NEW HOST FOR CBEEBIES AFRICA REVEALED
NEW HOST FOR CBEEBIES AFRICA REVEALED
NEW HOST FOR CBEEBIES AFRICA REVEALED
8 December 2008: BBC Worldwide Channels can today announce Sidney Sloane as the new host for
CBeebies
in Africa
.
Viewers will be able to watch Sid (as he’s known) from February 2009.
Sid, originally from London, is currently a presenter on the UK
CBeebies
channel where he has become a firm favourite with both children and parents for his energy, enthusiasm and warmth.
In encouraging pre-schoolers to learn through play in
CBeebies
’ safe and trusted environment, Sid will provide fun ideas and games for children and parents while linking
CBeebies
’ award-winning series and children’s favourites on-air.
Commenting on his appointment, Sid said:
“Can I say how much I am looking forward to saying hello and making new friends with CBeebies in Africa. I am very excited about taking the CBeebies idea of fun for little learners to Africa and hopefully helping to empower and build confident children of our future.”
David Weiland, SVP Programming, BBC Worldwide Channels said: “We are delighted to welcome Sid to the
CBeebies
global family. Sid is a popular and experienced host for CBeebies in the UK and his natural enthusiasm and energy will translate well onto screens in Africa. We are sure Sid will make a real connection with children and parents at home throughout the continent. “
Sid is also a successful radio DJ, presenting shows on BBC Southern Counties Radio, BBC Schools Radio and CBeebies Radio.
He has previously appeared in a variety of theatre productions and radio dramas and writes poems and short stories for children which are often published in CBeebies magazine in the UK.
Sid is big sports fan and particularly loves football and enjoys singing and dancing in his spare time.
Sid will join a long list of energetic stars who entertain
CBeebies'
viewers in the UK, Australia, Poland and Asia. Other
CBeebies
hosts include Pui Fan Lee, who presents
CBeebies
for the Singapore and Hong Kong transmissions, Tara Colegrave who presents in Australia, Aneta Bożena Piotrowska in Poland and Chris Jarvis and Andy Day in the UK.
Modelled on the UK's number one and BAFTA-winning children's channel,
CBeebies
launched in Africa last September on the DStv platform. The channel presents a mix of new and landmark, high-quality children's programming from the BBC and independent producers, in a safe, trusted and commercial-free environment.
Further information:
UK: Lucy Groom
Africa: Diahann Chidrawi
BBC Worldwide
Total Exposure PR Consultancy
Tel. + 44 (0) 20 8433 2747
Tel: +27 11 788 8725
lucy.groom@bbc.com
diahann@totalexposure.co.za
Notes to editors:
CBeebies
is a pre-school channel for children aged six years and under with a programme schedule that has an emphasis on educational entertainment and supported by the core BBC values that make the channel trustworthy, reliable, informative and educational.
In the
UK
, CBeebies
offers a mix of new and landmark, high-quality, UK-produced programmes to educate and entertain the BBC's youngest audiences. The service provides a range of pre-school programming designed to encourage learning through play for children aged six and under, in a consistently safe environment.
The international CBeebies channel is also commercial-free and is wholly-owned by BBC Worldwide.
BBC Worldwide Limited
is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has seven core businesses: BBC Worldwide Channels, BBC Worldwide Content & Production, BBC Worldwide Digital Media, BBC Worldwide Global Brands, BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution, BBC Magazines and BBC Home Entertainment. In 2007/08, BBC Worldwide generated profits of £117.7million on sales of £916.3million.