Wales Creative IP Fund invests in top CBeebies series – Grandpa
in my pocket
23/10/09
The Wales Creative IP Fund has invested in the second series of
the top CBeebies comedy Grandpa In My Pocket – following the global
success of the first series in which the fund invested.
The IP Fund has invested £290,000 in the production which used
technical and studio facilities in Wales. The first series has
regularly topped the CBeebies ratings and has been in the top 10 of
the CBeebies online iPlayer. It also averaged the highest rating
children’s television show across all terrestrial and
multi-channels from January to August this year (Source: Toy News,
Infosys/Barb).
Starring James Bolam, the programme is aimed at pre-school
children and is a comedy about a young boy’s everyday adventures
with his mischievous grandpa and his magic shrinking cap.
Created and produced by Adastra Creative, the second 26 episode
series is the latest in a line of animation and children’s
productions produced in Wales to receive commercial funding from
the IP Fund.
Managed by Finance Wales plc on behalf of the Welsh Assembly
Government, the Wales Creative IP Fund provides equity investment
for feature films, television productions, new media and music
projects. A proportion of the total production budget must be spent
in Wales as part of the overall investment.
More than £824,000 was spent in Wales on the first series of
Grandpa In My Pocket and the second series has used the same
production team, with animation and CGI special effects supplied by
Dinamo Studios in Cardiff Bay and other live action filming taking
place at Enfys Studios in Cardiff.
“The first series of Grandpa In My Pocket was a huge success for
CBeebies and the BBC,” said Beth Bannister, Investment Executive of
the IP Fund. “It also demonstrated the production expertise in
Wales, with animation and CGI production, as well as live action
filming, taking place here. This attracted considerable spend and
investment here in Wales as a result and further such investment as
a result of the decision to commission a second series.”
Rights to the programme have been sold worldwide, including
Australia, Canada, France, the Far East, Egypt, the Middle East,
Africa, Switzerland, Cyprus and Poland. In June it became a
prime-time children’s programme in Australia.
Grandpa In My Pocket was created by children’s television
executives Mellie Buse and Jan Page, whose television writing
credits include other CBeebies favourites, Charlie and Lola, The
Tweenies, Fimbles and The Large Family.
The lead director is Richard Bradley, whose other credits
include Smile, Art Attack, The Hoobs and This Morning.
Commenting on the IP Fund’s investment, Mellie said: “We’re
pleased that the IP Fund has come on board for the second series
with the BBC. The investment will again ensure another high quality
production will be filmed and produced in Wales.”
Media enquiries
E-mail: communications@financewales.co.uk
Telephone: 029 2033 8126