BBC goes back through the square window

The Opposition leader suggested the party would reform the system (PA) (PA Wire)

Play School is to be revived by the BBC after two decades off screen. But this time it will have a Hindi name.

The famous round, arched and square windows that were an unforgettable part of a generation's childhood will be restored in a new programme called Tikkabilla, which is a Hindi version of hopscotch.

Millions of children were raised on the daily game of guessing through which of the windows the programme would go, until it was axed in 1982. Its return is part of the autumn children's schedules, which represent the largest investment the BBC has made in children's shows.

"We've taken some of the most fantastic elements of Play School," said Nigel Pickard, controller of Children's BBC. Clare Elstow, head of pre-school programmes at the digital station CBeebies, said the return of the windows would also appeal to parents who remembered them the first time round. "It's a classic of its time and if it ain't broke, don't fix it," she said.

"You go through the windows and you have to guess whether it's the round, arched or square window, which goes down very well." The concept of looking through windows was appealing to youngsters and it familiarised them with shapes, she said. The show – to be screened on the pre-school channel CBeebies before appearing on terrestrial television – follows Play School's lead in featuring live actors and furry puppets.

Tikkabilla is part of a £30m investment in new shows for the next three months on BBC1 and BBC2, as well as the two digital stations launched in February, CBBC and CBeebies. Mr Pickard acknowledged that there was "a way to go" in establishing CBBC, which is lagging behind its sister station in terms of audience. The station is aimed at six to 13-year-olds. CBBC has a share of about 1.5 per cent of viewing in digital homes, while CBeebies has roughly 6.5 per cent.

* A report commissioned by the Government has questioned the value of News 24, the BBC's digital rolling news channel. The report by Richard Lambert, a former editor of the Financial Times, criticises the BBC for failing to set clear value-for-money targets for News 24. Last year, the channel had a share of just 0.1 per cent of viewers.