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Alex Winters and Cerrie Burnell are today named as CBeebies' two new presenters.

Stepping in as hosts of Discover And Do and The Bedtime Hour, Alex and Cerrie join Sid Sloane and Andy Day as the faces of the UK's most loved and most watched channel for the under-sixes.

Their first day will be next Monday (26 January 2009) when they launch their first Discover And Do slot at 9.00am.

Alex and Cerrie replace Chris Jarvis and Pui Fan Lee who are currently creating their new CBeebies show, Show Me Show Me, which will premiere later in the year.

Thirty-two-year-old Alex Winters hails from South Wales. An actor by training, he studied Drama and Theatre Studies with Psychology in Liverpool before working on a range of theatre projects and as a supporting artist in the hit, locally filmed, programmes Torchwood and Doctor Who. He also works as a picture framer, so should be a dab hand at all the "make and do's" the CBeebies' team can throw at him.

Alex said: "We've been doing rehearsals and recording for about two weeks now and it's been amazing fun. My daughter is a huge fan of the channel so it's a bit strange for me to now be introducing her favourite shows and working alongside the likes of Sid and Andy. It's an absolute treat. I'm not sure how she'll react when she sees it's me on the telly though!"

Hackney-based, 29-year-old Cerrie Burnell also has a theatrical background. She studied Acting in Manchester before continuing her training in Brazil with the CTORio Political Theatre Company and then going on to appear in the likes of Holby City, EastEnders, The Bill and Comedy Lab. She has combined her acting career with writing her own play and working as a teaching assistant in a special needs school.

Cerrie said: "I'm really passionate about firing up kids' imaginations, so this is a dream job come true for me, especially as I also have a young daughter. I've never done tv presenting before so its been brilliant fun getting to ice cakes, get covered in glitter and read bedtime stories. I can hardly believe we're about to broadcast right across the nation!"

Tim Lowe, Editor of CBeebies Presentation, said: "Alex and Cerrie were an absolute delight to audition. Both of them threw themselves into every activity we asked of them from doing the birthday cards to dressing in large bizarre tomato and carrot costumes!

"They both have fun, upbeat, breezy personalities and a genuine warmth which comes through the screen. I'm sure they'll be a hit with viewers and their parents. Certainly our early recording sessions have been going well with both of them fearless in the face of every activity we present them, no matter how messy."

Michael Carrington, Controller of CBeebies, said: "I'm delighted to welcome two such talented, personable and fresh-faced presenters to the CBeebies family. We know how much parents and children alike take our presenters to their heart so choosing the right people was hugely important to me. I believe Alex and Cerrie, along with Sid and Andy, will continue to play a huge part in little children's lives."

Alex and Cerrie have also recorded a special introduction message for parents, who can see it from Monday 26 January by logging onto the Grown Ups section of the CBeebies website at bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups.

FW