After 61 years of children’s TV, the BBC is considering axing weekday afternoon children’s programmes from its main channel, BBC One. If the plan goes ahead, children will be tuning into BBC Two instead. According to The Guardian the proposal has been mooted following two recent events – the scheduled disappearance of long-running Australian soap, Neighbours, after it was poached by Five, and the boost in ITV1′s fortunes since it replaced teatime children’s shows with quizzes and repeats of classic dramas such as Inspector Morse.

Since For the Children was aired on July 7 1946, there’s been a constant stream of kids’ TV on the channel, with young eyes watching Blue Peter, Bill and Ben and Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles over the years. Now, BBC Two will serve, as well as digital channels CBBC and CBeebies.

One insider said: “The idea of moving children’s programmes off BBC One is definitely being looked at and evaluated, alongside replacing Neighbours with another half-hour show. It is coming out of BBC daytime and it is all about how share could be maximised.”

The move is thought to have the backing of senior executives including the director general, Mark Thompson, and BBC One’s controller, Peter Fincham, who has seen daytime audiences eroded by a resurgent ITV. In addition, the BBC has poached Liam Keelan – one of ITV’s daytime staff who worked on the plan to axe the daily ITV1 children’s show – to be its new daytime controller. He is on 12 months’ gardening leave but is hoping to start at the BBC in early spring, which coincides with Neighbours’ move from BBC One to Five.

Critics have come out of the woodwork, claiming that BBC One should provide a window for children’s shows. “Different rules apply for the BBC that extend beyond the pressures of ratings and share,” said one. What do you think about this move? Do you not really care as the BBC will still be showing children’s programmes? Or do you think that the main channel should provide entertainment for all ages? [Mof Gimmers]