The Wombles are officially making a TV comeback after nearly 30 years. A new generation is about to be enchanted by The Wombles, with the beloved furry creatures set to return three decades after going off-air.
Origins of The Wombles
First created by author Elizabeth Beresford in the 1960s, her stories followed a fictional gaggle of furry creatures living beneath London’s Wimbledon Common with an eco-driven mission to collect rubbish and recycle. The characters made quite an impression on a generation of young viewers when the BBC aired a TV adaptation from 1973 to 1975. Mike Batt also birthed their iconic theme song, sung by the pop group that quickly became chart-topping musicians, inspired by the characters.
Previous Adaptations
Although the BBC show ended in 1975, it went on to have several more seasons in a reboot on ITV in the 1990s, as well as its own film, stage show and popular merchandise – weaving itself into the fabric of British culture. The ITV show wrapped up in 1998, and since then, aside from an occasional reunion for a live show by the band, there’s not been much else to it.
New Deal and Future Plans
Now, after consolidating the brand’s intellectual property rights under the Blair Partnership as its global representative, that’s all about to change. There’s potential for television, film, audio, publishing, theatre, live events, digital media, and gaming under this new deal, opening Wombles fans up to a whole new world of content.
Statement from Neil Blair
In a statement, Neil Blair, founding Partner and agent at The Blair Partnership, said: ‘The Wombles is an iconic British brand with strong cultural appeal, distinctive characters with core values that translate and resonate globally.’ He has a vision to build The Wombles into a ‘multi-platform international franchise for a new generation of audiences.’
Imminent Projects
There are already several plans in the works imminently, including a YouTube channel that will feature original episodes as well as new live-action formats that will focus on the beating heart of this fictional world: environmental awareness. But it doesn’t stop there, fans are being well fed with a new digital interactive game, not to mention a renewed focus on their philanthropic arm, The Wombles Community Charity.
