| ||
|
Kindle Entertainment, the BAFTA award-winning independent production company, announces that it has begun production of a third series of CBeebies favourite, Big and Small. The filming is currently taking place in Belfast until early July and will produce 26 more episodes of the RTS award-winning show, taking the total to 78x11‟. Kindle Entertainment is delighted to be making more Big and Small episodes, which are being co-produced with Belfast-based Sixteen South, whose award winning productions Sesame Tree and Big City Park have both been screened on CBeebies. The production has received funding from Northern Ireland Screen. The announcement of the start of production coincides with the final stages of preparation for a Big and Small live event that will be touring Canada very soon. Based on an original script, the show will feature the well-loved songs from the series and let children see and interact with their favourite characters up close. The show, Big and Small: Happy Together, has been booked into several theatres across the country and begins touring in August 2011. Douglas John and Markus of Tickadeeboo Entertainment, the writers and producers of the new stage show said, „We're absolutely delighted to be involved in this exciting new development for the Big and Small characters and brand. Our theatrical show will delight fans both big and small from coast to coast across Canada!‟ The new television episodes will once again feature the vocal talents of Lenny Henry, with each story revolving around the comedy of Big and Small‟s contrasting approaches to life. It regularly achieves the highest rating in its timeslot and has been seen by 38% of all children in the UK aged 4-6. The series continues to enjoy support from the BAFTA award-winning CBeebies website which attracts around 900,000 unique users every week (www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/bigandsmall). Kindle Executive Producer Anne Brogan said, „It‟s fantastic to be able to revisit Big and Small‟s world and have the opportunity to create more laugh out loud stories for them‟. Colin Williams, Executive Producer for Sixteen South, adds, “We´re delighted to have been able to bring the production of Big and Small‟s third series to Northern Ireland. To have a well loved show produced locally is a tremendous boost for Sixteen South and for the local TV and film industry.” Big and Small is backed up by a strong licensing programme, which features licensees such as HarperCollins, Bandai Namco, Paper Projects, C & M Licensing and Little Star Creationsand the characters are featured regularly in pre-school magazine favourites CBeebies Weekly and BBC Toybox Magazine; their very successful iPhone application has now sold over 14,500 copies and is consistently in the top 20 apps on the iTunes Lifestyle chart. Rainbow Productions operate a Big and Small costume character which has made a number of high profile public appearances recently. |
