Topsy-and-Tim-commis.. - Darrall Macqueen
Topsy-and-Tim-commis.. - Darrall Macqueen
Topsy-and-Tim-commis.. - Darrall Macqueen
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DARRALL MACQUEEN COMMISSIONED TO PRODUCE CBEEBIES’<br />
FIRST PRE-‐SCHOOL DRAMA SERIES WITH PENGUIN<br />
London, 18 October 2012: Award-‐winning kids TV indie <strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong> has been <strong>commis</strong>sioned<br />
by CBeebies to produce its first pre-‐school drama, <strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong> (60x11”) with co-‐production partner<br />
Penguin, the channel’s Controller Kay Benbow announces today. <strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong> is to be based on the best-‐<br />
selling books by British authors Jean <strong>and</strong> Gareth Adamson, which became popular in the 1960s <strong>and</strong> are still<br />
published today by Ladybird, an imprint of Penguin Children’s.<br />
The <strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong> pre-‐school drama series will be filmed from the point of view of 5-‐year-‐old twins who are<br />
taking their first steps towards independence. As well as exploring the fun of family life -‐ from washing the<br />
car with Dad to finding a lost rabbit -‐ the series will see the twins tackle authentic life experiences that can<br />
bring change <strong>and</strong> new challenges for young children, such as moving house <strong>and</strong> getting ready to start school.<br />
The series aims to encourage children’s personal, social <strong>and</strong> emotional development as they identify with<br />
<strong>and</strong> learn from the twins’ experiences.<br />
<strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong> is set to deliver acharming knee-‐high snapshot of contemporary family life <strong>and</strong> provide a<br />
shared viewing experience for children <strong>and</strong> parents based on recognizable, character driven stories.<br />
Kay Benbow, Controller of CBeebies comments: “We have been searching for our first ever live action<br />
drama for CBeebies for some time <strong>and</strong> we are delighted to be working with <strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong> to bring these<br />
wonderful stories to a br<strong>and</strong> new audience.”<br />
Maddy <strong>Darrall</strong>, Joint Managing Director, <strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong> says, “At <strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong> we are dedicated to<br />
innovative children's programme making <strong>and</strong> are therefore very excited about introducing pre-‐school<br />
children to a br<strong>and</strong> new genre of storytelling. <strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong> is such a well-‐loved series of British children's<br />
books it is a fantastic basis for a first TV drama viewing experience".<br />
Francesca Dow, Managing Director, Penguin Children’s adds: "Since the books were first published in 1960,<br />
<strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong> have been part of the day to day lives of millions of children <strong>and</strong> the br<strong>and</strong> continues to be<br />
much loved today. We are excited to be refreshing <strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong>, taking it from the printed book to a live<br />
action pre-‐school drama series. This co-‐production partnership highlights Penguin's transformation to a new<br />
kind of publisher -‐ as a storyteller across multiple media platforms."<br />
<strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong> author Jean Adamson concludes: “I am delighted at the wonderful new opportunities that<br />
are opening up for my little characters, <strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong>. They will be stepping out of their books <strong>and</strong> on to<br />
television <strong>and</strong> I can't wait to see how <strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong> plans to present them. I believe "real" children will<br />
be involved so there will be a lot of fun -‐ <strong>and</strong> a few problems no doubt! A big smile spreads over my face<br />
when I think about it all.”<br />
90 Pier House, Str<strong>and</strong> on the Green, London W4 3NN +44 (0) 20 7490 4050 www.franklinrae.com<br />
Page 1 of 2 © Franklin Rae Communications Ltd
<strong>Topsy</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tim</strong> is a <strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong> production. The series was <strong>commis</strong>sioned for CBeebies by Kay<br />
Benbow. It is produced by Fiona Robinson <strong>and</strong> executive produced by Maddy <strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>and</strong> Billy <strong>Macqueen</strong> for<br />
<strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong> <strong>and</strong> Michael Towner for CBeebies.<br />
Current productions from <strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong> include Baby Jake, a series using a mixture of live action <strong>and</strong> 2D<br />
photographic animation to open the door to an imaginary world where Baby Jake sings, dances <strong>and</strong> baby-‐<br />
talks with his animal friends – translated by his six year old brother Isaac. The popular show is in its second<br />
series, with br<strong>and</strong> new episodes premiering daily on CBeebies.<br />
Notes to Editors:<br />
ABOUT DARRALL MACQUEEN<br />
-‐ Ends -‐<br />
<strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong> is a fully independent UK-‐based production company dedicated to producing high quality children’s<br />
<strong>and</strong> pre-‐school entertainment for major broadcasters.<br />
<strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>Macqueen</strong>, formed in 2000 by former Disney execs Maddy <strong>Darrall</strong> <strong>and</strong> Billy <strong>Macqueen</strong>, has a proven track<br />
record of devising <strong>and</strong> producing long-‐running children’s properties.<br />
The company’s most successful productions to date include the double BAFTA winning Smile (CBBC) <strong>and</strong> current<br />
comedy hits Bear Behaving Badly (CBBC) <strong>and</strong> Pet Squad (CBBC / Sony International). Baby Jake Series 1 was a selected<br />
finalist at Prix Jeunesse (Germany 2012) <strong>and</strong> the British Animation Awards (UK 2012).<br />
ABOUT PENGUIN CHILDREN’S<br />
www.darrallmacqueen.com<br />
Penguin Children’s won Children’s Publisher of the Year at the Bookseller Industry Awards for 2011. It comprises the<br />
following imprints: Ladybird, Warne, Sunbird, Puffin <strong>and</strong> Razorbill. The Penguin Children’s Group has paved the way in<br />
publishing tie-‐in books behind interactvie br<strong>and</strong>s like Club Penguin <strong>and</strong> Moshi Monsters.<br />
* * *<br />
Press contacts: Franklin Rae Communications<br />
Tel: +44 20 7490 4050<br />
Kelly Lewins: Kelly@franklinrae.com<br />
Nicole Hurwitz: Nicole@franklinrae.com<br />
Claire Drinkwater: clairedrinkwater@franklinrae.com<br />
90 Pier House, Str<strong>and</strong> on the Green, London W4 3NN +44 (0) 20 7490 4050 www.franklinrae.com<br />
Page 2 of 2 © Franklin Rae Communications Ltd
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