Cbeebies' Christmas in Storyland Show will be shown on Saturday, December 12 2020
Cbeebies is promising a 'very special' Christmas show for young viewers.
Its annual much-loved festive pantomime - ordinarily filmed in front of a live audience and shown in cinemas across Kent - is often a viewing highlight for captivated youngsters and their festive-frazzled parents.
But in a year like no other, the BBC children's channel is promising a treat like no other and bringing together all of the Cbeebies stars for an extremely memorable Cbeebies Christmas production.
Set in the 'land of storytelling' the storyline will centre around Dillydally a delivery elf who is in a real rush to try and deliver Christmas. But as he struggles with a loaded stocking he soon discovers that it's not the 'things' that make Christmas magical.
Christmas in Storyland will be shown on Saturday, December 12 on the Cbeebies channel and BBC iPlayer.
The popular pantomimes in previous years have brought together children's favourites including Mister Maker, Mr Bloom, Mr Tumble and all of the channel's presenters and this year's production is promising to be no different.
This year's story however will also pay homage to some of the unsung heroes of 2020 with carers, teachers and grandparents all playing a part in the adventure.
But regretfully, says the corporation, Covid19 restrictions mean that there will be no theatre performance where the show is recorded in front of an enthusiastic live audience and weekend cinema screenings have been cancelled too.
Instead the show has been filmed socially distanced in a green screen studio with animation and graphics and for viewers there will instead, says Cbeebies, lots of ways that youngsters watching on television or via the BBC iPlayer will be able to 'join in at home' instead.
Cheryl Taylor, Head of Content for BBC Children’s said: “This has been a tough year for families across the UK and we’re really delighted that we’re still able to deliver our own joyful Christmas gift to our very special audience.
"We know just how much family anticipation surrounds the CBeebies Christmas Show and the magic, joy and musical sparkle of this festive treat accompanies an uplifting story which will have a particular resonance in 2020.”
Families across the country will be encouraged to join in at home on the 12 December by taking part in a mass pyjama party.
A build up show on CBeebies from 9am will get everyone ready for the main event, and families will be able to download song sheets, recipe cards and activities in advance from the CBeebies website, as well as turn themselves into Dilly Dally the Elf by using a bespoke Instagram filter, made just for the show.
