JoJo & Gran Gran
First British animated series centering a Black British family.
JoJo & Gran Gran is a British children's animated television programme made by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions for CBeebies. It draws on characters from Laura Henry-Allain's semi-autobiographical picture book *Jo-Jo and Gran-Gran, All in a Week*, with Ros Attille adapting the series for television and Tom Cousins serving as producer. The show first aired in the UK on 16 March 2020 and holds the distinction of being the first British animated series to feature a Black British family as its central focus.
The series blends animation with live-action segments, following four-year-old JoJo and her Saint Lucian-born grandmother, Gran Gran. Each episode encourages pre-school viewers to try the activities shown. JoJo is a curious four-and-a-half-year-old living in London; Gran Gran cares for her while her parents work, teaching her about cooking, friendship, and her Saint Lucian heritage. Live-action interviews with real children accompany the animated stories, where kids discuss the episode's topic and then perform a related activity, like cooking or painting.
The voice cast includes Taiya Samuel as JoJo, Cathy Tyson as Gran Gran, Llewella Gideon as Great Gran Gran, Ashley Joseph as Jared, and Teresa Gallagher as Cynthia.
Development began when BBC producer Ros Attille found Henry-Allain's book and saw potential in its characters. Attille created a television concept focused on time, with Gran Gran helping JoJo understand days, months, and the passage of time. After about two years of development, the BBC commissioned it under the working title *It's About Time*. Series producer Tom Cousins then joined, emphasising the JoJo-Gran Gran relationship, everyday family experiences, and learning through play, using the changing seasons to explore time. The team added supporting characters like Jared, Cynthia, and Great-Gran Gran, along with the catchphrase "I've Got a Gran Gran Plan." Stories centred on familiar preschool activities such as park visits, crafts, and family outings, with live-action segments encouraging home recreation.
The mixed-media production was handled by BBC Children's In-House Productions (later BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions). Scripting, casting, voice recording, live-action filming, music, and post-production were done by the BBC team, while A Productions provided animation.
- Field
- Children's television
- Nationality
- British
- Known for
- First British animated series to centre a Black British family
- Premiere date
- 16 March 2020 (UK)
- Network
- CBeebies (UK), Noggin (US, later Tubi)
Lore & Background
JoJo & Gran Gran follows the adventures of four-year-old JoJo and her Saint Lucian-born grandmother Gran Gran through a mixture of animation and live-action segments. The series was developed after BBC producer Ros Attille discovered Laura Henry-Allain's semi-autobiographical picture book and saw potential in the characters. The project spent approximately two years in development before being commissioned by the BBC under the working title It's About Time. Series producer Tom Cousins placed emphasis on the relationship between JoJo and Gran Gran, everyday family experiences, and learning through play, using the changing seasons to explore the passage of time. The production team introduced supporting characters including Jared, Cynthia, and Great-Gran Gran, alongside the recurring catchphrase 'I've Got a Gran Gran Plan'. Animation was provided by A Productions, while scripting, casting, voice recording, live-action filming, music production, and post-production were undertaken by the BBC production team. The High Commission of Saint Lucia and the Saint Lucia tourism authority were consulted for the series.
Reader's Guide
JoJo & Gran Gran received positive critical attention for its relatable depiction of family life, focus on learning through play, and the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Critics highlighted the series' authentic representation of Black British family life and Saint Lucian heritage. Writing in The Guardian, Grace Holliday cited the programme as part of a wider shift towards greater diversity in British children's television, highlighting its depiction of an active Black British grandmother and its rejection of stereotypical portrayals of grandparents. The series won the 2021 Broadcast Award for Best Pre-School Programme and the 2022 Kidscreen Award for Best Mixed-Media Series. Following its launch in March 2020, it became one of CBeebies' most successful new preschool series, receiving more than 14 million requests on BBC iPlayer by November 2020. The BBC subsequently commissioned a further 88 episodes across a second and third series, together with a Saint Lucia 22-minute special, a BBC Sounds audio series, and two games for the CBeebies apps. In the United States, it was released on the Noggin streaming app on 14 June 2021 and later moved to Tubi after the closure of the Noggin app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JoJo & Gran Gran?
It is a British animated children's series produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions for the CBeebies channel. The show follows a four-year-old girl named JoJo and her grandmother, mixing animation with live-action segments to depict their daily life together.
Who created JoJo & Gran Gran?
The series is adapted from Laura Henry-Allain's semi-autobiographical picture book *Jo-Jo and Gran-Gran, All in a Week*. Ros Attille handled the television adaptation, while Tom Cousins served as producer.
Why is JoJo & Gran Gran considered a milestone in British children's TV?
It is recognised as the first British animated series to centre a Black British family as its main focus. That distinction made it a landmark moment for representation on UK children's television.
When and where did JoJo & Gran Gran first air?
The series premiered in the United Kingdom on 16 March 2020 on CBeebies. It later reached American viewers through Noggin and subsequently Tubi.
What is JoJo & Gran Gran about?
The show draws on the real experiences of a Black British family, following four-year-old JoJo and her grandmother through the small, relatable moments of their week together. Each episode blends hand-drawn animation with live-action footage to capture the warmth and humour of their relationship.
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