Paul Whitehouse to release ‘proper silly’ TV show for children
Paul Whitehouse to release ‘proper silly’ TV show for children
Telegraph reportersSat, November 7, 2026 at 1:43 PM UTC
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Paul Whitehouse and his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir, are set to launch a new animated sketch show for children - PA/Ian West
Comedian Paul Whitehouse is to release a new animated sketch show for children that is “just proper silly entertainment”.
The 68-year-old, who is known for live-action sketch shows such as The Fast Show and Harry And Paul, will launch That’s Jokes with his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir, on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on Monday.
The couple also present the podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not together.
Whitehouse said: “That’s Jokes is the product of an out-of-the-box ADHD brain. It’s very surreal and off-the-wall, but there’s a warmth to it as well.”
Dr Conkbayir added: “Paul and I wanted to make something that was fun and frivolous. No grand educational agenda, no worthy life lessons, just proper silly entertainment for children.
“That said, we do have Billy Burps who imparts a little geographical knowledge as he burps his way around the world, so we’re not entirely irresponsible.”
The new show That’s Jokes will feature short sketches, including one based on the couple’s six-year-old Pomeranian dog - That's Jokes/BBC
Each episode will last 11 minutes, which is perfect for young children’s attention spans, according to Dr Conkbayir, who is an early-years and child development expert.
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Whitehouse added: “It’s like an animated short version of The Fast Show for children. They are designed to appeal to children from six to 68.”
The couple, who have a 14-year-old daughter, came up with the idea during the Covid-19 pandemic, with sketches including an EastEnders-style soap called Hutch Street that features guinea pigs, and Crabs Can’t Walk Forwards, which plays on the issues of not being able to walk forwards.
Each episode will last 11 minutes and feature sketches like Crabs Can’t Walk Forwards, which plays on the idea of not being able to walk forward. - That's Jokes/BBC
Other sketches include Posh Pom, which is based on the couple’s six-year-old Pomeranian dog, Guy Reader The Newsreader, who finds himself in dangerous situations while reading the news, and Felicity The Fly, an insect actress with a wind problem.
Dr Conkbayir said: “Covid took its toll developmentally on children, they were so isolated. Then they all returned to the world of school.”
Guy Reader The Newsreader is a sketch from That’s Jokes of a newsreader who finds himself in dangerous situations - That's Jokes/BBC
She added: “They are children and I think it’s important to let them be children, to have fun and a laugh. We just wanted to put a bit of joy into children’s lives. A guilt-free giggle.”
Whitehouse added: “We wanted to do something absolutely daft.”
That’s Jokes will air on CBBC at 4.35pm on Monday, with repeats on Sundays at 1.05pm, and will be available to stream on iPlayer.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
