BBC to Open Its Doors for Kids’ Takeover Challenge

LONDON: On November 20, BBC is letting children from around the U.K. experience what it’s like to run kids’ TV, control a radio station and even be director-general.

The initiative, titled Children’s Commissioner Takeover Challenge, is designed to give youngsters an opportunity to experience how organizations are run from the inside, allowing them to witness the decision-making process and giving them the chance to get some hands-on experience. This year, the BBC will give kids the chance to broadcast to the nation across the BBC’s output, including BBC Breakfast, Radio 1, Radio 5 live and the Asian Network.

Tony Hall, the director-general of the BBC, said: “On Takeover Day, we’ll be throwing open the doors to the BBC so some of the youngest members of our audience can come and see what we do. It’s a great chance for children from across the U.K. to experience lots of areas from Children’s to Radio 1—and even what it’s like to be Director-General. Hopefully we can even inspire them to do it for real one day.”

Anne Longfield, the children’s commissioner for England, added: “I am delighted that BBC is participating in this year’s Takeover Challenge and that children will take on some of the most senior roles.

“Children make up around 20 percent of the population and are important consumers of the BBC’s content, so it makes absolute sense to involve them in decisions about the organization. I have no doubt that the children and young people who spend their day at the BBC will have an inspiring time and that the staff whose roles are taken over will learn just as much from their experience.”