CBeebies, BBCS prep more Yakka Dee!

Saanvi Patel with Dee, the animated chartacter she voices

BBC Studios is on board a third season of Yakka Dee!, the CBeebies show about words which begins its second season next week.

The preschool series encourages children to talk and, according to the producers, has been well received by parents who claim the show has helped their children speak for the first time.

As well as BBC Studios (fka BBC Worldwide), the show is partly produced by King Banana, led by producer Katie Simmons.

The show features a mix of animation, designed by animator Chris Allen, and live-action. BBC Studios has invested in season two, which debuts on January 7, and S3, which is due to air later this year.

The producers said they have ensured there is diverse talent in front of and behind the camera on Yakka Dee!, while many of the people working on the live-action elements are parents returning to work on a flexible basis.

“Television can be a hard place for new parents, so we try to buck that trend and create a working environment that helps parents return to work,” said Simmons.

There was a UK-wide search to find the voice of the lead character, Dee, with six-year-old Saanvi Patel securing the role. The series began airing on CBeebies last year.

King Banana added that the show has been especially popular with children with special needs, with some parents claiming that Yakka Dee! has succeeded where professional help from speech and language specialists had failed.

“We did our research and worked closely with a speech and language advisor so we knew the methodology behind the show was sound. We thought the show would be a help for all children but the response from within the special needs community has really blown us away,” said Lotte Elwell, one of the creators and series producers.