Sesame Street returns to UK broadcast

Sesame Street will begin airing in the UK again on Cartoonito

MIPCOM: A UK broadcaster is set to bring back long-running children’s favourite Sesame Street to UK television after a 15-year break.

Turner-owned preschool channel Cartoonito has agreed a deal with Sesame Workshop in the US for new 30-minute episodes and will launch the iconic series on November 7 before airing it in a daily 16.00 slot.

The new season of Sesame Street features celebrity guests including Gwen Stefani, Pharrell, Nick Jonas, Alan Cumming and Aloe Blacc. The show airs in the US on HBO, with PBS Kids picking up episodes nine months after they are shown on the premium cablenet.

Sesame Street aired on Channel 4 in the UK until 2001, when it was replace by The Hoobs. Since then, Sesame Street characters have appeared in UK shows such as The Furchester Hotel, on CBeebies.

Sean Gorman, programming director for kids’ channels UK and Ireland at Turner, said: “For more than four decades now Sesame Street has been helping children grow smarter, stronger and kinder, and we’re delighted to be driving these engaging and educational messages to our young UK audience in such a fun and entertaining way.”