United Synagogue’s Richard Verber helps to give CBeebies viewers a head start

The United Synagogue’s communications director has fronted a CBeebies episode explaining why religious Jewish people wear a kippah, in a new ten-part factual entertainment series called ‘What’s on your Head?’

Richard Verber, a former senior vice president of the Board of Deputies, took part alongside racing driver Jamie Chadwick, Sikh model Rajvatan Singh Rathour, and the first black woman to become a Church of England bishop, Rose Hudson-Wilkin.

BBC Children’s head of content Cheryl Taylor said the national broadcaster had “a dedicated audience of little learners” who “love to discover new things and have fun along the way… This fits the brief perfectly!”

Verber said he hoped children “come away with an insight into Judaism’s beautiful festivals and traditions,” adding: “It was a fascinating challenge putting the episode together, both filming under strict government coronavirus guidelines and distilling the basics of Judaism into just a few minutes for young learners.”

The series is voiced by ‘Great British Bake Off’ winner Nadiya Hussain and covers all manner of headwear, from hijabs to lawyer’s wigs, scuba masks to firefighter helmets, to “help young children understand the world around them”.

Watch a teaser for ‘What’s On Your Head?’ here. You can watch the episode featuring Richard Verber by clicking here.