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Pablo is back! New series about inclusivity in schools comes to CBBC

Promotional illustration for Pablo: Next Level. In the centre, a cartoon child reads a green Pablo: Next Level book. Around the child are several stylised animal characters, including a giraffe, monkey, bird, sheep, mouse and a large green creature peering over a board. The hand-drawn title “Pablo Next Level” is displayed at the top of the image on a light blue gradient background.Handout

Pablo: Next Level launches on 7 September

For lots of kids in the UK, it's officially back to school time.

Starting or returning to school can bring a mixture of excitement and nerves.

A new cartoon series aims to encourage and empower children in classrooms to be more inclusive and to create a space for minds of all kinds.

And you might recognise the main character.

Pablo: Next Level is a spin-off from the pre-school series Pablo, which features an autistic lead character and this time he's heading to primary school.

Read on to find out more about the new show.

From rules that don't always make sense to chaotic corridors and simply adjusting to everyday challenges, Pablo navigates this unfamiliar experience of a new school one drama at a time.

Creators are hoping to support a whole generation of children to better understand different minds and engage with each other.

The episodes have been created to reflect actual experiences.

Alexander is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a navy t-shirt and has brown short hair.

Pablo is played by 11-year-old Alexander from Northern Ireland

Pablo is played by 11-year-old Alexander, from County Antrim, who is autistic.

Like Pablo, Alexander is also about to take on a new milestone, when he starts secondary school.

Alexander said the character will be relatable for other autistic children.

Tell us more about Pablo

Alexander said: "Sometimes Pablo struggles with textures of different objects or with people.

"He doesn't like it when his food touches, he sometimes finds it hard to understand things, he doesn't like it whenever rules change unexpectedly.

"And most of all he finds it hard to make friendships or keep them."

But Alexander is hoping the show can really help people.

"I hope people with autism, and also people with any mental or physical disability, like Mylo in the show who is in a wheelchair or Eoin who has dyslexia, will be able to look up and relate and be able to get through the rough and hard times," Alexander said.

So where and when can you watch the show?

The animated comedy series will be shown across the UK and Ireland on CBBC and RTÉ Kids.

There's 40 episodes and in them, audiences will follow Pablo's adventures as he processes mainstream school life with the help of his trusty sketch pad and his book of animal friends.

Pablo: Next Level launches on 7 September 2026 on CBBC, BBC iPlayer and RTÉ Kids.