Milkshake!

Milkshake!

Logo used since 2017
Network	5 5Star (2006–2011, 2017–2018) 5 (streaming service)
Launched	31 March 1997; 29 years ago (1997-03-31)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Owner	Paramount Networks UK & Australia
Headquarters	London
Sister network	5 5Star 5USA 5Drama 5Action
Original language	English
Official website	www.milkshake.tv

Milkshake! (stylised as milkshake!) is a British children's television programming block on Channel 5. Originally launched in 1997, it is currently aimed at children aged 2 to 7 and typically broadcasts from early morning till late morning.

The block features a mix of original UK series and imported shows, primarily from Australia, Canada, and the United States. Over the years, Milkshake! has included popular programmes such as Peppa Pig, Thomas & Friends, and Fireman Sam.

It has been produced by various entities, including Channel 5 and, formerly, the BBC and Fremantle. The block continues to be a key part of Channel 5’s children’s programming.

History

Milkshake! originally launched on Channel 5 in 1997, originally airing for an hour and a half every day. The block currently broadcasts on weekdays from 05:40 am to 09:15 am and weekends from 5:40 am to 9:55 am (9:50 am on Sundays). It features programmes and content intended for young children, and features continuity links led by a team of presenters.

While the block has always focused on the pre-school market, programmes for older children had also aired for a time before being split off into a standalone block called Shake!, which, in its time, ran on weekends after Milkshake!. The block was discontinued in May 2007 but was briefly revived in 2009.

On 16 October 2006, with the launch of Five Life, Milkshake! began broadcasting on the then-new digital channel, airing from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm. By the time the channel rebranded as 5* (later 5Star), the channel reduced its broadcast hours and removed the Milkshake! block, although it did briefly return for a short time in 2017 as part of the branding refresh.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2008, Channel 5 announced plans to launch a stand-alone Milkshake! digital network; however, these plans did not come to fruition.

Following Viacom's acquisition of Channel 5 in 2014, the block became the free-TV home for Nick Jr. programmes including Paw Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Shimmer and Shine.^{[citation needed]}

On 6 July 2017, Channel 5 announced a rebranding of Milkshake! that launched on 24 July, including updated branding, a new studio, new shows, new presenters, and the launch of a YouTube channel that would feature digital content related to the block.

In March 2025, a Milkshake! branded FAST channel was added to the 5 streaming service. This FAST channel would later launch on Freely in July 2026.

Programming

Notable presenters

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. The longest-serving presenter is Kemi Majeks, who has presented the block for over 26 years. Relief and freelance presenters have also anchored Milkshake! continuity links, including presenter Ellie Harrison and deaf presenter Gary Evans. After Beth Evans & Naomi Wilkinson left in 2010, they continued to do British Sign Language interpretation for the other hosts until August 2011. Evans made 1 more appearance in a pre-recorded "Handshake" segment on the Milkshake! website in 2012.

List of presenters

References

External links

• Official website