A trio of well-known literary characters are getting their own TV series on CBeebies this autumn.
Biff, Chip and Kipper are hitting the silver screen.
Based on the beloved characters from The Magic Key book series that so many of us grew up reading in primary school, CBeebies’ new show ‘Biff & Chip’ will tell the fun adventures of twins Biff (Tilly Kaye) and Chip (George Robinson), alongside their inquisitive little brother Kipper (Freddie James), and pet dog Floppy.
CBeebies revealed a first-look image of its live action series on social media this week, and it successfully grabbed the attention of thousands of Brits who’ve seemingly been transported back to the classroom.
The Magic Key books have been a mainstay of the National Curriculum, helping children learn how to read for more than 30 years.
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The books are said to be used in around 80% of Britain’s primary schools.
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According to the BBC, ‘Biff & Chip’ will take inspiration from the famous books, but is set to include storylines written exclusively for the show and will see characters making up games, solving problems, creating make-believe worlds in their homes, playing in the park and having fun with their best friends Wilf (Inathi Rozani) and Wilma Page (Dorothy Peters-Lowe).
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The series will also star actors Jack Wilkinson and Kellie Shirley as Biff, Chip and Kipper’s parents – Mr & Mrs Robinson.
Melanie Walters – who is best known for playing Gwen in BBC sitcom, Gavin and Stacey – has also joined the cast as Gran, described as “fun-loving, energetic and at times mischievous”.
The Magic Key books are said to be used in around 80% of Britain’s primary schools / Credit: Oxford Reading Tree
And if all that wasn’t exciting enough as it is, a lot of the show has apparently also been shot right on our doorsteps in Greater Manchester and the North West.
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Filming took place at various locations across Warrington and Urmston in Trafford.
Although no exact air date has been confirmed, Biff & Chip is set to hit screens on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer this autumn.
Featured Image – BBC / Gideon Marshall
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Boyzone to reunite for exclusive New Year’s Eve special on the BBC
Danny Jones
2025 has very much been the year of the comeback – be it Oasis, Britpop fashion in general, or short bobs and pixie cuts – so it’s only fitting that we round off the calendar with one last reunion, as throwback boyband Boyzone are set to feature on a TV special on the BBC this New Year’s Eve.
Turns out ‘All That I Need’ to make a year memorable is a load of 1990s nostalgia.
Now, obviously, despite plenty of other music names enjoying a second renaissance over the past 12 months or so, nothing is ever going to be quite as big as the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour.
However, if you asked us to guess which group from the era were also going to reunite this year back in January, there’s not a chance we would’ve said Boyzone.
Boyzone are telling us about coming back together for one final run in their most unforgettable concerts yet 🎤
After news first began circulating earlier this week, it has now been confirmed that musician turned presenter Ronan Keating will be getting back together with two of his former bandmates.
Joining the 48-year-old for ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’, ex-Boyzone members Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch are part of an exciting live music lineup.
Other names include actor and singer, Shona McGarty, who recently starred on season 25 of I’m A Celeb, as well as fellow 90s pop artist Louise Redknapp and singer-songwriter Calum Scott.
The exclusive reunion comes after the success of the recently aired Boyzone: No Matter What documentary show.
Spread across three parts on Sky, the docuseries (named after their hit song from 1998) looks back on the career and journey up the charts back in their heyday, all the way up to the present. After seemingly striking a chord with fans and the lads themselves, it looks like they’re not done after all…
Yes, not only is the festive TV special going to see three of the original members performing alongside each other again, but
Here’s hoping that turns into a springboard for something even bigger, and we get a Manchester arena show sometime soon.
As for the programme itself, ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’ will be broadcast on BBC One and made available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday, 31 December 2025.
One in 10 Brits are fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party, new survey finds
Emily Sergeant
We’re in peak office Christmas party season right now.
With just a week to go until the big day itself is here, many businesses across the UK are treating their staff to night out to celebrate both the festive season and all of the hard work they have been putting in throughout the year… and as you can expect, these are usually quite eventful gatherings, shall we say.
But now, a survey by has shed light on just how ‘eventful’ they actually are, as a new survey has revealed that, apparently, one in ten Brits face some sort of disciplinary action or dismissal due to their behaviour at Christmas parties.
The study was conducted by After Drink, and included more than 2,000 participants.
During the research, it was highlighted that 89% of employees admitted to drinking alcohol at these events, Lad Bible reports – with 65% of these confessing that they drank “excessively”.
One in 10 Brits get fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party / Credit: Kraken Images | Mimi Thian (via Unsplash)
There are a multitude of incidents which could lead to disciplinary action in the workplace nowadays, but according to the survey, some of the common reasons following festive celebrations with colleagues included inappropriate comments (23%) and even getting into fights (21%).
16% of these incidents were because of drug use during the event, while inappropriate interactions with colleagues accounted for 14%.
Some of the legal reasons you can be fired from your place of work after a Christmas party include gross misconduct, drunken behaviour, and fighting of any kind.
Despite all these risks, however, Christmas parties still remain as popular as always, and a whopping 79% of respondents said they are planning to attend theirs this year.
Emily Sergeant -
16th June 2021 
