Piccadilly adds to Chris Hoy's Flying Fergus series

Bonnier Zaffre imprint Piccadilly Press is adding five titles to Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy's children’s book series Flying Fergus, co-authored with author Joanna Nadin and illustrated by Claire Elsom.

Piccadilly Press acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Zoe King at The Blair Partnership to publish the further books in 2017 and 2018. 

The latest title in the series, targeting "the next generation of cyclists", and aimed at readers aged 5-8 years, will be published in February 2017.

Bonnier Zaffre has further agreed an exclusive partnership with Evans Cycles for them to use Hoy’s Flying Fergus character to front their 2017 Christmas campaign in 62 stores nationwide. Beyond Christmas and into 2017, Evans stores will also showcase the Flying Fergus illustration on the bike sizing chart in all stores. Copies of the existing four titles in the Flying Fergus series and Hoy’s first non-fiction title for kids, On Your Bike, will be available in stores and online. Since retiring from professional cycling, he has launched a bike range, HOY Bikes, in partnership with Evans Cycles.

Hoy has seven Olympic medals to his name - six gold and one silver - as well as 11 World and two Commonwealth titles. At the 2008 Olympics, Hoy became the first British athlete to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games since 1908. He said: "I'm excited to be working in partnership with Piccadilly Press to continue the fantastically fun, magical cycling adventure series Flying Fergus, which I’ve really enjoyed creating with Jo Nadin and Clare Elsom.  Here’s to many more stories and adventures!”

Emma Matthewson, publishing director at Piccadilly Press said: “We could not be more pleased to continue to support Sir Chris Hoy and the Flying Fergus series, which is perfect for encouraging children both to read and to get out and about on their bikes. This is particularly relevant and exciting after the fantastic performance of TeamGB at Rio!”