Treehouse

A Very Big Cake is a one‑off episode of the quirky children’s series that’s been floating around the BBC’s digital channels for a few years now. The star is Squiggle, that pink‑ish, wobblier‑than‑usual creature who’s usually getting into harmless mischief. In this instalment he gets a mysterious invitation to a “cake party” and suddenly finds himself on a quest to locate a proper mate to share the massive confection with. Think of it as a cross between the gentle absurdity of The Adventures of Paddington and the slap‑slap‑bang of Peppa Pig when they’re on a treasure hunt. The plot is simple enough to follow on the first watch: Squiggle follows a trail of crumbs, clues and a few oddball characters – a grumpy teapot, a jittery garden gnome and a very enthusiastic squirrel – each promising a different slice of the cake. Along the way there are a handful of laugh‑out‑loud moments (the teapot’s steam‑powered dance is a particular highlight) and a tiny dash of tension when the cake seems to vanish. No spoilers, but the ending does manage a pleasant twist that feels earned rather than tacked on. Honestly, it’s not groundbreaking television, but it’s surprisingly good for a five‑minute slot. The animation is a bit dated – the colours sometimes look like they’ve been run through a cheap filter – and the pacing drags just a touch when the characters stop to chat about the weather. Still, the humour lands, the voice work is charming, and the whole thing feels like a proper warm‑fuzzy filler before the news. If you’re after something light that won’t tax a child’s attention span, it does the job nicely. Rated U for universal audiences, though there’s a brief moment of mild suspense when the cake disappears, and a few sugary visuals that could be a bit much for very young viewers. First terrestrial broadcast this week, so if you missed it on the streaming service, it’s finally on the TV schedule. Grab a cuppa and enjoy the silliness.