CBeebies, BBC Worldwide join Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures

UK public children’s channel CBeebies and commercial counterpart BBC Worldwide Channels have hooked up to co-commission a new dinosaur-themed factual series featuring presenter Andy Day.

The BBC’s Natural History Unit is attached to produce the 20-part Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures, which is a follow up to Day’s previous series, Andy’s Wild Adventures.

While that show saw him investigating natural history, this one will have him hunting for clues about dinosaurs. It will use footage from the BBC’s extensive archive and CGI green-screen technology to take Day on adventures into the past.

The series will launch in the UK in early 2014 before broadcasting internationally in the summer.

CBeebies controller Kay Benbow said: “I’ve been keen to bring dinosaurs to the channel for some time and, following the success of Andy’s Wild Adventures, I think this is the perfect vehicle. Andy’s affinity with our young audience and the expertise of the Natural History Unit will bring children up close and personal with some of the greatest creatures to have ever walked the earth.”

The co-commission hands BBC Worldwide commercial rights.

NHU’s Jonny Keeling is executive producing, along with Michael Towner from CBeebies and Henrietta Hurford-Jones for BBCWW. Mark Jones is producing.