BEST OF BRITISH TALENT SAY EH-OH TO NEW SERIES OF TELETUBBIES

 
Fearne Cotton, Jim Broadbent and Jane Horrocks, among national treasures to feature in the hotly anticipated return of worldwide hit kids’ TV show

 

Halifax, NS – 7 April 2015 – DHX Media, a key player internationally in the creation of content for families and children, announced today that it has lined up a string of well-known British stars to voice the eagerly awaited brand new series of the global phenomenon and multi-award winning kids’ TV show Teletubbies, which is returning to CBeebies this year.

The new series will feature the same much-loved characters and styling but will be visually enhanced, bringing a refreshed and contemporary look and feel to one of the world’s most well-known properties. The new series will feature a number of brand new elements, one of which is the Tubby Phone voiced by family favourite actress Jane Horrocks, most famous for playing Bubbles in Absolutely Fabulous. Jane will be the exclusive voice of the Teletubbies’ new 21st Century gadget – catapulting Tinky Winky, Dipsy, La-La and Po into the modern day.

Bringing the fun factor to the new series is up-and-coming actor and comedian Daniel Rigby, who will narrate the show. Rigby is best known for his work as a stand-up comic, as well as his BAFTA award-winning performance in the 2011 TV film Eric and Ernie.Completing the star-studded line-up are television and radio presenter Fearne Cotton and Academy Award and BAFTA award-winning actor Jim Broadbent, best known for blockbuster hits Harry Potter, Moulin Rouge and Bridget Jones’s Diary. Broadbent will voice the much-loved Voice Trumpets alongside Children in Need presenter Cotton. Up-and-coming actress Antonia Thomas, who shot to fame in Misfits and Sunshine on Leith will narrate the opening and closing lines.

Fearne Cotton says of her role: “Teletubbies holds a special place in my heart so I’m honoured to be part of this well-loved TV show. As a mum, I am sure the new series will enthrall a whole new generation of children across Britain and I will certainly be watching with my kids!”

Jane Horrocks says: “I am very excited to be playing the Tubby Phone in the new series which has a whole new feel to it. I think it’s hilarious, and will appeal to adults as much as it does children.”

Jim Broadbent adds: Teletubbies is truly a British institution and it’s very exciting to be involved in bringing this global hit back to our TV screens. I’m really looking forward to working with the Teletubbies and giving them big hugs!”

Worldwide phenomenon Teletubbies first launched in March 1997 and became one of the most successful global children’s brands of all time. It has reached more than 1 billion children to date and the original episodes have aired in more than 120 territories in 45 different languages. It was the very first western pre-school property to air on China’s CCTV reaching an audience of 300 million children. Its enduring resonance with children is further underscored by the brand’s postings on YouTube which garner almost 50 million views per month.

For more information, please contact:

Aimee Norman at DDA Blueprint PR
Tel:+44 (0) 20 8985 4708 or aimee@ddablueprint.com

About Teletubbies
Originally created in 1997 Teletubbies is a children’s television series targeted at preschool viewers. In September 2013, DHX Media acquired all rights to Teletubbies through its purchase of Ragdoll Worldwide, a joint venture between Ragdoll Productions and BBC Worldwide that owned, managed and exploited Ragdoll programming. Multi award-winning, Teletubbies is designed to encourage young children to watch television creatively. Full of fun and exploration, it inspires confidence and curiosity and nurtures childhood development. DHX Media has engaged award-winning UK production company Darrall Macqueen to produce Teletubbies. Together they are pioneering a 21st century version of the show for a new generation of viewers.

About DHX Media
DHX Media Ltd. (www.dhxmedia.com), a leading creator, producer, marketer and broadcaster of family entertainment, is recognized globally for such brands as Yo Gabba Gabba!, Caillou, Teletubbies, In the Night Garden, Inspector Gadget, Johnny Test, and the multi-award winning Degrassi franchise. DHX Media Ltd. is the owner of Family Channel, the most-viewed children’s television channel in Canada, as well as the channels Disney Junior (English & French) and Disney XD in Canada. The Company markets and distributes its library of more than 11,000 half-hours of entertainment programming worldwide, and licenses its owned properties through its dedicated consumer products business. DHX Media Ltd.’s full-service international licensing agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd. (CPLG), represents numerous entertainment, sport and design brands. DHX Media Ltd. has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Munich and Amsterdam, and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbols DHX.A and DHX.B.

Disclaimer
This press release contains forward looking statements with respect to DHX Media including the completion of the production of the series, the timing of the television debut and the ability of the Company to place the series in other territories. Past performance of the television series is no guarantee of the future performance of the new series. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on information currently available to the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, among other things, include risks factors discussed in materials filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time including matters discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s short form prospectuses dated November 14, 2013 and December 31, 2013, Annual Information Form, and annual Management Discussion and Analysis. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.