14-15 SOTN Corp.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 04/05/2018 13:00 Page 15
STATE OF THE NATION: CORPORATE Below: Pip and Posy has sales of over a million copies worldwide.
Magic deal for Nosy Crow
Magic Light Pictures is to turn its hand to its first animation for preschoolers – having optioned the rights to Nosy Crow’s successful Pip and Posy picture book series. The popular series is illustrated by Axel Scheffler and to date there are seven titles, with sales of over one million copies having been achieved worldwide. Magic Light Pictures has, of course, enjoyed great success with its adaptations of other books which have been illustrated by Axel – those written by Julia Donaldson. These have all scored huge ratings as festive specials on BBC One since Christmas 2009. They include the Oscar-nominated The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, as well as Stick Man and The Highway Rat. The latter attracted almost eight million viewers on its Christmas Day broadcast in 2017. Pip and Posy captures the emotional highs and lows of preschool life and shows that we all can be there to help one another through.
FatFace adds partners The brand extension programme for lifestyle brand and retailer FatFace has got off to a strong start – with four new partners signed up in the UK. The signings follow on from an apparel collaboration with Natural History Museum which includes six t-shirts covering dinosaurs, butterflies and sea creatures. A three-year deal has been secured with Ashley Wilde for Above: The collab with the the home category. The range of Natural History Museum home furnishings will include adult includes six t-shirts. and children’s bedding, throws, cushions and curtains. Reinforcing its love for being British and its desire to support local and family run businesses where possible, FatFace has welcomed on board Christina May in a two-year deal for natural soap and candles. Proporta will be launching a line of tech and phone cases, having secured a three-year deal. FatFace will continue its relationship this year with Peter Black on men’s Christmas gifting. For the first time, it will be adding a range of kids’ toiletries.
Slimefest returns to Blackpool Nickelodeon star JoJo Siwa and Diversity will be returning to the company’s Slimefest event in Blackpool later this year. Held in partnership with VisitBlackpool from October 20-22 at The Arena, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Slimefest is a slime-filled music show which attracted over 12,000 people to six sold out shows last year. 2017 also saw JoJo make her UK performance debut, while Diversity showcased some of their gravity-defying dance routines. They will again be joined by hosts Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely, with the additional line-up being announced in the run-up to this year’s six performances. Right: JoJo Siwa returns to Slimefest this year.
Quiz masters The popular Northern Light Fund Quiz Night – which was held in March at Hotel Football in Manchester - raised over £12,000 for the industry charity. The total was boosted by a successful auction – ably hosted by David Aykroyd – which included signed football shirts from Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and England, as well as tickets to see the semi-final of The Voice, and raised an extra £2,000. The traditional raffle further bolstered the funds going to the charity. The team from Aykroyd & Sons came away victorious – with a total of 89 points. Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, the team from TDP – 60% of the time, we win every time – had the dubious honour of claiming the ‘big pants’ with a score of 58. Meanwhile, The Light Fund’s first comedy night was held in April at the Hoopla Improv Comedy Club at London Bridge and raised some £1,500.
Above: The team from Aykroyd & Sons emerged victorious at the quiz night.
LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2018
15