Welcome to “What’s Your News?”

We are a serious news show, but with a difference.  Just like the humans on TV, we have a news studio with cameras, lights, microphones, screens and sets, but it’s all run by ants.  Yep, ants.  Oh, and rather than national politics (yawn) and world events, our news is your news – the arrival of a new pet, learning to ride a bike,  playing a new tune on the piano, getting a haircut – eek.  The ants are interested in all kinds of news – as long as it comes from children.

Our anchors are an ant called Grant, and an anteater called Antony (who thinks he’s an ant).  Grant tries to keep it all together, and Antony … well, Antony’s Antony.  Sometimes he’s helpful, but sometimes he’s not.  But he’s always funny, and he always loves to hear children’s news!  Grant and Antony have a large TV screen and a small desk with a telephone that rings when someone calls in with news.

The main roving correspond-ant is Gi Ant who drives around in his special vehicle, finding children who have news. We also have traffic reports from Avi Ant, who flies around in her helicopter.  Flickaboo is the weatherbird, so she does the weather reports.  Peek and Iggy, like to be her assist-ants.

To make sure we are have an up-to-date view of your views, Grant and Antony consult a panel of child experts for insights into the day’s stories. Often one of the experts is a baby.  Gooblee, our baby ant reporter, understands baby language, so she tells us what the babies say.

So, enjoy our show – and send us your news!

Listen to What’s Your News?
Currently off air, but watch this space to catch up with the Ants again soon.

What’s Your News? website
Visit the What’s Your News? and explore the news studio in greater depth at www.whatsyournews.com

Meet the team

Grant is very professional and takes his job seriously.  And to reflect just how seriously he takes it, he wears a tie.  Grant is the boss and likes things to run smoothly, though “smoothly” for him covers a lot of territory.  He will do whatever it takes to keep anyone, including himself, from realizing that they are all only a small step from complete chaos.  Grant’s biggest on-going challenge is Antony.

Antony is an anteater who thinks he’s an ant.   Grant is Antony’s hero.  Antony is like an adoring little brother, even though he’s ten times bigger than Grant.  The biggest problem with Antony as far as Grant is concerned is that he’s so good at living in the moment that he easily forgets the past and has no concept of the future.  But Grant loves him, really.  Who doesn’t?   He’s endearing, kind, enthusiastic, willing to help – and has no idea what really goes into running a news show.  He’s also very silly.

Gi Ant is WYN’s chief roving correspond-ant.  It’s Gi Ant who hops onto his specially designed WYN outside broadcast vehicle and pursues the breaking news story each day.  He has a particular interest in children and whatever it is they do, think, feel and accomplish.  He appreciates everything from the smallest feeling to the biggest achievement.  He’s a good listener and always wants to know more. To Gi, everyone’s experience is news.

Avi Ant flies the WYN copter, and is always there to give Gi air support, alerting him to any obstacles that lie between him and his story.  Avi is both professional and passionate about her work.  She can get excited about anything from a stain on the pavement to a child who could have news.

Flickaboo does the Weather Reports, and she informs us of the current meteorological conditions simply by opening her window.  Any kind of weather can be out there from a hurricane to bright sunshine to the occasional spell of rain.  Flickaboo’s goal is to report the weather calmly, accurately and professionally.  More often than not, her good intentions are sabotaged by Peek and Iggy.

Peek and Iggy are a bit like Laurel and Hardy. They generally work as a team. Iggy is slow, laid-back and a master at appearing to be busy when he isn’t.  Iggy believes he is blessed with superior intelligence and has all the answers.  Peek believes Iggy has all the answers, too.  That’s one of the reasons they get on so well.  Another is that Peek doesn’t notice that Iggy rarely does any of the heavy lifting.  Peek is always keen to join in, no matter what the task.

Gooblee is WYN’s baby expert.  She knows what babies are saying because she’s a baby herself.  Whenever a baby appears on the panel of experts or in a news report, Gooblee is there to translate.  Gooblee has a special relationship with Antony.  She’s the only one that believes he’s an ant just because he says he is – and she wants to be like him when she grows up.

Other Ant Characters There are many, many ants that help make WYN possible. Ants like Sybile and Ann and Neville.  Not only are there ants in the studio that work the cameras, light the sets, walk around wearing hats, move scenery, raise and lower the big news screen, sing the theme song and the beeps, but there are ants everywhere in the world.  Our correspond-ants can report live from anywhere, and send the news they discover back to the studio via the anternet.