Hey Duggee comes to CBeebies
Kate
CBeebies Grown-ups
This Christmas we're welcoming a brand new show to CBeebies. Hey Duggee makes its debut with the festive 'Tinsel Badge' episode, which will be shown for the first time on Wednesday 17th December at 5.25pm. More episodes will follow in the new year, so we asked Jackie, the show's executive producer to tell us a little bit more about Duggee and friends...
Hi Jackie, can you tell us a bit about Hey Duggee and what your role involes?
I’m Jackie Edwards, the Executive Producer for CBeebies Animation and Acquisitions, which is the department that selects and looks after most of the animated series you will see on CBeebies. Hey Duggee is a funny and fantastic new animated series on the channel. It was created by the Oscar-nominated director Grant Orchard, and is made in London by a company called Studio AKA. The series is about a group of young animals who are part of the Squirrel Club, which is a bit like cub scouts or beavers. The leader of the Squirrels is a big brown dog called Duggee. Every day the Squirrels – Roly, Norrie, Betty, Tag and Happy – are all brought to the Squirrel Club by their parents. In every episode they learn something by achieving something – whether it’s baking or just making someone happy. Duggee always rewards the Squirrels with a badge before they are collected by their parents.
Can you tell us a bit about the first episode?
The first episode of Hey Duggee is a lovely Christmassy one. Duggee asks the Squirrels if they want to decorate the tree – of course they do! They also deliver presents to the animals that live nearby – so we get to meet a lot of the Squirrels' friends!
What do you like about Hey Duggee and why did you decide it should be on CBeebies?
Going out into the world, meeting new friends and doing things together will be a familiar theme for our audience, and this programme is a real celebration of that. As well as having adventures with your friends and earning badges in the process, this show is mostly about having fun. Lots and lots of fun! The humour in Hey Duggee appeals to adults and children alike – everyone will want to join the Squirrel Club!
What do you hope children will take from it?
As well as having a giggle at the antics of the Squirrel Club, we’d hope that the programme will be an encouragement toward activity and participation – going and having your own Squirrel adventure!
What’s your favourite thing about the show?
We’re not really supposed to have favourites, but I confess to being rather fond of Roly. He has a lovely enthusiastic and sometimes rather SHOUTY approach to EVERYTHING!!! Adults should also keep an eye out for the grumpy chickens who take a dim view of pretty much everything apart from telenovelas. The naughty mice, Hennie the keep fit ostrich, the ant army and Enid the long suffering cat are always good fun. There is an awful lot for children and grown ups to enjoy in this show!
Visit the Hey Duggee web page
Find out more about our Christmas schedule with the Grown-ups festive highlights planner
Tell us what your little ones think of Hey Duggee on the CBeebies Grown-ups Facebook and Twitter pages.
