New Bookaboo series to go international

Preschool TV programme “Bookaboo” has secured an international deal for a 52-episode series, said its creator Lucy Goodman.

The programme, which features celebrities reading picture books to “rock puppy” Bookaboo, recently won its second BAFTA.

“Bookaboo” is distributed globally by Freemantle. Some countries, such as Australia’s ABC, have bought the UK-created episodes, but the latest deal will see an entirely new programme made abroad, featuring local celebrities and picture books. Details of where the new programme will be made will be announced in the next few weeks, said Goodman.

She added: “Each international deal increases interest in the programme, and we hope that as interest ratchets up we will be able to secure a US deal for Bookaboo.”

“Bookaboo” is currently airing on CITV’s preschool show “Mini CITV”, and is its highest-ranking preschool show. Goodman said: “We brought in some new characters to the second series and were more daring with the books we used, such as Kes Gray’s Mum and Dad Glue, which many people wouldn’t think was right for television, but we found a way to make it work.”

She is hopeful that a third series of “Bookaboo” will be made and expects to be able to make an announcement in a month’s time. In the meantime, publishers can send new picture books for consideration for inclusion in a future programme to the producer, Happy Films.