MUMBAI: Kay Benbow is the new controller of CBeebies, the BBC‘s pre-school children‘s channel.
Benbow has worked in children‘s television for over 20 years – primarily at the BBC. She is currently CBeebies Production, Animation and Acquisitions head, where she is responsible for leading all in-house production and commissioning acquired programming – bringing in top-rated shows Timmy Time, Chuggington, Wibbly Pig and Driver Dan‘s Story Train.
She will be based in Salford as part of the move of BBC Children‘s to BBC North next year. She says, "I am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to lead the country‘s best-loved pre-school channel. I am passionate about children‘s programming – there can be no better job in the world than helping provide young children with memorable programmes and experiences that will stay with them all their lives."
BBC Children‘s director Joe Godwin says, "I‘m really pleased that Kay will be taking over at such an exciting time, with Strategy Review proposing an additional investment of ?10million in BBC Children‘s. I couldn‘t wish for a better person to lead CBeebies to its new home in Salford and to keep it number one."
Benbow began working in BBC Children‘s in 1988 after beginning her career with BBC World and Domestic Services. After a period in TV presentation, where she managed the live weekday links with Andi Peters and Edd the Duck, she became a producer/director working on shows such as Get Your Own Back and Bodger And Badger.
