TWO Chagford Primary School pupils are taking a major part in the production of a new children's TV show.
Ely Todd-Jones and her friend Wilf Allison, both seven, are the principal characters in two episodes of the new Nick Jnr TV Show, 'What's Your News?'
The show combines animated characters with real life and children are interviewed by ants about how they deal with the things that happen in their lives, like learning to ride a bike or sleeping in a tent.
Headteacher from Chagford Primary School, Justin Stone, said the day's filming gave the children an opportunity to learn more about the media industry:
'It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to actually see the making of a television programme and they really enjoyed seeing how it was all put together,' he said.
The children watched the episodes in the morning before being shown how they were made.
Mr Stone said: 'They were absolutely fascinated. Children don't usually have a very long concentration span, but they were really engaged with the whole process.'
Mr Stone said the rare opportunity to be involved in filming at such a young age would stand the children in good stead as they were growing up.
'Chagford Primary School is very much about a broad balanced curriculum.
'It might be that later on in life some of the children take the skills they learnt during the filming session and put them to good use in their chosen careers,' said Mr Stone, who said Chagford Primary School tried to provide opportunities for the children. We want to kick start their imagination and enthusiasm so that they actually want to learn. That is what it is all about.'
Performer and TV producer William Todd-Jones, who lives in Chagford, said: 'The show is written as a voice for children and their news.'
Mr Todd-Jones said: 'My daughter Ely and her friend Wilf helped with the test shoot. When it came to filming the actual series they each starred in an episode, Ely in "Sleepover" and Wilf in "Jam Sandwich".'
Mr Todd-Jones said filming was hard work but the children were excited to be involved.
'They really liked the completed episodes and thought the ant reporters and newsroom were funny.'
The series will start showing on Monday January 12 at 7.30am and repeated at 4pm on The Nick Jnr Channel.