Paul Whitehouse and his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir MBE, have co-created That's Jokes, a quick-fire animated sketch show for children that launches on BBC iPlayer and CBBC. Each episode runs just 11 minutes and is designed as an antidote to what the creators describe as “anodyne” children’s educational programmes.
Whitehouse, best known for The Fast Show, said the series is “like an animated short version of The Fast Show for children,” adding that the sketches “are designed to appeal to children from six to 68.”
A Guilt-Free Giggle for Young Viewers
Conkbayir, an early years and child development expert who co-creates and co-produces the show, said the pair wanted to make something “fun and frivolous.” She added: “No grand educational agenda, no worthy life lessons, just proper silly entertainment for children. That said, we do have Billy Burps who imparts a little geographical knowledge as he burps his way around the world, so we’re not entirely irresponsible!”
The CBBC series, produced by Wildseed Studios, features a cast of characters including Posh Pom, a dog modelled on Conkbayir’s own six-year-old Pomeranian. Conkbayir said: “Posh Pom is very calm and well-spoken, until it’s time for food – that’s when his feral beast comes out.”
Characters From Volcanoes to Guinea Pigs
Another character, Guy Reader The Newsreader, was created by Whitehouse and finds himself in life-threatening situations while reporting the news, though he always comes out smiling. Whitehouse explained: “Guy’s a Fast Show character in a way, like Unlucky Alf, because wherever he goes to report on a disaster it happens to him. So if he’s reporting near a volcano, the volcano erupts. But he is an indestructible guy.”
The show also includes Hutch Street, an EastEnders-style drama featuring wig-wearing guinea pigs, and Crabs Can’t Walk Forwards, a running joke about the shortfall of not being able to walk in a straight line – whether queuing for ice cream, walking up the aisle as a bride or jumping off a diving board. Other characters include technophobic pirates, competitive mountains and Blingtastic grandparents who try to outdo each other with the latest sportswear, trainers and gadgets.
Born During Covid to Spread Joy
Whitehouse and Conkbayir, who have a 14-year-old daughter, came up with the idea during Covid because they felt children needed something to make them laugh. Conkbayir said: “Covid took its toll developmentally on children, they were so isolated. Then they all returned to the world of school. They are children and I think it’s important to let them be children, to have fun and a laugh. We just wanted to put a bit of joy into children’s lives. A guilt-free giggle.”
Whitehouse added: “We wanted to do something absolutely daft.”
Conkbayir, who has been diagnosed with ADHD and co-presents the podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not with Whitehouse, said: “That’s Jokes is the product of an out-of-the-box ADHD brain. It’s very surreal and off-the-wall, but there’s a warmth to it as well.”
The 11-minute length is also described by Conkbayir as perfect for young children’s attention span. The couple see the show as a way to encourage new sketch writers, with a writing team that includes Tiernan Douieb, who also writes for CBeebies’ Hey Duggee. Whitehouse said: “Part of the reason for doing it is that sketch shows encourage new writers in a way that other types of comedy don't. It's good to encourage new writing because there are not a lot of places for that.”
That’s Jokes launches on Monday on BBC iPlayer and airs on CBBC the same day at 4.35pm, with repeats on Sundays at 1.05pm. Fifteen episodes launch on Monday, with another 15 episodes arriving in January.
