Tag Archives: rockpool licensing

Rockpool Licensing nets Golden Bear as plush partner for CBeebies’ The Baby Club

Posted on by

Golden Bear has been named the plush partner for the popular CBeebies and iPlayer pre-school series, The Baby Club, presented by Giovanna Fletcher and Nigel Clarke.

In a deal brokered by Rockpool Licensing, Golden Bear will be developing plush based on the growing family of characters featured in the show, beginning with Baby Bear, who appears with Giovanna and Nigel and stars in all activities, play, songs, and stories.

The third season of the hit BBC commission launched last month and is broadcast twice a day on CBeebies. 60 episodes and a library of songs are now available on BBC iPlayer, while The Baby Club has been a major success since its launch in 2019.

Tracy Griffiths, head of brand and licensing at Golden Bear, commented: “We’re delighted to be on board and can’t wait to launch a range of fun, innovative plush which reflect the TV programme’s ethos of baby development, exploration and parental empowerment.

“Golden Bear is looking forward to Baby Bear joining our strong portfolio and encouraging real-world play and interaction, inspired by The Baby Club’s on-screen activities.”

Vickie O’Malley, MD Rockpool Licensing, added: “Fans of The Baby Club have been clamouring for Baby Bear plush since the show launched and it’s a privilege to be working with such an esteemed partner as Golden Bear to make this happen. We’re thrilled to be able to say, “They’re on their way!”

The Baby Club is a ground-breaking TV series made for CBeebies by Three Arrows Media, Tiny House Productions and CMP Productions. Aimed at babies up to 18 months and their grown-ups, it’s the channel’s first overtly dual-facing brand with interactivity at its heart.

Each episode explores ‘What’s in the Bag?’ which can be anything from a household item like a wooden spoon or a pan, to a bath time toy or an item of clothing, all discovered together through play, story and song.

The Baby Club is firmly rooted in the latest research with input from leading experts and has been designed to help baby development, empower parents, aid bonding and attachment.

Rockpool Licensing helps bring Brambly Hedge book series to screen in Lupus Films deal

Posted on by

Lupus Films, the animation company behind The Snowman & The Snowdog, has optioned the rights to adapt the classic countryside stories of Brambly Hedge for the screen.

The deal between Lupus Films and the estate of Jill Braklem, the author and illustrator of Brambly Hedge, was brokered by Rockpool Licensing.

The Brambly Hedge series is published by HarperCollins Children’s Books and has sold over seven million copies since the first release in 1980. Focusing on the adventures of a hidden community of mice in the English countryside, the series’ characters have featured on products ranging from china to chocolate, and stationery to figurines.

Now, on the 40th anniversary of its original publication, Lupus Films is set to bring the world of Brambly Hedge to audiences old and new, alongside a refreshed licensing campaign run by Rockpool, which represents the brand globally.

HarperCollins will launch a celebratory publishing programme to commemorate the 40th anniversary in October 2020. Meanwhile, Lupus is initially developing the property as a Christmas special, with further episodes to follow shortly after.

Vickie O’Malley, managing director, Rockpool Licensing, said: “We are really looking forward to bringing a beautiful new version of this classic British brand to life and are actively seeking partners across a variety of categories including gifting, homeware, collectibles, puzzles and paper product.”

Ruth Fielding, joint MD, Lupus Films, added: “The Brambly Hedge characters stand tail to tail with the most classic British literary characters and we cannot wait to delve into the hedgerows and fields of the British countryside to reveal the secrets and folklore of this hidden little community of animals.”

Lizzie Barklem, Brambly Hedge estate, concluded: “We’re delighted to have teamed up with Lupus who have a fantastic track record of translating beautifully illustrated books on to the screen. 2020 is the 40th anniversary of Brambly Hedge so the timing is perfect for introducing the mice to a brand new generation.”