New Waybuloo!

I have to say that the addition of the voice-over is totally unecessary and has spoiled what was an enchanting programme. It completely jars with the programme - just sounds like a sarcastic running commentary, just like Come Dine With Me. All Dave Lamb succeeds in doing is repeating most of what the characters already say. What's going on BBC?! Why mess with what was already working perfectly? I won't be tuning in again - very irritating.

You know, I'm not too sure about the new direction the programme has taken. With the programme taking place in the bedtime hour, I thought it was previously very relaxing for my son and I. Now however it doesn't feel like it belongs there, it's less relaxing and more stimulating, which I guess might work for older children, but for my 10 month old son, it's more of a hindrance towards winding down ready for bed.

Our first thought was it sounds like Come Dine With Waybuloo, which makes sense now we've found out who the narrator is. Second thought was that he sounds more like a commentator than a narrator.

'Stop talking' was our 2 year old's response, and not to us.

Wow, epic fail by the Waybuloo producers. The show wasn't broken and didn't need fixing. The shorter episodes and loud pointless narrating are both changes for the worse.

I can't believe you've ruined waybuloo! This is my daughters favourite programme. We all loved the gentle pace of the show and how the stories were given space to develop. This has been spoiled by the change of length. I also cannot believe you got the guy from come dine with me to do the voiceover! So so tacky. Also the narration seemed quite aggressive almost as if he was mocking the characters. Really disappointed.

The added narration is inane prattle. We had to switch off. It has ruined a lovely calming program. I hope the makers see sense and return it to normal. We won't be watching it again til they do.

OH Dear what has been done to waybuloo! the addition of a narrator is a very poor decision as it just dumbs the show down and takes away the childs chance to use their imagination and interact with the programme rather than just have everything spoon fed to them. Also while the narrator has excellent credentials he sounds quite condescending to the characters, sorry to say but my daughters look of horror at this said it all followed by " Lets watch something else"

No no no! We want the peaceful Waybuloos back please! Whilst I appreciate Dave Lamb is great on 'Come Dine with Me' I feel his narration just doesnt work - too loud and humour that may be the children won't understand - its almost like bad dubbing. My little boy (18months) loves Waybuloo but tonight he stood behind the chair and watched from a distance.

The new voice overs just doesn't fit the show. I understand you wish to engage older children but this just sounds like man in a studio shouting over a video. Maybe if it was a softer female voice then it would work. Also he says too much. Has the idea of expanding the bedtime hour to have shows for older kids at the end?

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The new commentary and need to explain what is going on has ruined the magic of Waybuloo. I wish it hadn't changed as this was my 6 month olds favourite programme and now he is just irritated by the commentary. As am I.

What have you done? My 18 Month old just say there looking confused and unhappy. You had a very good enjoyable show and have completely ruined it by adding a Narrator that isnt needed, and slicing the show time in half. What were you thinking??? It wasn't broken and didn't need fixing. I don't think you will find many positive comments on this thread BBC....

What on earth have you done! Ruined it, terrible narration, totally not needed, My son didnt like it at all, change it back please!!!

Why must they mess around with programmes??! They've already ruined Zingzillas and now this too

Just watched the new format Waybuloo with Dave Lamb narrating and sorry to say that I hated it. Don't see the point in messing round with something that worked so well as it was. It is for younger viewers and I don't see how adding Dave Lamb's 'Come Dine wit me' commentary adds to the enjoyment for older siblings or adults. It's a weird mix of Piplings and the commentry which I think will confuse younger viewers. Load of rubbish. Let's have the old Waybuloo back.

Oh my gosh. This was horrendous!! Change it back!!!

I completely disagree with the introduction of a narrator. I found it intensely irritating and feel it takes away any imaginative interpretation of the scenes by filling almost every available gap in dialogue with inane comment. At the end, my 2 year old said "man gone" - "thank goodness", I said. I disagree this will make it more watchable by all the family as I for one won't be watching it again and older children (and even a 2 year old) certainly don't need every aspect of the story to be spelled out to them in this way. Very disappointed.

Dont think my daughter was too sure about the new idea for waybuloo. She cried everytime the narrator spoke and it just doesnt seem to fit in. Its like you've taken old episodes and got someone to talk over them.

Just watched the new Waybaloo. I think the shorter format is good, but not sure about the voice over? Love Dave Lamb on Big Barn Farm but not sure that is the right voice to go with the relaxed tone of the show..?

This is the worst kids tv show I've ever seen, and by taking pre produced episodes and retrofitting them with this bloke's narration looks like a desperate attempt to compete with the likes of 'In The Night Garden' and 'Abne and Teale', but sadly fails.



I can't seem to comprehend how this show is valuable for kids, especially as none of the language used by the stupid looking Piplings resembles English. Shouldn't the BBC be producing shows that try and educate children? Not teach them useless language.



I have always hated the way that all the kids are voiced over too, and especially the silly language. Is this narration an attempt to help people understand what is being said by these awful characters?



I think the best refresh this show could get is to be cancelled.

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Oh dear. What have you done? Our lovely peaceful 20 minute show has been ruined by a sarcastic sounding commentator. What were you thinking? I think the show has been made harder to watch, not easier

Please go back to the original format! My daughter and I really dislike the new style of episode. Now far from being a relaxing and calming show, Waybuloo has got far too loud with an extremely annoying narration! This was not necessary and it's really disappointing that the episodes have been shortened too. If this is going to be a permanent change we will not be watching any more. We really enjoyed the soothing versions of Waybuloo in previous series' but the narrator is a very bad idea and his over zealous commentary has got my little girl far too revved up, isn't it supposed to be the bedtime hour???

Although I understand the need to change the programme, the addition of a narrator seems like an odd choice (especially one so closely associated with a VERY sarcastic persona on another show). After watching the first show, the new narrator feels intrusive and the overall feel of the show seems to have changed and has lost some of it's 'relaxed' feeling that made the show work for my family (especially at bed time). We'll give it time, but right now we're not convinced...

I'm sorry CBeebies but me and my 9 month old are less than impressed :0( We both loved Waybuloo and my daughter always reacted really well to the previous format. It engaged and entertained her, as well as settling her down for bedtime. The new narration by Dave Lamb is distracting and irritating. He's great on Come Dine with Me, but not suitable for this programme at all. In fact, it doesn't need narration. The previous format and programme length was perfect. The programme had a gentle, lilting, dreamlike feel which has now been lost. Our household is so disappointed. I've even created a BBC ID to leave this comment. Such a shame :0( Please put it back how it was

I hate it, my daughter who previously would sit and relax and enjoy waybaloo and join in with the yoga every night has left the room!! Clearly she's as impressed as I am.

Unfortunately I don't think the changed format has worked. My daughter who is 7 months old normally lies back and is totally enraptured by the show completely chilling out before going to bed once the show ends. Tonight she is still actively playing and showed no interest in the show whatsoever. The voice over was too loud and was a complete contrast to the previously chilled and calm show. Very very disappointed.

Just settled down to watch Waybuloo with our 16month old daughter and watched and listened in utter dismay at the new format. What used to be a lovely gentle program has turned into something a kin to those dreadful "animals do the funniest things" or "you've been framed" programs where the narrator makes dreadful puns and attempts to be humorous. So disappointing that such a great show has been spoiled. Why oh why didn't you think of the old addage 'if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Just watched Waybuloo for the 1st time since the addition of a narrator and what a disappointment! It was so lovely as it was and mesmerised my son who totally understood what was happening. Just seems as though it's been dumbed down unnecessarily now. It's lost it's unique selling point.

Have to say, our family does not like the new narrated version unfortunately. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old format and while Dave Lamb is an amazing voice over artist (we love his work on Come Dine with Me) the narration is distracting and annoying.



It's a real shame that you messed around with a format that worked so well.

I am not impressed, to be honest. One of the things that was very appealing about this programme was the calm, gentle, almost soporific nature of the music etc - perfect before bed. The new voiceover is terribly jarring and fills the entire programme with unnecessary words, leaving no time for a small child to absorb, respond and imagine. Incredibly irritating to listen to.

What have you done to Waybuloo! I agree with the shortening as it does get a little long, but the narration is dreadful! I'm sure Mr.Lamb is a lovely person and we adore his narration on big barn farm ( I don't watch Come Dine with me so I wouldn't know) but it really doesn't work on this. My daughter (20 months) normally settles down to this. It was the first programme she took any notice of as she loved the music. She is currently running round like a loon and won't settle. She's not even joined in with the yogo. Such a shame that you've spoiled a lovely gentle programme. It's been part of her bedtime routine since she was tiny, we'll now be changing it.

My 18 mth old son and I always enjoyed winding down after dinner with waybaloo, the new version is awful, the "commentary " is unnessasery and distracting, it was soothing snd calming before,just right for before bedtime, It is also too short. It's such a shame it's been edited into a filler. It should have been left alone.

Where has the magic gone? So sad. Not convinced by Dave Lamb at all. Besides was Waybuloo ever meant to be funny - instead something calming and gorgeous to get children/toddlers in the mood for bedtime. Hmmm... not happy, bring back the old Waybuloo PLEASE

The narrator kills it, I spent 5 minutes trying to find out whether I'd accidently turned on audio description, then gave up. My son looked confused and a little shocked at this totally un-necessary intrusion into the story.



Considering that when Waybuloo was first brought in the Controller of CBeebies, Michael Carrington said:



"I like the democratic and independent feel of the programme – having the Piplings and Cheebies carry the dialogue and involving the children at home rather than the more conventional model of using an adult or a narrator felt interesting. All of them are equal and all of them are learning and discovering together. "



So why you have decided to add one now to a previously well liked and understood format is beyond belief.



Have to say we'll probably start bedtime hour 10 minutes later with driver Dan than sit through another epidsode of that....or more likely watch the recorded versions of the old format we have.

We've just watched the new Waybuloo, along with narrator and currently we are not convinced. I think the program doesn't need a narrator explaining what's going on and it loses a little bit of the magic. My daughters face was a picture when she realised there was someone talking over her beloved programme!

Wow how to ruin Waybuloos in one easy step, the first time in months my 16 month old didn't want to sit and watch it, and with the ridiculous 'come dine with me' narration neither did we! At least the fact its now only half as long we didn't have to endure the awful new format for long!

I think the new narration added to Waybuloo really takes away from the magic of the show. Why is a narrator needed to make it appeal more to older siblings? I think it was perfect the way it was!! A real shame :-(

The new waybuloo is terrible. My son used to love it but the narrator has ruined it. The music can't b heard and the cutting down of content is terrible. Bedtime hour has been ruined for my son now :(

The new narrator didn't work for my wee one. Usually hooked she wanted to watch something else!

That was truly terrible, half the programme gone and dire narration, that added nothing to the story, and in fact turned my child off the programme. This had been his favourite programme, he has just turned away from the tv after 5 mins to play with his toys. Well done BBC destroy childrens TV and who knows maybe you can replace it with some reality shows...

Awful Awful Awful!

Bad bad Move!

I will not be letting the children watch this until the narration is removed.

No offence David Lamb, but it is just All wrong!!

Me my daughter and my partner all sit down for the bedtime hour as waybuloo is my daughters favourite programme, and tonight we find it has all changed and narration has been added to the show. I feel this has totally spoilt the format of the show. The relaxed and tranquil vibe has been ruined by the voice over to the point where my daughter kept asking why someone kept speaking, which led her to get very frustrated thus having the opposite effect of why she loves the show and why I encourage her to watch it.

It has been ruined. As the old saying goes. If it isn't broke don't fix it!

Awful. It is my daughter's favourite show and normally she is entranced but tonight she was just confused. Please give us back the old Waybuloo!

What a terrible shame that this wonderful children's programme has had to suffer in order to make it fun for parents! Our family have always found it fun through the expressions of absolute joy on the face of our 10 month old. I am usually a fan of Dave Lamb's witty narration but it is so out of place here just so that parents can have the format of the show explained to them!! We don't need a running commentary spoiling this lovely child orientated programme. Please leave it as it was.... for the children, they understand it perfectly without an adult voice inteferring!

If it's not broke then don't fix it!! I could forgive the change to the speeded up Goodnight song, but surely the Bed Time Hour should be used as wind down time. This changed to Waybaloos has made the programme faster, more interactive and down right annoying! My daughter and I loved the calming background music, it was great when she was 4 months and was still great at 18 months, until todays change.. She was not interested in it at all.. Shame really, as it was one of her favourites.

Utterly superfluous commentary that just repeats the characters' dialogue. Ruins the tone and magic of a perfect programme for toddlers. The narrator tried his best but it's completely unnecessary and my 2yo HATED it. Please revert onto the old Waybuloo. For now I will be resorting to DVDs.

I have just gone through a long complaints form but also wanted to comment here. The "new" series is dreadful, the beautiful restful episode was ruined by irritating pointless commentary. The lovely calming effect was lost and my 2 year old who ALWAYS joins in with the yogo lost interest and wandered off. Not once were we able to enjoy the peaceful music and gentle pace of the story. The talking prevents children thinking about what is happening and making their own deductions. If budget cuts prevent new series please just show the original extremely good series. I actually thought I had audio desorption on at first and spent 5 minutes trying to turn it off. Not impressed :(

The new commentary has vastly reduced the shows enjoyability. The 'come dine withe me' style comments do not seem to interest my 18 month old and distract from the content. Poor decision, hope it is not too late to save a good show.

actually horrified at what you have done to waybuloo. devestated is not the word. lets hope you read these comments and do not show anymore of the frightfully enhanced episodes.

Oh dear Waybuloo, how you've changed...and not for the better. Little one ran off as the boredom set in...tusk! What a way to ruin a lovely relaxing show that really worked in the bedtime hour...to stimulating now and OTT. Bring back the old Waybuloo!!

I am very unimpressed with the new show format. My son used to be a big fan, but he just looked confused and upset when the new show was aired! It is no longer relaxing and the narrators voice is not suitable for the programme. It is sarcastic! I hope you can change it back soon!

Dear Mr/Mrs Cbeebies as the old saying goes if it's not broke don't fix it.

I honestly thought when walking in the room I'd switched on to 'Harry Hill's TV Burp' and he was taking the Mickey out of Waybuloo. I was even more disappointed to realise that the over exaggerated commentary was actually meant to be there. My 19 month old son loves Waybuloo and would sit there watching quietly (as until this point it was a relaxing programme). Today he heard the voice, threw a ball at the Telly and walked off, granted only 19 months old, so this could be a random attack of the telly but he didn't sit and watch and failed to return till the Night Garden was on, which thankfully the BBC have decided not to mess with.

What have you done to waybuloo? You have completely ruined it! This was our sons favourite programme and now he just walks out the room and isn't interested. The voice over completely ruins what was a magical and fab programme. Well done you!!! Bring back the old waybuloo please asap!

Really disappointed with the new Waybaloo! Dave Lamb's narration doesn't seem to fit in with the relaxing ethos of the show and adds nothing. Please change it back, this is our daughter's favourite programme and it's a shame you've felt the need to tinker with what was a magical format - to a 14 month old anyway!

Really disappointed with the new Waybuloo, our 2 year old wasn't very impressed. The narration adds nothing and detracts from the peaceful, imaginative feel the show used to have. The Yogo section which was the best feature of the show is now so short, doesn't include showing how to do the moves and just appears as an opportunity for the narrator to make fun of the kids. Our daughter was really upset that it wasn't on twice within the programme too. Why fix something that isn't broken?

All i can say is HORRENDOUS!!!!! what on earth you were thinking is beyond me.... i can only re-iterate what everyone else here has said. Why change something that clearly isn't broken and ruin bedtime for so many little ones. Do not understand the decision at all and i hope that someone from Cbeebies actually recognises that people are clearly not happy with this new format and bring back the original program for our childrens sake.

firstly I just wanted to say i've never complained about anything before but why change the most popular childrens TV show. Its popular for a reason so why make such dramatic changes???? 18 months ago me and my wife had our first son and Waybuloo was the first programme our son reacted too on TV. ever since it's clearly been his favourite show and we were gutted when it left the bedtime hour a while back as he finds it so soothing and relaxing. great to see it come back, and as a fan of driver dan we figured the new bedtime hour today would be a great move. however we were really dissapointed with the new Waybuloo. We didnt know about the changes until it came on but our son totally switched off and went off to do something else in the house.



i can sort of understand the desire to spruce up the show but what they have done is remove the magic. Dave Lamb, great as he is, is not the right voice for the show. It just doesnt suit it. It sounds like someones taking the mickey out of the show (thats what he's famous for afterall). I'm struggling to see how Vanessa Hill allowed this to go out as it was awful. The narrative is too loud and overpowering. He often talked over the noises the pimplings were making and it added nothing to the show.



We truly hope that the BBC bring back the old Waybuloo quickly, or just cut Dave Lamb from the new episodes. What a mess up!

Waybuloo was so disappointing tonight. A new series was required but not in this new format. The narrator just sounded sarcastic, there really was no call for him at all. It was an old episode too which made it worse - think we understood the story the first time round. The show just felt rushed! 11 minutes was too short. Hope the old format comes back very soon or im going to have to redecorate my daughters bedroom and return all her christmas presents!!

Hmmmm not impressed - neither myself or my twins, from what was something that captured their full attention that has now got them restless and niggly as they cannot understand why it has been changed and the man talks all the way through and over the lovely music. There must be an abundance of stories that can be created for the characters of Waybuloo and what they stand for: eg creative, helpful, sharing etc. etc. skills for children to learn in a relaxing way so why cut the show?

Awful! Disappointed doesn't begin to describe our feelings towards the changes to Waybuloo. I was in the kitchen when it started and thought either my daughter had managed to switch onto Come Dine with Me or had switched on audio description. The changes have totally ruined a relaxing and tranquil programme that helps with the wind down at the end of the day for all of us. I hope that the number of posts of a similar opinion on here will get the BBC to change back to the previous format.

my daughter is 14 months and loves the show. I have to confess i love it too, or should that be loved it. Bed time hour was ruined by David lamb and the shorter episode. already on social media sites such as facebook i see "bring back the old waybuloo" springing up. i do not pay my license fee to have my daughter in tears and my night ruined. please please PLEASE bring back the old waybuloo

First of all why? Did the producers really watch the version with Dave Lamb and believe that the little ones would genuinely find it funnier and more engaging?

Do they not forget that its for the children! Not adults or older kids. Older kids have CBBC! As producers you haven't made the program more engaging for a wider audience... in fact it is more difficult to follow due to the constant sarcastic interruptions. Don't get me wrong i think Dave Lamb is hilarious but as a narrator for Waybuloo it just feels like the essence of the programme is lost. The narration not only upset my daughter but as a parent, I felt like the producers were mocking the format of the show through the narration. Hopefully someone comes to there senses and reinstates the older version. I will not be watching until it does!



Here's a tip - If it isn't broke don't fix it

My husband, myself, and our little boy Jackson are not fans of the new format for Waybuloo's. We have sat down to watch, and join in, (Yogo being the best parts of the show!), since Jackson was very young and he was very put out that there is now only one section of Yogo in the show. The Narrator's work on 'Come Dine with Me" is outstanding, and he's great on Big Barn Farm, but unfortunately it just doesn't seem to work with Waybuloo's, infact it seems that the show has been 'Dumbed down'. In our opinion you have tried to 'fix' something that didn't need it and as a result the show is nowhere near as good as it was. Our last suggestion is to actually remove Waybuloo's from the bedtime hour and replace it with 'Abney and Teal'. Waybuloo's encourages activity, participation, and movement, which is great, but not always something you want your child to be doing when trying to get them calm and relaxed before bedtime! 'Abney and Teal' has wonderful, engaging stories that really seem to help Jackson wind-down, and relax, helping us get him ready for bed. We now use bbc i-player to show a second episode of 'Abney and Teal', replacing Waybuloo's, as we find this a lot better for a bedtime routine!

What has happened to Waybuloo?! I love Waybuloo as it's the first programme my daughter ever paid any attention too and I used to enjoy sitting down to watch it with her as it was so gentle. I'm disappointed that the format was changed and the programme shortened but I could live with that if the narration goes. Firstly, it's not needed as the story is clear anyway and the narration just detracts from what the piplings are saying and doing. Secondly the choice of narrator was just totally wrong for this programme (great as he is on 'dine with me'). The narration came across as patronising and sarcastic and as a result the programme was totally ruined! I thought at first that it was a pilot for the original programme that had been subsequently changed for the better but was horrified to find out that it might stay like that. What a shame to ruin such a lovely programme!

Sorry but wow awful decision! My son loved waybuloo, infact so did I, lovely and relaxing and nice wind down before bedtime. Now with the unnecessary, totally in appropriate voice over its ruined it. I'm sure I've seen the episode tonight without the voice over before, so why bother with it now!! Shorten the programmes if you have too, but don't ruin them, like Zingzillas is now ruined by shortening. :(

What a shame. When I initially started watching Waybuloo with my son, he loved it but I found the language annoying. Gradually though, I came to understand what the programme was all about. I used to be a teacher and what I initially viewed as language limiting communication, I later saw to be good language introduction and gentle communication that was on their level. Why you have felt the need to introduce a narrator, I'm not sure. Surely the very fact that this programme is aired during the bedtime hour and introduces things such as yoga to young children means that it should maintain its gentle format. I loved the free flowing nature of the program. The humour and story is there - it doesn't need a narrator. I agree to some extent with other posts about the Come Dine with Me link, although this is not one the kids will make and so only bothers me, not my sons. I urge you to take on board what I and other posters have said. Both my sons and I are utterly baffled by this change to what used to be an enchanting program.

Our 3 year old wanted to watch Waybuloo before bed tonight. She normally is quite engaged, taking part in the Yogo.



Tonight she sat there just watching the TV because it was on. I could have changed the channel and would swear she wouldn't have noticed.



I must admit that my first cynical thought on the changes was whether they were made to make the show more saleable overseas where attention spans may be shorter and more explanation required?

I was so dissapointed watching this today with my 11th month old son. I used to really enjoy the calming effect that this program had but now it feels like its ruined. I kind of understand what the BBC were trying to do but it really isn't necessary to do it to this program. I personally do not like Come Dine with Me as a program. It's really quite trashy and I felt that Waybuloos was much more classy than that. It's a real shame and agree with a previous comment that this is now come dine with Waybuloo. I dont think I will be watching this again and will have to keep re-playing a few old ones that I have saved.

why? you have to ask do you insist on ruining perfectly good shows me and my 19month old have enjoyed waybuloo since she was borne and i dont see how dumbing the show down and adding a frankly sarcastic commentator is of any benefit to the way the show feels its gone from being a charming little show that my daughter realy enjoyed and held her attention to yet another filler show she ignores while waiting for the next show she likes...it makes you wonder what you were thinking when you made the changes

Bring back the old Waybuloo. This is appaling and has ruined the effect of the show. No longer is it a calming part of our bed time routine. The narration does seem in place with the program and really doesnt add a thing - wrong, wrong, wrong. The reduction in yogo takes away from the relaxing nature of the show and it was the favorite part for our daughter. Making it 10 mins is a mistake too, but not only have you shortened it you've included the least relaxing parts to include as part of a bedtime program. SHOCKER!!!

Not happy - me and my 1 year old daughter love waybuloo this has just ruined it. dave lamb is very funny on "come dine with me" but did you honestly think it would work on waybuloo its like he is taking the mick out of the program

This is my daughters favourite programme and I find it very calming too. I have just brought her some books to go with it too as she loves it so much. However the new format is awful. We wont be watching it again unless it changes back. Am very dissappointed.

I really don't understand the rationale behind these changes. The frenetic pace and shortened programme (including the theme tune!) are bad enough, but who on earth thought it would be a good idea to have a narrator who seems to mock the characters? It doesn't fit with the calm, bedtime friendly feel the programme had before. Please change it back, or at least get rid of the dire narration.

We are glad to find that we are not the only family disappointed by the changes to Waybuloo; as others have mentioned, we signed up specifically to this thread to compain about the loud, invasive and distracting commentary. The BBC has managed to stimulate an extraordinarily universal negative response, which is even more notable given the largely positive feedback for programs elsewhere on the CBBC site. Let's hope that Ms. Hill responds to the very clear message from this thread by removing the commentary. Otherwise, for us it will simply mean a bedtime '50 minutes' that starts 10 minutes later than before, but we will miss watching our son's interpretation of yogo and I think he will miss watching ours.......

I'm not one for complaining - as a busy working Mum I let most things pass me by in favour of sitting down with a cuppa (!) but I feel compelled to write about the new and, allegedly, improved Waybuloo.



My 15 month old daughter has been mesmerised by the show since she was about 4 months old, when she would while away a happy 20 minutes mimicking the sound of the Piplings. To this day, it has a calming and soothing influence on our daughter and is by far the most effective form of pain relief for her incessant teething!!



Consequently, Waybuloo has formed the basis of her bedtime routine. We record it for her to watch whilst she snuggles up, drinks her milk and allows herself to become enchanted by the Land of Nara. We carry her to bed to the sound of the music playing out at the end of the programme. However, our daughter was clearly as impressed as we were and grew increasingly irritated by the interruptions of the wholly unnecessary narration!



I echo the request of the majority and would plead for BBC producers to return to the tried and tested Waybuloo - after all, what do we pay our license fee for if not to have a voice in what we effectively pay to watch?



Thankfully we will be enjoying the original version with our daughter due to the availability of box sets of from online retailers!!

I couldn't believe it when I saw Waybuloo tonight, felt like I was watching some comedy programme rather than the relaxing Waybuloo that we love in this house. It just made no sense at all and was not funny for me or my children. I just cannot understand how you felt that this was a good idea, his voice totally overrides the rest of the programme and changes it from the calm programme that was great to watch before bedtime to something that I'll never be watching again! Luckily we have some episodes recorded so I'll be stopping the series link and we'll just watch the old episodes that we have. Silly decision.

Just to add my unhappiness with the new programme. The narration is awful and absolutely unnecessary. My 16 month also got very upset and waved 'no, no, no' to it, and normally she adores Waybuloo. The quietness of it is why it is so relaxing.. and if we want to engage with it, I sit and 'narrate' it myself to my daughter if we want to - at other times, the peacefulness is exactly what is in order. I hope you take on board the comments and remove the narration from forthcoming episodes (and I don't really think the stories are so complicated they require narration...)

This is such a bad move. Waybuloo has lost the magic. It used to be so good it didn't need a narrator, even if you introduced a narrator surely not Dave Lamb with his sarcastic tone which is more suited to "Come dine with me". My 2 year old and I love (or should I say loved) the programme but once the narration started we both lost interest.

Terrible voiceover. The show is unbearable now and I agree with other posters that it sounds like a sarcastic show about Waybuloo. I could live with a shorter version (would prefer the longer one though) but we will not be watching this until the voiceover disappears. It is unnecessary and ruins the mood of the show.



Such a shame, it was my son's favourite and we've just bought a large playset for Christmas. Now a complete waste of money, without the stories its just another generic plastic playset.



Please tell us if you change it back and we can start watching again. Or can we get the originals online somewhere?

I feel it necessary to add to my original comment - when I posted earlier, there wasn't a single unmoderated comment and I actually thought I would be in the minority posting negatively. As I write now, there are 59 comments here and (ignoring the ones that "broke the house rules") there is not a single positive comment to read.



I think this shows the strength of feeling here Aunty Beeb - please bring back the original series tomorrow and get rid of the commentary. Oh, and if you think this is bad, you should check out your Waybuloo Facebook page comments - the strength of feeling there is even greater (and there's no need to wait for moderation)

what on earth have the BBC done to waybuloo? The narration is grating and completely unnecessary Dave Lamb talks so much the piplings can hardly be heard! The whole show feels hurried and it no longer has any magic. We have always watched the show with our son as part of his bedtime routine and tonight he cried as he couldn't understand what had happened to his beloved waybuloo. And all just to squeeze in 'driver dan' which is a rather pointless addition to bedtime hour. We wont be tuning in again, unless its changed back to the lovely show it once was. Shame on you BBC!

I am so totally disapointed with the new bedtime hour format. My 6 month old adores waybuloo and his little face lights up at the opening titles. Today however he sat with a sad confused look the whole way through. To follow this chilled out show with loud excitable driver dan defeats the object of bedtime. this show does not need commentary and that is the main reason it doesn't work. I think we will stick to DVDs for bedtime from now on

I must say that I find the new Waybuloo format totally awful. It used to be a lovely programme for children and quite frankly it has been ruined. Please change it back immediately!

Its just not right...Waybuloo was fantastic the way it was and perfect for the bedtime hour as it was calming.....the voice over completely takes over the whole show and the attention is taken away from the Piplings...this is the first time my 10 month old daughter has lost interest in Waybuloo...she is usually glued to it... please change it back!

The show has lost all its charm with these changes. I doubt we'll be watching it very often from now on, which is a shame as it was one of our favourite programs.

I love Dave Lamb but feel the added narration completely takes away the magic of Nara. My toddler didn't seem that captivated by today's episode.

We don't mind the change in duration but the narration completely wrecks the atmosphere. My one year old son usually adores Waybuloo but tonight completely switched off.



Everyone who thought this was a good idea should be rounded up and sent off to ITV.

Agree with the comments against the narration, dialogue and change of format. My son lost interest and didn't want to watch. Never before. It's not a suitable bedtime hour show anymore. Waybuloo was uniquely zen, engaging and deferential. Now it feels cheap, slack and saucy. The music and meandering was so much of the appeal.

I don't like it....it was such a lovely peaceful program, we all loved it. My daughter loves singing to the harmonizing parts and listening to the music....not listening to come dine with me man. Looks like we have to find a new show to watch.



Bring back old Waybuloo!

I also have never complained about anything like this before but this was overwhelming....

I am surprised at how wrong a call this producer has made. The narrator, no matter how much we love him on other programmes, is so very very wrong for Waybuloo.

The narration is so over powering and the sarcasm so totally unnecessary that it takes away the beauty, and story from the episode. What happened to children being encouraged to use their imaginations and not being told what to think second by second.

The reduction of the episode time is also a massive mistake as the structure was so perfectly formated before.

My daughter is 14 months and this (along side the delicious Abney and Teal) are the only programmes that hold her captive... or should I say "did" The usual excitement, pointing and gabbles of joy weren't there, neither were the cheers as the Cheebies arrive to play peeka..... I dont think we will be watching bedtime hour again.

Seriously what were they thinking of with that voice over? The narrator speaks as if he's talking to the characters but there no interaction back in his direction to he basically sounds like a babbling nutter. It just sounds like a poor after thought, it puts me in mind of the awful laughter track on some episodes of M*A*S*H and the pointless voice over on the first release of Blade Runner. Waybuloo was just fine as it was.

p.s i've never posted a comment on a website in my life but was so upset by how it affected my son i created an ID especially. Please see sense and change it back before you lose all of your viewers! Waybuloo should be soft and calming and magical not harsh and irritating and enough to upset small children!

You should have consulted the viewers of Waybuloo before you changed the format. This excellent program has been ruined. The narration and the shortening of Waybuloo has ruined it for our household. Please stop showing narrated Waybuloo.

The new format is just awful, my 15 month old daughter looked at me in disappointment and grabbed the remote to try and switch it off. Not a fan of the voice over at all, it completely ruins the tranquil and mesmorising theme that makes waybuloo such a perfect fit for the bedtime hour, please please bring back the old format soon.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? I can't believe you changed a great programme that did not need changing. When I first tuned in I thought there was a fault but once I realised, I did not want my son to watch this as I felt the narrator was sarcasticly insulting the main characters as if he was still in come dine with me.

This is a bad move from cbbies and sadly my son and I will not be watching this.

I'm afraid you have totally ruined my 15 month old daughter's favourite show. Normally she squeals with delight when she sees her favourite characters and sings along to the mystical music before yogo. Tonight she looked sad and upset to discover the new sarcastic sounding voice over garbling all over her favourite show, then lost interest totally. Please bring back the old format, it was such a sweet programme but Dave Lamb is totally unsuitable for this role, and i just dont think a narrator is needed. Please sort it out, we won't be watching it if it carries on in the same way.

What have you done? I'm so incensed you've ruined this adorable programme that I've registered here to post comments on a TV programme, something I've never done before, let alone a children's TV programme!



The narrator is too loud, sounds sarcastic and is totally unnecessary. This used to be my 19 month old's favourite programme to wind down to before bed, he's watched it for a long time. He wasn't at all interested tonight!



Do you think our children and us parents are stupid? We don't need someone telling us what's going on, this programme is aimed at young children before going to bed, I always sit with my son to watch it and provide my own comments where I feel it's appropriate and will add to his understanding.



I'm sorry to rant but you've ruined it, I think the format is now too short, it was a little long before but somewhere in-between would have been better.



PLEASE PLEASE listen to everyone here and change it back!!!!

I was just bemused at Waybuloo this evening - what has happened to it? I first thought you were repeating old episodes but now I find you've just added a narrator. Why? Waybuloo was lovely and calming, the yogo brought a new element to a lovely little show - learning and exercise and being kind and nice to each other. Unfortunately, with Dave Lamb's narration, no offence to him, that really was the wrong decision. Waybuloo is no longer the calm, sweet program it once was and feels quite abrasive and definitely not 'bedtime'. CBeebies, this household is most disappointed and will have to turn off Waybuloo from now on - it is far too stimulating for bedtime I'm afraid.

DISASTER! I am mystified as to how the producers could ever have thought that shortening the show and adding a narrator could improve the experience of watching Waybuloo. Judging by all the comments above, many others agree. The old style was magical and my 9 month old boy was utterly spellbound by it. Our 6pm ritual was to settle down to enjoy Waybuloo before bedtime but not any more, my little boy usually loves the show but not today. No more squeals of delight and ear-to-ear grinning, he just switched off...and so did I. The soft and cheerful music that so captivated him is hidden by the dreadful narration. So unnecessary. Such a shame. We won't be watching any more.