Horrible Histories' move to primetime shows how sophisticated kids' shows have become. Would you rather watch CBBC?
There used to be a certain stigma about working in children's TV ? traditionally seen as a graveyard of languishing careers, hardly known for its stratospheric heights of glamour. Subscribe to that view these days, however, and you'll be surprised.
For not only has children's TV has proven itself to be fertile ground for emerging talent such as Miranda Hart (who made an eccentric appearance in CBBC's Hotel Trubble in 2008), but over recent years it has also started to attract more established actors and comedians. Take the vocal talents of James Corden (Little Charley Bear) on CBeebies, Rebecca Front's role in CBBC's remake of Just William or Larry David's cameo in Hannah Montana - they're queuing up, but why?
The most obvious answer (as was the case for Larry David) is that they're doing it for their own younglings ? which is why CBeebies can attract names such as Patrick Stewart and Gary Barlow to read its Bedtime Stories. But it's about more than that: thanks to shows like Yo Gabba Gabba!, Rastamouse and Horrible Histories, which returned yesterday, children's TV has shed its "cobbled together" image and raised its game.
Loved by kids, adored by adults, the fantastically clever and hilarious Horrible Histories (which became the first children's show to win a British Comedy Award this year) has established itself as the flagship for a new era of children's television. Its crossover appeal stems from a writing team who don't patronise their audience, but instead treat them as intelligent people. It's this adult approach to writing children's comedy (Big Babies, Hedz and Marcus Brigstocke's Sorry, I've Got No Head all being superb examples) that has attracted performers such the Mighty Boosh's Simon Farnaby.
Farnaby says he found the transition from the silly and surreal regions of mainstream adult humour to children's TV all too easy. "If I had to choose between adults and kids TV ? as in, if I was offered the same amount of money for both ? then I have more fun doing those children's show sort of characters which lets you cut loose and be more creative, there's a lot more freedom there. Also, I don't think there's any cynicism in doing children's TV any more, maybe it's because we've moved on or kids' tastes are older ? we know we're not going to be wearing zany, multicoloured outfits."
He has a point. CBBC controller, Damian Kavanagh, has previously cited BBC1 drama Waterloo Road's popularity among six to 12-year-old girls as proof that his audience has matured and that children's TV now faces huge competition from mainstream programming. Although this summer, children's TV will bite back as Horrible Histories gets a primetime slot with Stephen Fry at the helm.
What do you think? Have you spotted any high-profile actors on children's TV lately? Are the worlds of mainstream and children's TV too close for your liking? Leave your thoughts below.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/may/31/childrens-tv-mainstream-actors
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