high-tech racing
machines, which can help them to win a race against their opponents.

The show is designed with the assistance of
teachers and a specialist education advisor to test the teams and the viewer.
Produced entirely in HD, the 26×22-minute series targets 4- to 6-year-olds and
includes online and podcast versions.

Kerwhizz is executive produced by Alison Stewart for CBeebies
in-house and Stephen Cannon is the producer.

“I am delighted with this co-production between the
in-house production team and Studio100,” said Kay Benbow, the head of CBeebies’
production, animation and acquisitions. “Kerwhizz is a fantastic multiplatform
offering. Children love quizzes, and I am thrilled that we are making the first
interactive quiz show designed for younger viewers.”

“It is an honor for Studio100 to be partnering with
the BBC to produce Kerwhizz, a unique and exciting new format quiz show targeted at
younger viewers,” added Jo Daris, the director of international affairs for
Studio100. “Kerwhizz is fresh, visually stunning and of exceptional quality. With cool
online extensions and digital interactivity, this multiplatform entertainment
format will be an immediate hit with both young children and parents alike.”

—By Ned Berke