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Sign Language Week 2025 & Historic BSL Access for Comic Relief – A Big Week for British TV Accessibility! 🎉🎭

RtaylorTV

By RtaylorTV
in Current Events & News

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Next week is a huge one for the British Sign Language (BSL) community! Sign Language Week 2025 runs from March 17th to 23rd, celebrating BSL not just as a language but as a culture, community, and a sense of belonging.

📺 BSL on Milkshake! – Making Kids’ TV More Accessible

Once again, Milkshake! on 5 is leading the way in making children’s television accessible, with a fantastic lineup of visually signed (BSL interpreted) programmes from Monday 17th to Friday 21st March.

Here’s when you can tune in to the Sign Zone on Channel 5:

🕕 6:20 AM - 6:25 AM | Pip and Posy
🕟 6:40 AM - 6:50 AM | Fireman Sam (Sam Tân)
🕖 7:00 AM - 7:35 AM | A mix of favourites:

  • Peppa Pig (7:00-7:05)
  • PAW Patrol (Season 7) (7:05-7:20)
  • Pip and Posy (7:20-7:25)
  • The Adventures of Paddington (7:25-7:35)
    🕣 8:25 AM - 8:55 AM | More fun with:
  • Milo (8:25-8:35)
  • Mixmups (8:35-8:45)
  • Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom (8:45-8:55)

How to Watch?

📡 Live on Channel 5: Freeview, Freesat, SkyQ, Sky Glass, Virgin Media (Channel 105 on satellite/cable, Freeview Channel 5)
📲 Stream on My5
📺 Record on SkyQ, Sky Glass, Freesat, Freeview (if recording enabled), and Virgin Media

🎉 Theme for Sign Language Week 2025: More than a language: Culture, Community, and Belonging

Let’s keep pushing for more inclusion in TV so that BSL users have the same access as everyone else!

🔥 History in the Making – Comic Relief 2025 Will Feature LIVE BSL for the First Time!

Comic Relief has always been a night of entertainment, fundraising, and big laughs for a great cause – but this year, something truly groundbreaking is happening for British TV accessibility!

📢 For the first time EVER, the BBC will provide live BSL signed coverage of the Comic Relief live shows on BBC Red Button 1 HD and BBC iPlayer!

This means that BSL users will have a record-breaking 3 hours and 40 minutes of signed programming on Friday 21st March!

What’s Happening?

🕖 Signed: Funny for Money – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Peak-time live show)
🕙 Signed: More Funny for Money – 10:00 PM to 10:40 PM

These shows follow the signed coverage of the main Comic Relief show, ensuring BSL users won’t miss out on any of the comedy and fundraising action.

Where to Watch?

📺 BBC Red Button 1 HD

  • Freeview – Channel 601
  • SkyQ / Freesat – Channel 970
  • Virgin Media – Channel 991

📱 BBC iPlayer – Available on TV (including Sky Glass), online, via app, and on-demand.

🔗 More details here: BBC Programmes – Comic Relief

This is a HUGE step forward in making British television more accessible to the BSL community. It’s fantastic to see broadcasters like Channel 5 and the BBC committing to inclusion and ensuring that everyone can enjoy great entertainment without barriers.

👉 What are your thoughts on these accessibility improvements? Are you excited about more signed TV content? Share your thoughts below! ⬇️

#BSL #SignLanguageWeek #ComicRelief #Accessibility #Inclusion #MoreThanALanguage #FunnyForMoney #TVForAll

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