Hachette snaps up Blyton estate

Hachette UK has acquired worldwide rights in the Enid Blyton estate, excluding Noddy, from Chorion. 

Hachette Children's Books m.d. Marlene Johnson said: "I am absolutely delighted that we have acquired world rights to publish Enid Blyton. Hodder was her original publisher, so it is fitting that her whole portfolio has come home and will now be published and managed under one roof. We will be honouring existing contracts and will be in touch with licensees in due course."

Johnson added that they have "great plans for the future. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Famous Five and much-loved illustrators including Quentin Blake, Helen Oxenbury and Emma Chichester Clark have reinterpreted the classic characters for a new generation."

HarperCollins currently publishes Blyton's Noddy series, with Egmont the current publishers of other Blyton series including Malory Towers and the Wishing Chair Adventures. Hachette currently publishes electronic, print and audio versions of Famous Five, Secret Seven and Naughtiest Girl, and audio editions of Malory Towers and St Clare's in Britain and France.

Chorion has been selling off its assets since it broke its banking covenants in September last year and could not restructure its £70m debt.