How the CBeebies Christmas panto became like Oasis for six-year-olds

IT’S BEHIND YOU… That’s what most people say about the golden age of children’s television. When this supposed golden age is or was depends on who old you are, or the age of any children you may have, of course. But surely, it’s in the past? 

OH NO IT ISN’T! That’s what those of us currently immersed in the world of kids’ TV reply. But one thing we can all agree on: whenever the greatest ever children’s television is considered, from Blue Peter to Bagpuss to Bananaman to Bluey, it’s likely that the BBC will be at the heart of the conversation.

Since 2009, a highlight of the BBC’s Christmas offering has been the CBeebies pantomime. A live extravaganza that can be enjoyed all year around on iPlayer, this year CBeebies took Cinderella to Bradford as part of the 2025 City of Culture celebrations. 

The live show starred many favourites – from Mr Tumble himself, Justin Fletcher, to Maddie Moate of Maddie’s Do You Know? fame, plus current Blue Peter hosts Joel Mawhinney and Hacker T Dog. 

Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter

“It’s a creative challenge making a piece of content that works on so many platforms,” says Anna Perowne, producer at BBC Studios Kids and Family, who has spent decades creating content for CBeebies.

“It’s got to work in the room for the live audience – so you can’t stop to reshoot anything. Then it’s got to work on telly and iPlayer, where kids will watching again and again. And these days it is also shown in the cinema, with the best-quality pictures and full 5.1 surround sound.”

The show is a blast. When Fletcher arrives on stage, it might as well be Oasis or Taylor Swift. The audience response is wild. 

Read more:

• CBeebies star George Webster: ‘If we were all the same the world would be very boring’
• Hacker T Dog on joining Blue Peter: ‘I’m the dog embodiment of chaos!’
• ‘We all deserve magic’: Meet the teachers working to bring Christmas joy to children in poverty

The story features dastardly deeds, football juggling, Bhangra drums by Dav Ramona and big tunes destined to stick in our heads long after the curtain call, whether we like it or not. 

“There is always a core message behind each of the each of the pantomimes,” says Moate, the brilliant science communicator and CBeebies regular, who plays baddie Delilah Dribble.

“For Cinderella, it’s about believing in yourself and finding your passion. That in itself is a gorgeous thing for children to hear – to get out, try new things, find what makes you passionate and excited and how that can be different for everyone.

“It’s fresh, it’s inclusive and it’s certainly not lacking any magic. The Bradford city skyline is part of the backdrop, it has the Mirror Pool [the largest urban water feature in the UK] at the heart of the set, and the music reflects the culture of Bradford.”

As both a positive piece of storytelling for children and an introduction to the joys of live theatre, the CBeebies pantomime fulfils the BBC’s public service remit. 

“Public service is of the utmost importance, especially for children’s content,” continues Moate, a veteran of seven CBeebies pantomimes, who also appeared in the channel’s production of Twelfth Night at the Globe Theatre.

“I have such belief in it. We are trying to make content that is wholesome but entertaining. It’s a constant balance of keeping up to date – thinking, what do children of 2025 want to watch? – but making sure it’s always educational and enriching.”

By taking the story from the Alhambra Theatre into cinemas before its afterlife on iPlayer, it’s fulfilling the BBC’s desire to meet the audience wherever they are. 

A playlist of the songs on BBC Sounds and clips on YouTube, where Blue Peter is increasingly targeting its content, add to the impression of this as the embodiment of both classic and modern CBeebies output. 

“We want our CBeebies audience to recognise themselves on stage or on screen and see people telling stories they can relate to and that help make sense of their part in the world,” continues Perowne. “It’s about inspiring them in as many different ways as we can. Because we need stories to make sense of the world, don’t we?”

The BBC has been under severe pressure in 2025. The corporation is facing attack from a rightwing press buoyed by taking the big scalp of director general Tim Davie, who stood down in November. 

But CBeebies remains undaunted. it’s not going to stop singing, dancing, educating, and signing in Makaton as it reflects its young audience and offers a place of safety for parents – in an era when unsupervised screen time on YouTube and other platforms can lead to dark places. 

“I’m so proud to raise CBeebies’ flag,” says Evie Pickerill, who takes the title role in Cinderella. “The beauty of CBeebies is that it’s a space where children feel they can be anything they want to be. As presenters, we encourage that.” 

Pickerill has been a regular CBeebies presenter since 2017, making her pantomime debut as the Fairy Queen in Thumbelina the following year.  

“You know the channel will only show things that are educational, that are fun, that are inclusive,” she adds. 

“And they’ve just started to put more onto their YouTube, which is, again, a safe space. It’s meant to be there to help your children develop but also create a safe space for the parents as well.

“Linear television isn’t what it used to be. We have so many more things to access now – all the apps and social media. So CBeebies is trying to roll with the times. We’ve got the YouTube channel and the parenting app, which is a great resource to help with anything emotionally, practically, creatively. 

“CBeebies are trying to pave their way in a new world, which has come along really quickly. So it’s about keeping up with the times but making sure it’s still safe.” 

And for those taking part? It’s every bit as fun as it is for the audience.

“I have to remind myself it is a job,” grins Moate. “It feels like going on a big, loud, fun theatre camp for two weeks with all my friends in the cast, because we spend most of the year working on our own projects. So it’s an absolute highlight of our year.”

CBeebies Panto: Cinderella is on CBBC and iPlayer.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

Change a vendor’s life this Christmas.

Buy from your local Big Issue vendor every week – or support online with a vendor support kit or a subscription – and help people work their way out of poverty with dignity.