Exclusive: A modern TV series remake of The Wombles is in the works with Ipcress File producer Altitude Television.
The TV arm of Altitude Media Group is forging a fresh version of the beloved animated British family series about a secretive group of furry creatures who live beneath Wimbledon Common, which is being co-produced with The Wombles production house and written by How to Train Your Dragon’s Will Davies.
Based on Elisabeth Beresford’s children’s novels, the stop-motion show ran in the mid-70s on the BBC featuring the voice of Bernard Cribbins, was remade in the mid-90s for ITV and remastered earlier this year as it turned 50. Altitude didn’t elaborate further on how it will be modernizing the classic.
Meanwhile, Altitude, which produced ITV’s big-budget remake of Michael Caine pic Ipcress File, has hired Chris Clark as MD and Chief Creative Officer, along with Development Executive Gabby Kardar.
The TV arm of Altitude Media Group is forging a fresh version of the beloved animated British family series about a secretive group of furry creatures who live beneath Wimbledon Common, which is being co-produced with The Wombles production house and written by How to Train Your Dragon’s Will Davies.
Based on Elisabeth Beresford’s children’s novels, the stop-motion show ran in the mid-70s on the BBC featuring the voice of Bernard Cribbins, was remade in the mid-90s for ITV and remastered earlier this year as it turned 50. Altitude didn’t elaborate further on how it will be modernizing the classic.
Meanwhile, Altitude, which produced ITV’s big-budget remake of Michael Caine pic Ipcress File, has hired Chris Clark as MD and Chief Creative Officer, along with Development Executive Gabby Kardar.
- 10/17/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The Wombles will make a TV comeback in 2015 on Channel 5, it has been confirmed.
Channel 5's pre-school strand Milkshake has snapped up the rights to the classic children's characters, who first became popular on TV in the 1970s.
"This show was so loved by generations of children and the time is right for it to gain a whole new following," said Channel 5's head of children's TV Jessica Symons.
"The stories and characters are as compelling as ever and we're excited to welcome The Wombles to Milkshake."
Dramatico Animation Ltd will be creating 52 episodes of The Wombles, which will now be animated in CGI.
Mike Batt, who now owns the rights to The Wombles and wrote the programme's original theme tune, said: "It will look more like stop motion but with great fur.
"We believe that there are audiences of new children who missed The Wombles the first time around...
Channel 5's pre-school strand Milkshake has snapped up the rights to the classic children's characters, who first became popular on TV in the 1970s.
"This show was so loved by generations of children and the time is right for it to gain a whole new following," said Channel 5's head of children's TV Jessica Symons.
"The stories and characters are as compelling as ever and we're excited to welcome The Wombles to Milkshake."
Dramatico Animation Ltd will be creating 52 episodes of The Wombles, which will now be animated in CGI.
Mike Batt, who now owns the rights to The Wombles and wrote the programme's original theme tune, said: "It will look more like stop motion but with great fur.
"We believe that there are audiences of new children who missed The Wombles the first time around...
- 8/28/2013
- Digital Spy
Mike Batt reveals big plans for the furry orange eco-creatures from Wimbledon Common, including a movie, new series and 'interactive experience'
Missing believed lost on Wimbledon common, the Wombles could be set for a big-screen return under the auspices of co-creator Mike Batt. The gentle, point-nosed eco-activists were a mainstay of British television in the 1970s, going on to enjoy film and chart success. And now, it seems, they could be back.
The British songwriter Batt recently gained a controlling interest in Wombling Copyright Holdings, the company that owns the creatures and is now angling for a major relaunch. Batt previously enjoyed a 50-50 share of the company with the estate of the author Elizabeth Beresford, who wrote the original Wombles story back in 1968.
"We have plans for two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive Womble World experience," announced Batt.
He added: "We think there are...
Missing believed lost on Wimbledon common, the Wombles could be set for a big-screen return under the auspices of co-creator Mike Batt. The gentle, point-nosed eco-activists were a mainstay of British television in the 1970s, going on to enjoy film and chart success. And now, it seems, they could be back.
The British songwriter Batt recently gained a controlling interest in Wombling Copyright Holdings, the company that owns the creatures and is now angling for a major relaunch. Batt previously enjoyed a 50-50 share of the company with the estate of the author Elizabeth Beresford, who wrote the original Wombles story back in 1968.
"We have plans for two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive Womble World experience," announced Batt.
He added: "We think there are...
- 8/12/2013
- by Xan Brooks
- The Guardian - Film News
The Wombles may return in a new TV series and feature film.
Mike Batt - who helped turn the children's TV characters into popstars in the 1970s - has outlined plans to bring back the Wombles after acquiring the rights to the brand.
The songwriter announced to his fans that his firm now has the major shareholding in Wombles Copyright Holdings, after having a 50-50 share for many years with the estate of author Elisabeth Beresford.
He wrote: "Suffice to say we have plans for two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive online Wombles World experience.
"We think the Wombles characters are timeless, funny and lovable, and we can assure the Beresford estate that we shall protect and look after the quality and integrity of the characters as we always have done.
"We think there are audiences of new children and international audiences who missed the...
Mike Batt - who helped turn the children's TV characters into popstars in the 1970s - has outlined plans to bring back the Wombles after acquiring the rights to the brand.
The songwriter announced to his fans that his firm now has the major shareholding in Wombles Copyright Holdings, after having a 50-50 share for many years with the estate of author Elisabeth Beresford.
He wrote: "Suffice to say we have plans for two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive online Wombles World experience.
"We think the Wombles characters are timeless, funny and lovable, and we can assure the Beresford estate that we shall protect and look after the quality and integrity of the characters as we always have done.
"We think there are audiences of new children and international audiences who missed the...
- 8/9/2013
- Digital Spy
The Wombles may return in a new TV series and feature film.
Mike Batt - who helped turn the children's TV characters into popstars in the 1970s - has outlined plans to bring back the Wombles after acquiring the rights to the brand.
The songwriter announced to his fans that his firm now has the major shareholding in Wombles Copyright Holdings, after having a 50-50 share for many years with the estate of author Elisabeth Beresford.
He wrote: "Suffice to say we have plans for two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive online Wombles World experience.
"We think the Wombles characters are timeless, funny and lovable, and we can assure the Beresford estate that we shall protect and look after the quality and integrity of the characters as we always have done.
"We think there are audiences of new children and international audiences who missed the...
Mike Batt - who helped turn the children's TV characters into popstars in the 1970s - has outlined plans to bring back the Wombles after acquiring the rights to the brand.
The songwriter announced to his fans that his firm now has the major shareholding in Wombles Copyright Holdings, after having a 50-50 share for many years with the estate of author Elisabeth Beresford.
He wrote: "Suffice to say we have plans for two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive online Wombles World experience.
"We think the Wombles characters are timeless, funny and lovable, and we can assure the Beresford estate that we shall protect and look after the quality and integrity of the characters as we always have done.
"We think there are audiences of new children and international audiences who missed the...
- 8/9/2013
- Digital Spy
Michael Eavis has said that it was "a bit of a mistake" that The Wombles have been booked for Glastonbury. The festival founder expressed his dismay that the band, which is based on the characters created by Elisabeth Beresford, will play the Avalon stage on June 26, BBC News reports. Eavis said: "I've got about 25 stages and managers and bookers for each of the stages. I can't control every single one of them but I do get cross about that kind of thing." Wombles band creator Mike Batt countered: "He probably doesn't realise what a fantastic live act The Wombles are. "Uncle Bulgaria told me he thinks Mr Eavis is probably perfectly (more)...
- 6/9/2011
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
Prolific writer who enjoyed her greatest success with the recycling Wombles
Elisabeth Beresford, who has died aged 84, enjoyed her greatest success with the creation of the Wombles. The family motto of the colourful underground creatures – "making good use of bad rubbish" – sprang from a concern of the writer's that chimed with the growing ecological awareness of the next four decades. Famously, the inspiration for the figures came on a Boxing Day walk on Wimbledon Common, south-west London, during which her daughter, Kate, misnamed it Wombledon Common.
As elsewhere with Beresford's work, the point of departure was real – here, the place and the characters, largely drawn from uncles, grandparents, siblings and her children: Marcus, her son, genial and interested in food, inspired Orinoco; Kate inspired Bungo, a strong character in the books, though not in the films.
Their underground and above-ground adventures begin simply; in The Wombles (1968) the characters do little...
Elisabeth Beresford, who has died aged 84, enjoyed her greatest success with the creation of the Wombles. The family motto of the colourful underground creatures – "making good use of bad rubbish" – sprang from a concern of the writer's that chimed with the growing ecological awareness of the next four decades. Famously, the inspiration for the figures came on a Boxing Day walk on Wimbledon Common, south-west London, during which her daughter, Kate, misnamed it Wombledon Common.
As elsewhere with Beresford's work, the point of departure was real – here, the place and the characters, largely drawn from uncles, grandparents, siblings and her children: Marcus, her son, genial and interested in food, inspired Orinoco; Kate inspired Bungo, a strong character in the books, though not in the films.
Their underground and above-ground adventures begin simply; in The Wombles (1968) the characters do little...
- 12/27/2010
- by Julia Eccleshare
- The Guardian - Film News
Elisabeth Beresford, the creator of The Wombles, has died at the age of 86. The novelist and journalist passed away on Christmas Eve in the Mignot Memorial Hospital situated upon the Channel Island of Alderney, her family confirmed to the BBC. Beresford was inspired to write the first Wombles books, which later spawned a 1970s children's television series, by a Boxing Day walk across Wimbledon Common. She explained during a November 2010 BBC Guernsey interview: (more)...
- 12/26/2010
- by By Daniel Sperling
- Digital Spy
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