BBC Worldwide has signed a deal with multi-BAFTA award-winning UK independent, Ragdoll Ltd, for two new series: In The Night Garden and Tronji. The deal assigns BBC Worldwide cross-media rights (ex-Americas), including global programme distribution, merchandising and DVD.

 

Helen McAleer, Deputy Managing Director of Children's at BBC Worldwide said: "We are very excited to be working with Ragdoll following the runaway success of Teletubbies, which not only changed the face of children's television, but is BBC Worldwide's most successful pre-school brand and one of its most successful global brands.

 

"With Ragdoll's fantastic pedigree, their understanding of children and their innovative approach, we believe children around the world will be as thrilled as we are about these new properties."

 

Anne Wood, Ragdoll's Founder and Creative Director said: "Ragdoll is excited to extend its long-standing and successful relationship with BBC Worldwide. In The Night Garden and Tronji are two of the most ambitious productions that Ragdoll has ever undertaken, and we therefore value BBC Worldwide's ability to represent the programmes in the UK and elsewhere around the world."

 

In The Night Garden (100 x 30') is intended for children aged 1-3 and has been devised by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport, the partnership responsible for Teletubbies.

 

As with Teletubbies, it will have international appeal and has a breadth of scale to establish a new standard for pre-school television.

 

In The Night Garden will make an impact on children's imaginations that is both funny and reassuring. Parents and carers will welcome the production for its wonderful capacity to relax as well as entertain.

 

Tronji (30 x 30’) is aimed at children aged 6-8. It involves two co-existing worlds: the Tronji world, and the real world. The series blends live action and real children within a CG-animated environment. It will engage and captivate pre-teens as they immerse themselves in the problem solving and detecting activities of the Tronji world, whilst watching real children solve the comical dilemmas presented in each episode.

 

In The Night Garden and Tronji have been commissioned by BBC Television and will air in the UK in 2007.

 

BBC WORLDWIDE