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Children’s favourite Bob the Builder has launched his campaign to reach Christmas No.1 in the UK charts with an all new single ‘Big Fish Little Fish’ from the highly anticipated follow-up album ‘Never Mind the Breeze Blocks’. The single, which bookmaker William Hill is betting joint second favourite at 10-1 to reach the coveted spot, is just behind The X Factor winner and alongside Take That and Boyzone. ‘Big Fish, Little Fish’ is voiced by Neil Morrissey and is set for release on the 24th of November by Universal Music. The ‘Big Fish Little Fish’ music video was produced by HOT Animation in the UK and sees Bob and his can-do crew re-creating the Big Fish Little Fish Cardboard Box rave moves from the early 90’s. The dance is bound to be a hit with young Bob fans everywhere. The single will be available from HMV and Zavvi stores across the UK and from all online digital sites from the 24th of November. The music video is currently airing exclusively on the CBeebies website and attracted 125,000 hits in the first week and is also broadcasting on CBeebies. A full TV and radio launch is planned from the release date. Bob the Builder is a two-time No. 1 recording artist with two consecutive number one singles. In 2000 ‘Can We Fix It?’ beat Westlife to the Christmas No. 1 spot. The double platinum single went on to sell over a million copies and, in 2001, Bob proved he was no one hit wonder when he reached number one again with his second single ‘Mambo No.5’. 
If Bob can repeat the success of 2000 he will join an exclusive group of artists who have had multiple Christmas chart-toppers. Only The Beatles (4), Spice Girls (3), Cliff Richard (3) and Queen (2) have managed more than one Christmas number one. Neil Morrissey said: “Bob the Builder is releasing Big Fish Little Fish just in time for Christmas and I’m sure it will drive lots of parents mad. It’s Bob-goes ’Euro-pop!’ and I can’t wait to see Bob fans dancing along to it”. The single and album release mark the beginning of a year-long campaign in the UK to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Bob the Builder, one of the most successful and popular pre-school properties of all time. Bob’s 10th Anniversary campaign will feature DVD specials, events and brand new ranges of consumer products. 2009 will also herald a new programming look as Bob moves into CGI animation for the first time and is set for broadcast in late 2009. Bob the Builder was first seen on British screens in 1999 and became an instant hit with pre-schoolers. The programme can now be seen in 250 territories worldwide and is translated into 45 different languages. To date Bob, who is now ranked the #1 most-liked character among children 0-4 (Carrick-James research, August 2008), has sold over 10 million units across 26 home entertainment titles and 27 million Bob the Builder books have been sold globally. A brand new direct to DVD special, Bob the Builder – Race to the Finish, is being released on 3 November and HIT has partnered up with VUE Cinemas to hold special screenings in 40 cinemas across the UK on 1 November 2008. There are number of other new DVD specials planned for release throughout the year, culminating in Bob’s first CGI special – The Legend of the Golden Hammer – out in November 2009. |
