Kids
CBeebies gets under-sixes cooking with ‘I Can Cook’
MUMBAI: CBeebies has commissioned Initial, an Endemol Company, to produce a new cookery show, I Can Cook.Aimed to get children under the age of six into the kitchen, the series will celebrate a hands-on approach to cooking and discover the magic of the full cycle of food.
With a selection of specially-tailored simple recipes, cookery tips and the chance to get a bit messy, the children will learn how to grow it, cook it and eat it.
Hosted by newcomer Katy Ashworth, the series is set in a bespoke kitchen studio, specially created for under-sixes.
CBeebies controller Michael Carrington says, “I Can Cook will inspire youngsters (and their moms, dads and carers) to get in the kitchen and get cooking together. The series has a bright, contemporary feel and embraces CBeebies‘ core aim of encouraging young children to learn through play.”
For each programme, Ashworth will welcome five children into the I Can Cook kitchen to create one recipe a day. Together they will explore where ingredients come from and how some foods are made.
There will also be plenty of joining-in songs about washing hands and laying the table as well as action songs for lots of kitchen fun.
Initial executive producer Christopher Pilkington says, “The programme is especially designed to empower children with the gift of cooking. The series will encourage them to get involved and have a go in a fun and entertaining way.”
Transmission of the show is expected to take place later this year.
Kids
Gokuldham Goes English with 3D Series Launch
Hindi version hits 80 million views in six months, English premiere drops 12 Feb on dedicated channel.
MUMBAI: Gokuldham Society just got a bilingual upgrade and it’s speaking fluent fun. Neela Mediatech is rolling out the English version of its hit Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 3D animated series, hot on the heels of the Hindi edition’s runaway digital success.
Launched just six months ago, the Hindi 3D avatar has already racked up over 80 million views, proving that Jethalal’s antics, Bhide’s lectures, and Popatlal’s endless bride hunts translate brilliantly into animation especially for a new generation of young viewers who’ve never caught the live-action show on TV.
The English-language premiere lands on 12 February on the freshly minted Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 3D Animated Series English channel. The move opens Gokuldham’s doors wider to English-speaking families across India and the diaspora, letting non-Hindi speakers dive straight into the neighbourhood chaos without subtitles.
Neela Mediatech founder Asit Kumarr Modi captured the spirit behind the expansion, “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah was created to celebrate togetherness and shared happiness. The response from audiences across India has strengthened our belief in these stories. Presenting the 3D animated series in English allows us to connect with families who may not speak Hindi but relate to the same values and emotions.”
This isn’t a one-off experiment. Neela Mediatech is quietly building a full Gokuldham universe beyond the small screen. TMKOC Rhymes already sings in 12 Indian languages, with more international versions in the pipeline. On the gaming front, TMKOC Play offers 12 interactive titles, headlined by the addictive Gada Electronics Game that keeps kids (and nostalgic adults) tapping away.
From prime-time TV to animated shorts, nursery rhymes, mobile games, and now bilingual streams, Gokuldham has morphed into a multi-platform, multi-language family empire. Whether you grew up laughing at Sodhi’s Sardar jokes or you’re just meeting the gang for the first time, the Society’s doors are officially open in English and the views suggest plenty of people are walking right in.
