Children's shows ending on BBC One

21 December 2012 Last updated at 10:32 GMT Horrible Histories has won the best comedy children's Bafta three years in a row Children's television programmes will be broadcast on BBC One for the last time on Friday.

Shows including Blue Peter and Horrible Histories will now only go out on the CBBC digital channel.

The Cbeebies strand on BBC Two in the mornings will finish on 4 January, with pre-school programming then only available on the Cbeebies channel.

The changes are part of BBC-wide cost cutting but investment in children's programming will remain the same.

The final strand of CBBC on BBC One will go out on Friday afternoon, featuring a Blue Peter Christmas special and the CBeebies panto.

'Absolutely fundamental'

The decision to end children's programming on terrestrial channels was agreed by the BBC Trust in March, as the BBC looked ahead to the digital switchover.

All analogue transmitters have now been switched off, which means all television broadcasts are digital, and viewers should be able to receive Freeview channels such as CBBC and Cbeebies.

And because of the way young audiences now consume television, there is unlikely to be a drop in viewing figures.

"Children's programmes are absolutely fundamental to the BBC and that is why we have protected investment in them in the light of cuts elsewhere," said the BBC Trust.

"Only a very small percentage of children still solely watch these programmes on BBC One and BBC Two alone, so moving them to digital channels is merely following current viewing patterns and reflects the fact that CBeebies and CBBC will be universally available on digital TV."

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Children's hospital gifts stolen

18 December 2012 Last updated at 10:48 GMT The presents were stolen from a private area of the hospital Christmas presents for children in an intensive care unit have been stolen from Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Up to 20 wrapped gifts were discovered missing from the world-famous London children's hospital on Monday.

The presents, bought by the hospital charity fund, included DVD players, DVDs and Nintendo DS games consoles.

Insp Neal Anderson said: "To steal presents... for children too sick to be at home with their families at Christmas is beyond belief."

'Generous offers'

The gifts were taken between Friday and Monday from a private part of the hospital, Scotland Yard said.

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I would also urge the thief to try and think about their actions and do the decent thing and return them”

End Quote Insp Neal Anderson Metropolitan Police A number of retailers have offered to replace the stolen presents.

A Great Ormond Street Hospital spokeswoman said: "We have been overwhelmed by generous offers from individuals and companies to replace the missing items.

"These items have now been replaced by a long-term supporter.

"Thank you to everyone who has contacted us for their concern and kindness."

The hospital, which was set up in 1852 and celebrated its 160th anniversary this year, has more than 200,000 patient visits annually.

Its valuable work was highlighted during the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, when many of its young patients and staff took part in a sequence paying tribute to the NHS.

Mr Anderson added: "I would urge anyone who has information about the individual or persons responsible to contact officers so that we can try and get the items back before Christmas Day.

"I would also urge the thief to try and think about their actions and do the decent thing and return them."

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