Moon & Me: The New Kids’ Show that Might Stop Fourth‑Grade Wall‑Climbers
BBC bosses say that Andrew Davenport, the man who first brought the Teletubbies to life, has cooked up a brand‑new pre‑school adventure that will keep toddlers comfy in their cribs instead of scaling the kitchen cabinets.
Meet the Genius Behind the Maquette
Andrew Davenport is no stranger to the green‑and‑yellow world. He’s written the brooding ballad In the Night Garden and built the silly, sock‑shoe characters of Teletubbies. As the “J.K. Rowling of the under‑fives,” he now announces his latest puppet/stop‑motion hybrid, Moon & Me.
Why the BBC is Buzzing
BBC’s CBeebies unit sees Moon & Me as the perfect “Bedtime Hour” anchor. With soothing songs and gentle storytelling, the series promises to “guaranteed to stop children climbing the walls.”
Commissioning editor Michael Towner, while watching the first work‑in‑progress episode over video from Andrew’s studio in Atlanta, shouted:
“If any of you didn’t have a lump in your throat towards the end of that, you are not human and you shouldn’t be working with children.”
What’s Inside the Toy Houses?
- Peppianna – a doll who comes to life when the moon shines on her toy house.
- Her five best friends: Mr. Onions (who always starts sentences with “onions”), Collywobble, Lilyplant, Lambkin, and the ever‑mysterious Moon Boy.
- Moon Baby – a moon‑lit character who rings the toy house bell and brings magic to life.
The show is a mash‑up of traditional puppetry, stop‑motion, and pop‑culture catch‑phrases like the familiar “Tiddle‑toddle.”
From Rural Georgia to Salford
Andrew moved from London to a quiet rural town in Georgia, USA, to keep his 18‑hour days on track. He described the project as a “toyhouse story for contemporary times.”
Before putting pen to paper, he partnered with Sheffield psychologists to launch a “toyhouse play observation” project. Cameras and microphones were rigged inside a prototype house to watch how real children interacted with toy houses. The data turned into a treasure chest of inspiration for the script.
Production Highlights
- Moon & Me is a 50‑episode series, built over two‑and‑a‑half years.
- The world premiere hit the MIPJunior market in Cannes, France, where Andrew introduced the show via video link from Atlanta.
- Universal Kids in the US will air the series later this year.
- BBC’s budget constraints forced the team to secure outside partners; Andrew’s network pulled that together.
The Emmy‑Waiting, Right-Now Comfort
With a soothing blend of music, storytelling, and hand‑crafted puppets, Moon & Me aims to be the new kids‑quieting anthem. It’s a series that puts a smile on every parent’s face, a lullaby for every child, and, most importantly, a solution to the ever‑present problem of “climbing the walls.”
Stay tuned for more behind‑the‑scenes updates and a chance to witness the magic yourself!
