The block debuted on Channel 5's first full day on air, at 7.30 am on 31 March 1997 and is broadcast on weekdays from 06:00 to 09:15 and weekends from 06:00 to 10:00. The block has a number of presenters and features a range of children's programming.
Programmes for older children also aired from 1997–2002 and again from 2007–2016 on spin-off block Shake!, which, in its time, ran on weekends after Milkshake!.[1][2]
On 6 July 2017, Channel 5 announced a rebranding of Milkshake! that launched on 24 July, including updated branding, a new studio, and the launch of a YouTube channel that would feature digital content related to the block.[3]
TV channel
In November 2008, Channel 5 had been set to launch a new children's channel based on its pre-school programming block. This was a response to the BBC launching the CBBC channel and CBeebies in 2002 and ITV launching the CITV channel in 2006,[4] but plans to launch a standalone preschool channel were put on hold indefinitely while the broadcaster awaited a buyer.[citation needed]
Milkshake! on 5Star
When Five Life launched in 2006, Milkshake! was shown on the channel between 09:00 and 13:00 each day. By April 2011, the channel had reduced its broadcast hours and the block was replaced by teleshopping. On 21 August 2017, Milkshake! relaunched on 5Star, where it aired from 09:15 to 11:00, before a second removal in 2018.
In-vision continuity presenters have been utilised by Milkshake! since the show began on 31 March 1997. The original presenters were Lucy Alexander and Konnie Huq. Huq was replaced by former Nickelodeon presenter Eddie Mathews when she left the show to join the BBC as a Blue Peter presenter.
List of presenters
Current presenters
The year in brackets denotes when the presenter began presenting Milkshake! Presenters would often refer to the viewers as "Milkshakers" or in the first few years, "Milkyshakers"
Relief and freelance presenters have also anchored Milkshake! continuity links, including presenter Ellie Harrison and deaf presenter Gary Evans. The longest serving presenter is Kemi Majeks, who has presented the block for 24 years.
After Beth Evans & Naomi Wilkinson left in 2010, they did British sign language for the rest up until August 2011, while Beth reappeared one more time for a pre-recorded "Handshake" segment on the Milkshake! website back in 2012.
^"Slugterra premieres on Channel 5". Toy World Magazine | The business magazine with a passion for toys. 15 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
