Kiddipedia
Can you believe that one of the most iconic and influential preschool series of all time – Teletubbies – celebrates it’s 20th anniversary of when it very first launched on television screens in the UK.
The world first said “Eh-Oh” to Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po on 31 March, 1997. The brightly coloured characters with their distinctive antennae, tummy tv screens, child-like movements, and simple language were like nothing ever seen before on children’s television. Their young audience was instantly captivated, but it took a little longer to win the sceptical adults over.
But once the adult audience began to understand the thinking and development process behind the show, seeing how it struck a chord with preschoolers, the tide started to turn. Parents scrabbled to find the latest ‘must have’ Teletubby toy for their children at Christmas, photographers hid in hedges around the set to get exclusive pictures of the actors, and the fab four even hit the number one spot in the UK with their song “Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh’.
The series, created by Anne Wood and Andy Davenport, and produced by Ragdoll Productions for the BBC, became known for its high production values. It went on to win numerous awards, including the Japan Prize Grand Prix, the most prestigious accolade in children’s educational television, and is now one of the most successful global children’s brands of all time.
Teletubbies have reached over 1 billion children to date and the original episodes have aired in over 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.
In 2013, the brand was acquired by DHX Media and relaunched for TV audiences in 2015 with a new series commissioned by CBeebies. Filmed entirely in Twickenham Studios in London for DHX Media, the new series is now delighting a whole new generation of children in the UK, US, Australia and around the world. On the anniversary itself, a brand new episode – Sliding Down – will air on CBeebies in the UK.
Kay Benbow, Controller CBeebies said: “The BBC took a bold risk commissioning Teletubbies. It was a show unlike anything that had been seen before, but the corporation had absolute faith in Anne and Andy’s vision. It was a risk that paid off and we are very proud of the show’s fantastic heritage and continued success in entertaining children around the world.”
The new series’ executive producer Maddy Darrall from Darrall Macqueen says: “It’s only every so often that such a classic global show like Teletubbies comes onto the children’s television landscape and I think for all of us it’s incredible that they’re still delighting children 20 years later. We’ve made new Teletubbies in their 20th anniversary year and that’s fantastic for all the team involved – cast, crew, all the visual effects producers, the whole team.”
Catch the latest episodes of the Teletubbies on DVD at leading retailers, via digital download (on iTunes & Google Play) or on ABC KIDS, airing 11.40am on weekends!
The very first episode of the original series entitled Ned’s Bicycle can be seen on the Teletubbies YouTube channel.
To WIN 1 of 4 Teletubbies 20th Anniversary prize packs click here
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