NEWS

BBC Studios and CBeebies commission fourth Hey Duggee series

Published on: 3rd December 2021

With a global footprint in over 150 countries, Duggee and The Squirrels will return to CBeebies for 40 brand new episodes of the popular show.

Henrietta Hurford-Jones, director of Children’s and executive producer of Hey Duggee for BBC Studios, said: “Hey Duggee is so popular with both parents and children, and I’m sure they’ll be as delighted as we are that a new series is on the way. We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved so far and how much people love Duggee and The Squirrels, so we’re delighted to be working with the hugely talented Studio AKA once more. We can’t wait for viewers to see it.”

Since launching in 2014, the hit animation from Studio AKA has become a six-time BAFTA and international Emmy award-winning hit on CBeebies and was the most-watched kids’ show on BBC iPlayer in 2020 with over 192m requests. All episodes of Hey Duggee are available exclusively on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

Additionally, Hey Duggee has over 1.2m fans across its social channels, and the official YouTube channel has over a billion lifetime views. Recently Hey Duggee teamed up with The Body Coach Joe Wicks for The Workout Badges series on YouTube, following on from bespoke lockdown-themed content on its social channels such as The Handwashing Badge. Meanwhile The Parenting Badge, which debuted in December 2020, has had over 1.2m views.

Sue Goffe, head of Production at Studio AKA, said: “We’re thrilled to be continuing our glorious Duggee Adventure with BBC Studios and CBeebies. A huge thank you to our extraordinary creative team for all their hard work, and to all our viewers for your continued love and support for the show.”

Kate Morton, head of BBC Children’s Commissioning & Acquisitions 0-6 added: “Hey Duggee is a staple in households right across the UK, so we’re delighted to continue our adventure with him and The Squirrels on CBeebies. Just like his young fans, all of us at BBC Children’s can’t wait to see what he gets up to next.”

Hey Duggee has an impressive global footprint in over 150 countries with its global popularity spawning numerous licensing agreements, including Golden Bear as UK master toy partner and Penguin Books publishing under the Ladybird imprint. Recently, BBC Studios secured agreements in Spain with Ypislon as licensing agent and Bizak as master toy partner, marking further growth in Western Europe.

Last year, France TV was signed as the French licensing agent for Hey Duggee and product now available in the region includes toys from master toy Lansay; plush toys, furniture and melamine courtesy of licensee Jemini; puzzles and early learning games from Ravensburger; magazines by Milan and books by Hachette.

 

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