Three New Commissions for BBC Children’s

BBC Children’s and Education has commissioned three new shows, including Gladiators: Epic Pranks for CBBC.

From Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK, Gladiators: Epic Pranks gives viewers exclusive access behind the scenes of Gladiators at Sheffield Arena, where secret prankster Nitro enlists the help of his teammates to pull off pranks on their fellow competitors.

Also coming to CBBC is Stage Stars, immersing viewers in the world of aspiring singers, actors and dancers at a U.K. boarding school. It captures all the ups and downs the young performers face both inside and outside of school. The 15-part series is being produced by Drummer Television.

BBC Children’s and Education also ordered Gifted, a ten-part action-adventure series based on from Marilyn Kaye’s novels. Adapted by screenwriter Emma Reeves (The Worst Witch, Eve), it tells the story of a diverse group of young Scottish teens who discover they each have unique superpowers, from telekinesis to invisibility and mind-reading. The series is an international co-production between Glasgow’s Black Camel Pictures and Paris’s Media Valley.

“We continue to showcase homegrown dramas and series, which aim to give our young viewers an insight into the diverse lives of children, characters and settings from across the U.K. with unique stories to tell that will resonate with them and with their families,” said Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s and Education.