Comedian Paul Whitehouse and his wife Dr Mine Conkbayir are set to launch a new animated sketch show for children titled That's Jokes, which will premiere on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on Monday.
The 68-year-old, known for live-action sketch shows such as The Fast Show and Harry And Paul, created the series with Dr Conkbayir, an early years and child development expert. The couple also co-host the podcast I'm ADHD! No You're Not Together.
A Surreal and Warm Creation
Whitehouse described the show's style, saying: "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."
Dr Conkbayir explained their intention: "Paul and I wanted to make something that was fun and frivolous. No grand educational agenda, no worthy life lessons, just proper silly entertainment for children."
She added: "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."
Designed for Young Attention Spans
Each episode lasts 11 minutes, which Dr Conkbayir said is perfect for young children's attention span. Whitehouse compared the format to a condensed version of his earlier work.
"It's like an animated short version of The Fast Show for children," he said. "They are designed to appeal to children from six to 68."
The couple, who have a 14-year-old daughter, developed the idea during the Covid pandemic. Sketches include Hutch Street, an EastEnders-style soap featuring guinea pigs, and Crabs Can't Walk Forwards, which plays on the challenges of not being able to walk forwards.
Inspiration from Family Life
Other sketches draw on personal experiences. Posh Pom is based on the couple's six-year-old Pomeranian dog, while Guy Reader The Newsreader places a newsreader in dangerous situations, and Felicity The Fly is an insect actress with a wind problem.
Reflecting on the pandemic's impact, Dr Conkbayir said: "Covid took its toll developmentally on children, they were so isolated. Then they all returned to the world of school."
She continued: "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."
That's Jokes will air on CBBC at 4.35pm on Monday, with repeats on Sundays at 1.05pm, and will be available to stream on iPlayer.
