The BBC has announced an array of new multi-platform commissions developed by BBC Children’s In-House Productions, introducing a strong line-up of children’s drama for CBBC and BBC iPlayer.

 

Crackerjack

CBBC and iPlayer​

The 10-part series will revitalise the original show for today’s generation with a mix of mind-blowing magic and silly studio comedy.

The new interactive show aims to retain the heart of the much-loved series by including the return of Double or Drop, a segment where audience members are put head to head to answer a series of questions to win coveted prizes.

Crackerjack will be presented by presenters Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes, best known for hosting Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up.

“It’s the perfect vehicle for our much-loved stars Sam and Mark and promises to usher in a new era of frenetic family fun and whizzbang audience antics,” said Cheryl Taylor, Head of Content for BBC Children’s.

“The format has always been an amazing showcase for talent,” added Helen Bullough, Head of Children’s.

“And a common theme across all of these new commissions for In House, across all the age groups we serve and from writers to on screen performers.”

Crackerjack will kick off weekends next year in 2020.

 

The Demon Headmaster

CBBC and iPlayer​

A reboot of the 1990s iconic children’s drama, the new series will follow the return of the mind controlling Headmaster-turned-Super-Head of an academy school.

Up to no good, the headmaster will be met with resistance from a group of mismatched pupils who discover the antagonist’s evil scheme to take control of their school.

The 10-part series will be adapted from Gillian Cross’s latest novel, Total Control.

 

Get Even

iPlayer​

A co-production between Boat Rocker Studios and BBC iPlayer, Get Even centres on a group of teenagers who form a secret society to conspire against the bullies at their private school, Vandermere.

Kitty, Margot, Bree and Olivia are united by their shared goal to expose bullies and start the DGM, an anonymous group that aims to get even with anonymous pranks.

The 10-part drama takes a sinister turn when one of their targets is found dead with a DGM card left on their person, leading the group to question who knows their anonymity and safety.

The series will be adapted from Gretchen McNeill’s novel of the same name and is targeted at 12 to 15 year-olds.

 

Princess Mirror-Belle

CBBC and iPlayer​

The 13-part drama follows Ellen and her mirror double Mirror-Belle, a magical but mischievous princess from another world.

Based on the Julia Donaldson’s book series of the same name, the series will be filled with chaos and childish antics.

The series will be aimed at five to seven year olds.

The BBC also announced the returning CBBC series for 2019/20 including The Dog Ate My Homework, Classed Dismissed, Can You Kick It, The Worst Witch and Hetty Feather for 2020/21.