Channel 5 Grows Milkshake!’s Programming Slate

Channel 5 has ordered more Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures, Milkshake! Bop-Box and Fireman Sam as it continues to expand the content offering for its preschool programming block.

Further, Channel 5 has commissioned Circle Square, Milo, Winnie & Wilbur and The World According to Grandpa with support from the BFI Young Audiences Production Content Fund (YACF). Channel 5 is also involved in the development funding of the LoveLove Films-produced preschool craft show Pop Paper City, which also won development funding from the YACF.

Produced in-house, the second season of Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures will continue to follow Milkshake! Monkey as he travels around the U.K., discovering its history and geography and meeting new friends from all over the country. Milkshake! Bop-Box‘s third season will include all nine Milkshake! presenters as they return to perform upbeat musical numbers with dedicated lyrics and choreography to allow young viewers to join in at home and dance along. Fireman Sam will be returning to Milkshake! with the acquisition of season 12, from Mattel/Wildbrain. All series will air next year on Milkshake!.

The six new Milkshake! shows that will be supported by the BFI’s YACF include three animations (Winnie & Wilbur, Milo, Circle Square) and three live-action series (Mimi’s World, Meet the Experts, The World According to Grandpa), all airing from later in 2020 and into 2021.

Louise Bucknole, VP of kids’ programming for ViacomCBS Networks UK, said: “Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, we’re in a strong position at Milkshake! and are beginning to see new creative formats coming to fruition, following the investment from Channel 5 and support from the BFI Young Audiences Content Fund. Today’s commissions and acquisition are the latest examples of our increasingly varied and exciting line up of U.K.-originated content that also feature more kids on screen for viewers to see themselves reflected back. Ranging from live action to animation and even mixed-genre hybrids, our upcoming programming slate will continue to drive Milkshake! as the number one preschool brand.”