Cbeebies - Balamory

Balamory: The Television Programme

Balamory contrasts to the diet of puppets and people in skins that has dominated pre school programmes for so long.

It is a drama with human characters who interact with each other and the viewer. Extrovert and colourful the characters may be but there is a strong sense of reality in everything they do which is backed up by the use of real children and real events.

A new story is told every day and reaches its conclusion over the programme's twenty minute duration. With its unique rainbow recap a child can easily follow events whatever their abilities, dipping in and out of the programmes or even testing their own recall as the plot unfolds. Within the narrative are songs to entertain and sing along with, inspirational activities with makes and games and informative events from sailing the high seas to an Indian wedding. Issues from allergies to getting your hair cut and likes and dislikes are addressed and woven into the story lines in an entertaining way.

Filmed in a real island location, Balamory will give the child a strong sense of place. They will quickly learn where everyone lives and have the island’s town mapped out in their head.

Finally when the programme finishes a parent or carer can ask ‘So what was the story in Balamory today’.