Frequently asked questions

Why am I seeing a pop-up asking me to accept cookies?

When you go on the CBeebies site you might start seeing a pop-up asking you to accept cookies. CBeebies cookies are completely harmless – we use them among other technology to make the site better by remembering what you’ve done already. For example, the Alphablocks game takes your child to a new word every time and shows them the stickers they’ve already earned, instead of them always having to go back to the beginning. You’ll need to tick continue on the pop-up to get the best experience of the site.

CBeebies (along with nearly every other site) have been using cookies to enhance our site for years but because of new guidelines, sites now have to add the pop-up. You can find out more about cookies here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/about-cookies.

Why have some of the Presenter songs been removed from the CBeebies website?

We are keeping the songs on the website seasonal. Enjoy the much loved Spring song and watch this space for a song for Summer coming soon.

Why are some games and activities not available on the CBeebies website?

Sometimes games are removed from the website because the programmes are no longer licensed by us and we have to remove any relevant content.
Legal or 'rights' issues can also be the reason that 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.

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.

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 on-line 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: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/cbeebies.

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".

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.

Why am I seeing a pop-up asking me to accept cookies?

When you go on the CBeebies site you might start seeing a pop-up asking you to accept cookies. CBeebies cookies are completely harmless – we use them among other technology to make the site better by remembering what you’ve done already. For example, the Alphablocks game takes your child to a new word every time and shows them the stickers they’ve already earned, instead of them always having to go back to the beginning. You’ll need to tick continue on the pop-up to get the best experience of the site.

CBeebies (along with nearly every other site) have been using cookies to enhance our site for years but because of new guidelines, sites now have to add the pop-up. You can find out more about cookies here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/about-cookies.

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 falls under a 'commercial activity' and we're not allowed to be commercial!

Is Fun with Phonics available to buy on DVD?

Fun with Phonics is available on DVD for schools and DVD and Book packs are available on the domestic market. You could use a search engine and look for “fun with phonics”. Razzledazzle is available on DVD for schools to buy, but is not available on the domestic market.