Below are the answers to some popular queries about CBeebies and then our Contact form. Click on the heading that you think applies, and then the frequent questions and their answers will be displayed. CBeebies receives many emails each week and while we do value your feedback, we are unfortunately extremely limited in the number of personal replies that we can make.
If the answer to your question is below, we regret that we won't be able to respond to your email.
Why have changes been made to the Bedtime Hour?
CBeebies is refreshing the 'Bedtime Hour' for the New year! Changes are being made to the programmes and because we understand that this time can be an important part of a family’s evening routine, we're letting you know what's going to happen and when its going to happen.
From Monday 9th January there will be a new line up to the 'Bedtime Hour'. From 6.00pm will be brand new versions of 'Waybuloo' narrated by Dave Lamb and this will be followed by 'Driver Dan's Storytrain' to add programmes that appeal to all ages at bedtime. The ever popular 'In The Night Garden' and the 'Bedtime Story' will round off the day to prepare Cbeebies viewers for bed.
We make changes gradually to bedtime because we know this can be disruptive to some viewers and aim to provide something for every viewer.
Why have you changed the address to where we send birthday cards?
The postal address for birthday cards has changed to our new home at MediaCityUK. There has been a redirection in place for some time so don't worry if you've sent your card to the London address, it will still reach us. As always though, we cannot guarantee that every card will be shown.
How can I see the birthday cards read out on CBeebies if I miss it on the TV?
For seven days after the Birthday Cards are read out on the channel, they will be available to watch again on the CBeebies iPlayer.
The cards will be available for ONE week from the date they are shown on the television, and will be available to view from midday on the date of transmission (removed at midday one week later).
How do I get my child's birthday card shown on CBeebies?
For advice on how to send in cards and what they should include, see the Birthday cards on TV page. (Please note that in the event of any disruption to the postal service, we would unfortunately not be able to adjust the deadline for receiving your birthday card.)
If you use the CBeebies online birthday card Birthday Time!, you don't need to send anything to CBeebies. You can send a child a personal video message from presenters Andy or Chris, with the child's name on the card alongside one of their many favourite characters on CBeebies. Watch the greeting straight away on the CBeebies website or email a link to the greeting to the birthday girl or boy to watch on their computer. Please note that these greetings will not be shown on TV.
If your child's name doesn't appear on the list on Birthday Time!, please email: cbeebies@bbc.co.uk and put 'Birthday name suggestion' in the subject field. We can't promise to add all suggested names straight away but we'll review them from time to time.
How do you decide which birthday cards to show and when to show them?
The birthday cards are shown during the 'links', i.e. the bits between the programmes. We try to show between eight to twelve cards within each link and we have recently increased the number of 'birthday card' links to four a day. Cards are carefully sorted out by birthday date and child's age group and we use as many cards as we can within the time that we have. If we've received more cards than we have time for, then unfortunately some will not be shown. We also try to maximise the chance that a child will see their card, by matching the age-group of the children who might be watching the programmes at that time of day to the time of each birthday card link. So for example, if your child is turning three, we would try to put their card into a link to a programme that they might be watching such as 'Show Me Show Me' - rather than into a link before a programme like 'Kerwhizz', which is intended for older children.
In general, we don't put any birthday card into more than one link; this would only be done if it were absolutely necessary. This did happen recently when we didn't receive enough birthday cards for the older age group and we thought it better to repeat the ones that we did have, rather than to show cards intended for younger children who might not see them. However, we've since decided that if this happens again, it would be better to show a mix of cards intended for children of different ages, as we feel this is preferable to repeating cards. The issue of cards regularly being shown more than once in a day comes about because the whole link is repeated - and this happens when the programming around the link is repeated.
We receive many, many birthday cards and we regret that we are unable to return the cards or to enter into correspondence concerning individual cards. We are sorry, but this does include responding to requests to retrieve cards where the birthday date has not been written on the card. However, CBeebies is very aware of the time and effort that goes into creating your birthday cards and also the disappointment that can result if a card is not shown, or if it is shown but not seen by the recipient. Please rest assured that we aim to show as many cards as we can and are currently looking at ways that we can increase the chance of your family seeing the card that you made for your child.
I think my child's birthday card was shown on TV, can I get a copy it being shown?
We're sorry, but we are unable to send recordings. The times that the cards are shown are published on the Birthday cards on TV page.
However, for seven days after the Birthday Cards are read out on the channel, they will be available to watch again on the CBeebies iPlayer.
The cards will be available for ONE week from the date they are shown on the television, and will be available to view from midday on the date of transmission (removed at midday one week later).
When will I see my birthday message on Interactive TV (red button service)?
We'll always try to show as many birthday messages as we can, but we can't guarantee that every one will be shown. For more information please read Birthday messages on Interactive TV.
How do I contact a CBeebies magazine?
The magazines may feature a contact email address within the publication details.
Can my children still hear CBeebies Radio on BBC Radio 7?
No - as of 2nd April 2011 CBeebies Radio ceased to broadcast on BBC Radio 7. It is now an onlline audio service only. However you can still listen to CBeebies Radio programmes on-demand on the CBeebies radio player: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radioplayer/ or download the podcasts to entertain your little ones while you're on the move.
Over the coming months the format of CBeebies Radio will be evolving. More news in the blog nearer the time!
Why are some games and activities not available on the CBeebies website?
Sometimes content is removed from the website because the brand is no longer licensed by us and we have to remove any relevant content. Should you access a game or activity where the page looks 'blank', it does not necessarily mean that the page is broken. It just means that the content has been removed. On the few occasions where we need to remove content, we also remove direct access to them by amending our menu pages so that the risk of you accessing a missing piece of content is minimised.
Legal or 'rights' issues can also mean we are unable to provide theme tunes or other video clips for some brands. We regret that it is not possible to send any of this content to you.
How were the languages chosen for 'The Lingo Show' and will more languages be added?
The languages in 'The Lingo Show' were selected as a balance of those taught commonly or increasingly in schools and the prevalence of languages spoken by ethnic groups within the UK. While we know it might be frustrating that the language selection is limited, we hope you appreciate we cannot represent every language. In the future, we hope there may be an opportunity to commission more languages. If that situation arises, we will take all requests for other languages into consideration.
Why is the Me Too Gallery not being updated?
Unfortunately we have identified a technical problem between the Me Too 'Build a City' game and the gallery. The game is unaffected and can be played as normal, but gallery entries are not being delivered to us. We are investigating the problem and working towards resolving it as quickly as possible.
Why can't I watch CBeebies website video content from overseas?
Access to the BBC's website is restricted, meaning that overseas users are prevented from seeing content on the www.bbc.co.uk . This is because unfortunately many programmes have broadcast rights restrictions which don't allow us to show CBeebies programmes and content to people outside the UK. In addition, broadband content is expensive for the BBC to stream, so we have to give priority to people within the UK, who ultimately bear the cost of us doing this through their licence fee.
However, as more and more people outside the UK are starting to watch CBeebies from abroad, there is an international website at www.cbeebies.com, which is steadily growing and may provide some of the content you are missing.
Where is the Green Balloon Club Newsletter?
The final newsletter was sent out on 3rd November 2009 and no further emails will be sent. However, you can still sign up for the CBeebies newsletter which gives you information about a wide range of CBeebies content.
Where can I find out about the live shows?
For more information on BBC live shows, please use a non-BBC search engine to look for "BBC live shows".
Why are some activities not working on the CBeebies website?
We are working to fix a problem where, on some pages, the top navigation bar together with the main activity content are not working. If you visit one of these pages, you can get back to the CBeebies homepage by clicking the CBeebies icon found within the tree in the top left of the page. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.
It would be ideal to access the CBeebies site with my iPad, however the iPad doesn't support Flash; are there any intentions to upgrade the site to HTML 5?
The problem with Flash video on iPhones and iPads obviously frustrates many users of many sites including CBeebies. While we can't predict how the issue will resolve in the long term, we're constantly reviewing our site, how it's presented, and the range of technology that can be used to access the site.
We're obliged to adhere to the BBC's standards and guidelines, which does not yet include HTML5. Our understanding is that it's still in development, and our expectation would be that until it's properly adopted as a standard by the wider industry, and has a significant user base, then the BBC is likely to continue to use older HTML standards and technologies such as Flash to present its content. We are also advised that HTML5 does not yet offer the functionality or interactivity required to support most of the CBeebies games - which suggests that it may not be the whole answer anyway.
Accessibility is something that the BBC is continuing to review - particularly with respect to mobile devices - hopefully we'll find a solution in the not too distant future. If you're interested, the current standards for BBC websites are available on the BBC Homepage www.bbc.co.uk.
Why can I not get a signal/am I having problems with CBeebies on the digital channel?
For any problems or queries regarding CBeebies on digital TV please check the BBC's Help Receiving BBC TV and Radio pages.
I have downloaded Flash but still can't see part of the site or play the games.
If you have downloaded the latest version of Flash, and you still can't view Flash content on the CBeebies site (or any other website), please contact your PC Support or your Internet Service Provider.
I can't see any images on the All CBeebies Shows page - what can I do?
It sounds like you may have your images disabled on your web browser. To see if they are turned off:
I can't hear any sound - what can I do?
Make sure that the Flash Player plugin is installed by visiting the CBeebies Flash Player Test page - www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/flashtest.
Why have changes been made to the Bedtime Hour?
CBeebies is refreshing the 'Bedtime Hour' for the New year! Changes are being made to the programmes and because we understand that this time can be an important part of a family’s evening routine, we're letting you know what's going to happen and when its going to happen.
From Monday 9th January there will be a new line up to the 'Bedtime Hour'. From 6.00pm will be brand new versions of 'Waybuloo' narrated by Dave Lamb and this will be followed by 'Driver Dan's Storytrain' to add programmes that appeal to all ages at bedtime. The ever popular 'In The Night Garden' and the 'Bedtime Story' will round off the day to prepare Cbeebies viewers for bed.
We make changes gradually to bedtime because we know this can be disruptive to some viewers and aim to provide something for every viewer.
Can CBeebies make a donation to our charity fundraiser?
The BBC is a publicly funded organisation which means that we cannot support one specific business or organisation over another. The BBC is unable to fund individual charities or concerns and cannot use licence fee payer money to fund other organisations.
Can I get a presenter to come along to an event? Or get a signed photograph of a presenter or character?
Unfortunately it's not possible for CBeebies presenters or characters to attend charity events or fun days and we regret that we cannot provide photographs of any of our presenters or performers.
Does the CBeebies website collect any of my personal details?
We only collect information from you, such as your name and address, if we really need it and we'll always do all we can to keep it safe. We only pass your details to another company if they're working with us to provide you with a service. We won't ever sell your details to another company. Please see the BBC's Privacy and Cookies Policy at www.bbc.co.uk/privacy
Can I download songs, games or stories from the CBeebies website?
It's not possible to download any songs, games or stories from the CBeebies website. You can listen to and join in with many of the songs in Song Time and some of the music on CBeebies has also been made available on commercial download websites.
Is there a transcript of...?
CBeebies does not publish transcripts or make them available to the public.
I have an idea for a CBeebies programme - where do I send it?
You should try and develop your idea as far as possible including a clear understanding of the exact target age group, why you think your idea will appeal to them and the unique qualities it has to offer that other programmes are lacking. For up-to-date information on BBC Commissioning, visit the BBC Commissioning website. All programmes must go through the BBC e-commissioning process.
I'd like to work for or do work experience at CBeebies - how do I apply?
For further information on job vacancies available at the BBC, please visit the BBC Jobs website - https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp . For work experience placements at the BBC, please visit the BBC Work Experience website - https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc03.asp. Alternatively, you can write to: Recruitment BBC HR Direct, PO Box 1133, Belfast, BT1 9GP.
Is there a toy/book/CD/DVD available from my child's favourite programme and where do I buy it?
We cannot deal with BBC merchandise queries, as that would be commercial activity. We are a very small team and it's not possible to tell you whether merchandise is available or not. Well-known bookshops, music or video retailers will be able to tell you what is available and where it can be bought.
Why does CBeebies change the 'Goodnight/ Bedtime' song?
'CBeebies Presentation' is the department responsible for all the supporting content around the programmes. Their primary role is to support the programmes in an interesting and fun way but also they have a responsibility to make sure that the programmes start and finish according to the times for which they have been scheduled. This is achieved by creating supporting content which has a variety of durations.
The current version of the 'Goodnight/Bedtime' song is played just before closedown on CBeebies and has three versions of different lengths. Which version CBeebies plays depends on the length of the programmes and Bedtime story which are in the Bedtime Hour that day; the length chosen ensures that we do not overrun our scheduled broadcast time. We appreciate that changing the version of the song may disrupt a family's evening routine but we hope that knowing the full length version of the new song is available on the CBeebies website will help ease any problems.
Can my child take part in one of the television or radio programmes?
Unfortunately not. Children taking part in the CBeebies programmes are usually found through casting sessions run by the production teams to find children to take part in a particular show.
Casting sessions usually take place in nurseries or schools, and take account of many factors: different shows require different contributions, which might include age ranges or links to the subject talked about in a particular programme.
We have recently received many requests for children to appear on I Can Cook. We are not looking for children to take part in filming and we regret that we are unable to consider requests for children to appear on future episodes.
Can my child send a question to Nina?
Unfortunately Nina is unable to respond to individual letters and emails due to the large number of questions she receives. Questions that are sent in are passed on to the production team, but we cannot guarantee that your child's question will be used in the programme. Do keep watching as you might find a similar question investigated on the show.
Can I get a presenter to come along to an event? Or get a signed photograph of a presenter or character?
Unfortunately it's not possible for CBeebies presenters or characters to attend charity events or fun days and we regret that we cannot provide photographs of any of our presenters or performers.
How do I get in touch with..?
Please understand that we can't give you contact information for presenters or members of production teams. We do pass on messages, but we cannot guarantee a response.
How do I send my child's artwork to CBeebies?
If we are asking for artwork to be sent to CBeebies, we will post up information on Grown-ups on a page within Contact CBeebies called 'Send Ins'. If the page does not appear on the website, that is because we are not currently asking for artwork to be sent in.
Can you tell me about music, props or locations featured on CBeebies?
Sorry, we are a very small team and cannot answer individual queries. If your question is about music or locations, you might like to post your query on the CBeebies Grownups Facebook page to see if another viewer can help.
I'd like to visit Balamory, where is it filmed?
Balamory is an imaginary town. However, it had some real inspiration - mainly Tobermory on the island of Mull. Unfortunately, we don't have any information about visiting Tobermory, but you could try the Visit Scotland website for more information.
(The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.)
What breed of dog is Daniel from Tommy Zoom?
Daniel is a mongrel.
Can you tell me about old BBC children's shows which are no longer on TV?
We cannot answer individual queries about old BBC children's shows, but you may find some useful information on the Classic TV section of the BBC Cult website.
Why are you showing Rastamouse on CBeebies?
CBeebies is very proud to be transmitting Rastamouse which is a colourful new animation series about a crime-fighting mouse based on an acclaimed series of books by Michael De Souza and Genevieve Webster. The Rastamouse books are written in Afro-Caribbean Patois rhyme and this authentic voice has been transferred to the tv series to retain its heart, integrity and distinctive quality.
CBeebies is dedicated to reflecting the lives of all children in this country and Rastamouse will have a particular appeal to Afro-Caribbean children - an under-represented part of our audience. However, the series is highly enjoyable and inclusive and we hope its compelling stories, great music and positive message of 'make a bad ting good' will be enjoyed by all of our viewers.
Can you send me some images of CBeebies characters for my school/university project?
We cannot send you or give you permission to use, any images of CBeebies characters for your project.
Can you send me some research about children or your programmes for my school/university project?
We cannot send you any research into children or our programmes for your project. Many parents/carers are happy to share their experiences and thoughts on the programming that CBeebies makes for their children; but we do request that the number of posts on the Grown-ups Facebook or Twitter sites that ask for help with research projects are kept to a minimum. This is because our social media is a resource for the parents/carers to share their thoughts on CBeebies with each other and the BBC, and repeated requests for research data can disrupt the conversation.
How do I find out when a programme will be broadcast on CBeebies?
The schedule for programmes currently being shown on CBeebies can be found on the What's On pages. We regret that we cannot answer individual queries about when a show will be on CBeebies.
Why isn't my favourite programme on anymore?
The CBeebies schedule is updated every now and then so that everybody gets a chance to see their favourite programmes and to keep the schedule varied and fresh. We try to offer a balanced schedule that everyone enjoys, as we know viewers have their favourite programmes and regular viewing. We're sorry if this disrupts your routine - we always try to ensure that programmes and slots are clearly signposted via trails and our presenters.
We rotate some older series, such as Balamory, because we have to balance bringing different titles into the schedule at different times of the year within a fixed amount of airtime. As a result, some shows will not be on TV for a while because they have made way for other programmes in the schedule. Everyone has their favourite shows and children at different stages of development prefer different shows, so we try to balance our offering by providing a schedule that suits the majority audience and by rotating shows carefully. Occasionally, programmes are removed from the CBeebies schedule because licences have not been renewed.
We regret that we cannot answer individual queries about when a show is going to return to CBeebies.
Why have changes been made to the Bedtime Hour?
From Monday 30th May, some changes have been made to the CBeebies Bedtime Hour. 'Charlie and Lola' and '64 Zoo Lane' are welcomed back to Bedtime to join 'In The Night Garden' and the 'Bedtime Story'. 'Waybuloo' will still be on TV, as viewers will be able to watch it weekdays at 11.15/15.10 and weekends at 13.00 on Cbeebies. Unfortunately we can't answer individual queries about when a show is going to return to CBeebies, but we do try to ensure that there is something for all children by rotating programmes so that everyone gets the chance to see their favourite.
Can we watch CBeebies on iPlayer?
You can watch CBeebies programmes online by using CBeebies iPlayer. BBC iPlayer allows you to watch programmes up to seven days after they have been broadcast. If you want to watch a programme after this period of time you will have to download it, where you will be able to store it for 30 days on your computer. For more information, please see the information on CBeebies iPlayer and see BBC iPlayer Help.
Is it possible to watch CBeebies live via the website?
You can watch CBeebies live as it is broadcast on TV, via the CBeebies website or the BBC iPlayer. For more information, please see the information on Watching CBeebies TV on the web.
Why can't we watch CBeebies website video content from overseas?
Recent technical changes to the BBC's website mean that overseas users are prevented from seeing content on the www.bbc.co.uk . This is because unfortunately many programmes have broadcast rights restrictions which don't allow us to show CBeebies programmes and content to people outside the UK. In addition, broadband content is expensive for the BBC to stream, so we have to give priority to people within the UK, who ultimately bear the cost of us doing this through their licence fee.
However, as more and more people outside the UK are starting to watch CBeebies from abroad, there is an international website at www.cbeebies.com, which is steadily growing and may provide some of the content you are missing.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
© 2012
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