Special episode, in partnership with National Autistic Society, celebrates World Autism Awareness Day.
On March 30, Hoopla Animation’s popular 2D animated series, Daisy & Ollie, comes to its new home on Channel 5’s preschool block Milkshake! With 13 brand-new episodes (26x7’) the show continues its mission to encourage young children to be curious and question the world around them. Episodes touch on topics such as “What’s a Litterbug?,” “How Do Bats See In The Dark?,” “How Do You Make Magic?,” “What’s The Point In Playing Games If You Don’t Win?,” and “What Makes The Perfect Play Date?.”
Based on an original idea by Helen Brown and created by Hoopla, the show features music and songs from Daisy’s Daddy, a musician, who’s a bit of joker and plays an active role in introducing the children to new experiences. Writer, comedian and executive producer Jason Manford voices Daisy’s Daddy and Whizzy the Robot. The series follows best friends Daisy (voiced by Sarah Hadland) and Ollie (voiced by Claire Morgan) and their toy friends Whizzy the Robot and Boo the Monkey as they seek out the answers to questions that many parents face each day.
The new episodes encourage more discovery and role play at home, covering milestone events preschoolers face such as a trip to the doctor, opticians, dentist, cinema, zoo, aquarium, and vet, helping parents navigate all these stages. Daisy and Ollie also learn how to build the perfect sandcastle, practice fire safety in the home, run a fun run, and create their own band, making the series educational, fun and engaging for the whole family.
“I am absolutely over the moon that Daisy & Ollie is coming to Milkshake! with a brand-new series,” Shared Manford. “The show is such a pleasure to work on, especially as a parent myself, we all have brilliant fun figuring out the answers to life’s biggest questions and the new set of episodes are bound to keep the whole family entertained.”
“We are delighted to welcome Daisy & Ollie to Milkshake!,” added ViacomCBS Networks International VP, programming kids UK & Ireland, Louise Bucknole. “The show perfectly reflects the UK preschool audience, their questioning of the world and the family and diverse community they live in. We love that it balances positive, educational life lessons through comedy and fun.”
New episodes explore more complex subjects for preschoolers such as difference, worry, confidence and competitiveness as well as autism. On April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, a special episode will air, “How Do I Make Friends with Theo?.” Created collaboration with the National Autistic Society (NAS) it features celebrity guest stars, Top Gear presenter Paddy McGuinness and NAS ambassador and TV Star, Christine McGuinness, as the voices of Theo’s parents.
Theo is Daisy’s cousin, who is reluctant to make friends with Ollie, but the family soon helps him understand that Theo is autistic, meaning he sees and understands the world a little differently.
“It was amazing for Paddy and I to be asked by Jason Manford to be part of this very special autism themed episode of Daisy & Ollie and introducing the new character, Theo. As parents to three autistic children, we know how important it is for other children and families to understand autism, so voicing Theo’s parents in the show was a wonderful opportunity for us to share this important message. We will continue to spread awareness and help change society for our superstars and autistic people and their families,” commented Mc Guinness. “From voice recording to being part of the character design, the whole process has been a brilliant experience and I can’t wait to watch it with the whole family on World Autism Awareness Day.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Paddy and Christine McGuinness guest starring in this very special episode produced in partnership with the National Autistic Society, which helps to explain autism, celebrate difference and promote understanding to a younger audience,” added Brown. “Preschoolers absorb so much from the world around them in their early years and I hope that this brand new series of Daisy & Ollie, which is filled with fun and engaging questions, educational themes and fun stories, will inspire and encourage children to be even more inquisitive in the world around them."
Watch new Daisy & Ollie episodes on Channel 5’s Milkshake! and on My5 catch up service from March 30.
Source: Hoopla Animation
