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“Fleabag Monkeyface”, a new series from the home of Walker Productions (part of Walker Books), has become CITV’s first commission since it agreed a Horrid Henry animation deal in 2005.
Walker Productions has also sold a pre-school series, “Tilly and Friends”, to CBeebies.
The news was announced at the MipCom film and broadcast fair earlier this week. Walker Productions was created in 2007 to develop Walker content for other media platforms. Managing director Helen McAleer said Walker Productions was close to signing another development deal for a pre-teen series published by Walker Books.
Walker Productions developed “Fleabag Monkeyface” with Sparky Animation and Impossible Kids. The 52 episodes, aimed at six to 10-year-olds, will launch on CITV, ITV1 and GMTV1 next September. Sparky Animation will handle distribution of the series.
Walker Books publishes the original Fleabag Monkeyface series, created by Knife and Packer. However, McAleer said Walker Books would have to pitch for the rights at the “proper market rate” if it wanted to publish the tie-in books.
McAleer has high hopes for “Tilly and Friends”, based on the pre-school series by Polly Dunbar. She said: “The programme sits in the same area as ‘Charlie & Lola’ and people are already very keen on it in the licensing sector.”
“Tilly and Friends” has been developed by Jam Media and Walker Productions and will launch on CBeebies in 2012.
Jam Media and Walker Productions jointly hold global TV and licensing and merchandising rights for “Tilly and Friends” and are seeking an international distributor for the programme.