BBC warned it is not doing enough for its audience of children

The Trust has carried out a review of children’s services, including the dedicated TV channels CBeebies and CBBC.

Dedicated children’s content was taken off BBC1 and BBC2 in January and only broadcast on digital channels CBeebies, for children aged six and under, and CBBC, which is aimed at six to 12-year-olds.

But the Trust’s report said that 2.1 million children, aged four to 12, still watch BBC1 and BBC2 every week but do not watch CBeebies or CBBC.

The Trust said: “We would like to see more concerted action taken by other BBC TV, radio and online services to consider children as an audience for mainstream output and to continue to seek opportunities to include relevant BBC Children’s output as part of their offer.”

It added: “The Trust will consider children as an audience when we are reviewing BBC television and radio services.”

Both CBeebies and CBBC shut down at 7pm, but the Trust suggested that, with 4.5 million four to 12-year-olds still watching TV after that time every week, some CBBC programmes which would appeal to a mainstream audience should be shown later in the evening on other channels.

In recent years, some CBBC programmes such as Horrible Histories have been shown on BBC1 while CBBC already airs its own versions of BBC1 and BBC2 shows such as MasterChef and The Great British Bake-Off.

The report said that both CBeebies and CBBC were much-loved by parents and children but that older children were less inclined to watch.