Sky Kids lines up celeb-inspired toon Paris & Pups, adds gaming content

Paris & Pups was inspired by celebrity Paris Hilton

Sky Kids has picked up Paris & Pups, an animated children’s series inspired by celebrity Paris Hilton, following the UK pay channel’s shift away from original commissioning to focus on third-party acquisitions.

Produced by 11:11 Media, HappyNest Entertainment and 9 Story Media Group, Paris & Pups follows 12-year-old Paris Star and her five pups as they embark on adventures from their luxurious penthouse home.

The deal comes a year after Sky Kids controversially announced plans to stop commissioning new children’s content to focus solely on third-party acquisitions.

However, the Sky Kids slate does include the return of Bafta-winning factual series Sky Kids Investigates, which explores the stories and issues relating to young people and is made with Sky News.

Upcoming subjects for the show include the recently announced children’s social media ban, alongside another currently in production exploring the influence of toxic masculinity on boys as they grow up.

Ad-free Sky Kids is also expanding its offering into curated gaming content through a new package from US-based platform Tankee, featuring safe, curated and family-friendly Minecraft and Roblox walkthroughs.

Elsewhere, acquisitions such as My Friend Maisy, The Wiggles: Ready, Steady, Wiggle! and Miffy & Friends will all return with new episodes. Later in the year, calming sensory series BooSnoo!, which follows a little red ball on imaginative journeys, will also return, alongside Pip & Posy’s Christmas Countdown, a festive special from Magic Light Productions.

All content will also be available on Sky’s streaming service Now.

Ian France, head of content at Sky Kids, who is speaking at The Children’s Media Conference in the UK city of Sheffield this week, said the channel’s line-up now blends “global names, trusted favourites and meaningful storytelling.”

France added: “With over 150 original titles in our catalogue, a wonderful variety of acquired content and more launches still to come, we have a strong pipeline of content for young audiences, while continuing to play a role in supporting the wider children’s media industry. From new shows to expanded gaming content, this slate underlines our commitment to offering a rich, safe and engaging space for kids and families.”