'I love everything about writing': Liz Pichon answers YOUR questions
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Scottish Sun
17-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Sky reveals ‘deeply concerning' change to popular kids TV channel
Sky Kids currently has around 150 original titles Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SKY has scrapped plans to make original kids' TV shows — sparking 'deep concern' from experts. UK-based watchdog the Children's Media Foundation (CMF) slammed the move, after Sky confirmed it will stop creating its own content and instead buy in shows from other providers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Pip and Posy was co-commissioned with Channel 5's Milkshake Recent original titles from Sky include Pip & Posy — co-commissioned with Channel 5's Milkshake! — as well as BooSnoo! and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates. Sky Kids, led by Lucy Murphy, currently has around 150 original titles in its catalogue. Although it will honour content still in production, Sky confirmed it has no plans to greenlight any new original children's programming. The broadcaster also warned that some job losses may follow as a result of the strategy change. Jamie Morris, Sky's executive director of content strategy and performance, said: 'With a strong pipeline of new original shows still to come, we now have a rich slate of content that allows us to evolve our strategy. 'In the future, Sky Kids will focus on acquiring third-party content. "While this means reviewing the number of roles required to deliver the next phase of our offer, we remain committed to bringing the very best in children's entertainment to families across the UK.' The decision comes just over two years after Sky made headlines by launching its own children's linear TV channel — a bold move at a time when many other broadcasters were moving away from traditional channels in favour of digital platforms. But the CMF said the change was 'a depressing and short-sighted decision, which will leave UK children less well-served.' Highlighting that only the BBC and Milkshake! remain as major commissioners of factual and entertainment content for children, the organisation said Sky's exit removes 'healthy competition' in the market and urged the broadcaster to think again. Sky TV remotes have hidden trick that saves you so much time Greg Childs, director of the CMF, said: 'This is not the time to give up on great UK content for UK kids. "Just as we are working with government and platforms like YouTube to help children and young people find more personally and socially valuable content on video-sharing platforms. "Sky is walking away from its kids' needed is fresh thinking about deals and partnerships that take their content to where kids are watching, not a knee-jerk cost-cutting spree which will damage their relationship with their customers and certainly diminish the prospects of quality viewing time for children in their country.' Animation UK also hit out at the decision, calling it a 'significant blow' to the animation sector and those behind Sky's well-received original content. Will more kids TV channels vanish? Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun These latest closures don't come as much of a shock with children largely shifting to digital platforms for entertainment thanks to apps like TikTok and YouTube. Some of the POP's other channels have gone digital-only already. And in September 2023 the CITV channel closed down, switching to a new digital-only streamed channel ITVX Kids on the ITVX app. The BBC have been mulling the closure of CBBC's linear channel and making it digital only via iPlayer too. But it's been granted a temporary reprieve for now. Children's TV boss Patricia Hidalgo told the i paper at the end of 2024 that "currently the numbers don't tell us you have to close it yet", adding: "It's really important to us as public service broadcasters that if children still need us on a linear network, we're going to be there for them." It warned that losing a major commissioner like Sky limits creative opportunity and reduces access to culturally relevant UK storytelling. Kate O'Connor, chair of Animation UK, said: 'Sky has played a valuable role in backing original UK animation and children's programming. "Its decision to step away from commissioning is another signal that the children's content sector needs urgent attention. 'Without intervention, we risk losing the UK's ability to tell its own stories to its youngest citizens and to support our world class content creation sector.' The change to Sky Kids follows a wider shake-up across the broadcaster. Earlier this year, Sky shut down its standalone Sky Mix channel and moved some content to its streaming platform NOW, while also cutting several back-office roles as part of a cost-saving restructure. The group has been gradually shifting its focus toward digital-first content and streamlining services under pressure from increased competition and changing viewer habits. The Sun has reached out to Sky for further comment.
Telegraph
19-03-2025
- Telegraph
This feel-good graphic novel will keep children riveted
The author and illustrator Liz Pichon is best known for her Tom Gates books, a series of fictionalised diaries which since 2011 have chronicled the misadventures of an endearing but unruly schoolboy and his long-suffering sister Delia. In the words of Michael Rosen, the series will appeal to anyone who 'likes to wind up their sibling' – and the 24 books have sold 16 million copies. Meet the Mubbles, aimed at readers aged five to seven, is Pichon's first venture into graphic novels, and is in many ways more ambitious. For while the Tom Gates books succeeded in capturing moments of everyday domestic chaos, Meet the Mubbles takes us into the realms of the surreal. The story is set on the Isle of Smile, a seemingly Arcadian landscape, where a community of fantastical creatures called the Mubbles lives in perfect harmony with neighbours who range from Singing Earworms to one-eyed Drib Drabs. When the story begins, the sun is 'UP and shining', and the Mubbles are starting their day 'HAPPY, POSITIVE and in a very UPBEAT way'. But trouble is afoot – evidenced when the Clouds of Joy bump together to make a wonky rainbow, and a series of curious events follows, culminating in the appearance of something looking like a cross between an alien and a 1950s television. The Mubbles are mystified: 'What is it?… A bucket… A hat… A radio…. An ODD BALL.' When, soon afterwards, the colour disappears from the Isle of Smile, leaving the flowers grey and droopy, they fear that the mysterious 'Odd Ball' must be at the root of it. ('The Laughing Leaves aren't laughing any more… The Clouds of Joy are NOT joyful… Everyone feels miserable.') Can the Mubbles and the Slug of Knowledge get to the bottom of what is going on, and programme the Odd Ball to restore colour to their beloved Isle of Smile? Pichon has spoken about how her writing is informed in part by her childhood experience of dyslexia, which for years went undiagnosed. ('It wasn't that I didn't like books. I loved them. I just took longer to read than anyone else.') As with her Tom Gates books, her latest series will be more suited to less confident readers, with the narrative propelled by the author's expressive comic strip illustrations. Much of the text is contained in speech bubbles of fewer than 20 words, meaning that the Mubbles's wisdom tends to be very clearly spelled out. ('Be POSITIVE. Get the jobs done even if it's still grey,' advises the indefatigable Auntie Mubble). But graphic novels are booming in popularity, and this feel-good story, with its gently spun lessons about acceptance and teamwork, is likely to win Pichon another generation of fans.
BBC News
10-03-2025
- BBC News
'I love everything about writing': Liz Pichon answers YOUR questions
Tom Gates author Liz Pichon has a brand new book coming out this March, inspired by part of the Tom Gates The Mubbles is the first title in a four book graphic novel stories will transport readers to the Isle of Smile, an island that runs on sun, wind and flower asked you what questions you had for Liz about her book and her writing and you had loads of suggestions. You can check out some of her answers here!
