Kids
CBBC gets children cooking with ‘Junior MasterChef’
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC‘s kids entertainment channel CBBC has commissioned a new series of Junior MasterChef, following the success of the adult version of the cookery talent contest.
The channel is finalising on contestants to take part in the challenge. The series will be broadcast later this year.Based on the MasterChef format and the junior version seen on Children In Need, Junior MasterChef will give some of Britain‘s best young cooks the chance to become the ‘Junior MasterChef‘ 2010.
The competition aims to find and encourage talented young cooks who have a flair for making exceptional food from scratch.
As part of the contest, in each level, children will be challenged to cook a two-course meal (main and pudding) in just one hour. The 13-part series will have eight heats, two quarter-finals, two semis and a final cook-off with the remaining three children.
The competitors will be aged between nine and 12 year-olds who have real passion, enthusiasm and potential.
BBC Children‘s controller Richard Deverell says, “It‘s wonderful to announce this new series following the success of the special ‘Children in Need‘ episode.”
“We hope to inspire children round the country to get cooking in what promises to be an aspirational, fun and enjoyable cooking competition,” he adds.
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
