CBeebies has acquired Activate, a new animated series of short, high-energy workouts for kids featuring fitness coach, Joe Wicks.
Created in partnership with BAFTA-winning Studio AKA, the team behind Hey Duggee, Activate features Joe as an animated character alongside six vibrant new friends – the Activators – who guide children through five-minute bursts of movement designed to boost physical and mental wellbeing.
The series is backed by government funding as part of the Plan for Change, a national initiative to give children the best start in life and tackle rising levels of inactivity and obesity. With upbeat tracks from UK artists like Becky Hill and Bastille, provided by Universal Music UK, each episode is designed to be engaging for kids and enjoyable for parents too.
Joe Wicks says: “Being on CBeebies is a dream come true. Activate is all about making movement fun, accessible and part of everyday life – whether it’s in the living room, the classroom or the garden. There is nothing more important to me than helping kids build healthy habits early, and the response to Activate since we launched it has been absolutely incredible. I’m so excited that the series is now going to reach more kids and families than ever on a platform they know and love!”
Kate Morton, Senior Head of Commissioning for CBeebies says: “We know getting pre-schoolers active support boosts their overall health and contributes to their understanding of world around them and is helpful for parents and carers too. So, who better to get our young CBeebies audience moving than the nation’s favourite PE teacher.”
Sue Goffe, CEO, Studio AKA, says: “We’re thrilled to announce CBeebies as our UK broadcast partner for ‘Activate with Joe Wicks’. Collaborating with Joe has been a joy, and we’re proud to be part of an animated project that inspires movement and wellbeing in children. We have lots of great episodes to share including ‘Extra stretchy’ and a ‘Smashbuckle’ challenge, and we look forward to working with the team at BBC C&E to help bring this fun fitness mission to children and families across the country on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer.”
Now available on CBeebies and Joe Wicks’ The Body Coach YouTube channel, Activate will continue to roll out new episodes throughout the year – including in schools during term time.
Activate is produced by Studio AKA and features Joe Wicks as an animated character for the first time, alongside six new characters known as the Activators. An acquired commission for CBeebies, each episode offers a playful, gamified workout experience with simple exercises like jogging, squats and burpees, designed to fit into busy family routines and school days.
Jon Creamer
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