Kay Benbow has been tapped to take on the role of controller for UK preschool channel CBeebies, filling the position left by Michael Carrington, who departed the Beeb at the end of February to join Turner Broadcasting as its new chief content officer for EMEA.

Benbow is headed to Salford as part of BBC Children’s move to BBC North next year.

Benbow has been head of CBeebies production, animation and acquisitions since 2006, where she has led all in-house production and commissioning acquired programming, bringing in top-rated shows Timmy Time, Chuggington, Wibbly Pi and Driver Dan’s Story Train. In her current role, she has been responsible for building an integrated, multi-platform CBeebies community which spans TV, online, radio and acquisitions.

Benbow career in children’s television spans more than 20 years, primarily at the BBC. She was instrumental in building the preschool department when CBeebies launched, in particular by developing hit show Tikkabilla and bringing in key on-screen talent, Justin Fletcher. She has been executive producer on a wide range of in-house and independent shows, including Something Special, In The Night Garden, Numberjacks and the soon-to-be-launched ZingZillas.