The team behind Children’s BBC’s MediaCity-based live presentation links have been reminiscing on social media after they filmed their last-ever links over the weekend.
Live presentation on Children’s BBC dates back to its inception on 9 September 1985, and the live links relocated to MediaCity following BBC Children’s 2011 move there. On Friday 28 March 2025, CBBC aired its final live presentation link.
The BBC will no longer be producing presentation links for CBBC and CBeebies, and instead the links will be produced by Manchester indie Three Arrows Media, which is already known for producing Andy and the Band for CBBC and Treasure Champs and The Baby/Toddler Club for CBeebies.
The final live link from the iconic “broom cupboard,”, which over the years has hosted the likes of Philip Schofield, Sarah Greene, Ed the Duck and Andi Crane, also doubled up a celebration of Wigan’s most famous canine, Hacker T Dog’s 15th birthday:
In 2022, the BBC’s Kids & Family division moved into BBC Studios Productions. Last year, we revealed 11 jobs at the BBC Children’s & Education department were affected following a consultation, however a source has told Prolific North that figure is closer to 20 staff affected.
It followed a consultation at the department’s Media City base after a decision was made to outsource the presentation links between shows on the popular kids channel. At the time, the BBC said production on the CBeebies presentation links, including the famous Bedtime Stories, will remain the same.
BBC assistant commissioner, Michael Gibson, said on LinkedIn: “A momentous occasion yesterday, the last ever LIVE CBBC Presentation link! John Harkins producing, Graeme Malcolm directing, Katie Steele PA, Jo Richards Vision Mixer, Rishi Issar and Robert Carnegie on camera, NAT lighting, Simon on Sound! Megan the runner, Ryan Deering FM! All the presenters, makeup, props, PC’s, runners, researchers, APs, pa’s crew from dock 10 and producers; it’s been a pleasure! Enjoy the gallery view of the last link!”
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Camera operator Rishi Issar added: “An emotional day as we filmed the last ever LIVE cbbc link. It’s a production team and crew I have worked with for many years. It’s never been a dull day and always packed with laughs. Good luck to all the team in their new ventures! We’ve had a great time and have some wonderful memories.”
Sound supervisor Simon Burgess, who has worked at BBC Children’s for nine years, said: “It was a great privilege to do the last live CBBC presentation link yesterday.
“The biggest laughs at work you could ever wish for. A lovely production team to work with over the years and I will miss everybody as they move on to new ventures.
“Hanging out with puppets is one of the most enjoyable ways of spending a day.
“The facilities for CBBC and CBeebies studios has been taken care of by dock10 since it moved to MediaCity and I am grateful for the opportunity they have afforded me to join the regular rotation of Soundies.
“Good luck to THREE ARROWS MEDIA LTD as the torch is passed over to them to continue producing CBBC and CBeebies content.”
The BBC were approached for comment.
