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To celebrate the release of The Wombles now available on Blu-Ray and DVD we are giving away Blu-Rays to 2 lucky winners!

For the first time ever, every classic episode of The Wombles is now available fully restored and presented from hi-definition masters. This set contains all 60 episodes, a total of nearly 5 hours of outstanding Wombles action for you to enjoy over and over again.

Based on the books written by Elisabeth Beresford and brought to life by the beloved Bernard Cribbins, these eco-conscious lovable creatures first appeared on British TV in the mid 70’s and have since become cherished icons of British pop culture.

The Wombles live in burrows hidden below Wimbledon Common. The

series follows their adventures and individual eccentricities as they spend days collecting and making good use of the things that everyday folk leave behind.

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Gaumont UK Lands Latest Channel 5 Thriller

Locked In producer Gaumont UK is making The Wives for Paramount UK network Channel 5, a six-part mystery drama about the unravelling of a family. The Wives follows four sisters-in-law and their families who escape to their Maltese holiday apartments, as they’ve done every summer for 15 years, but things go awry. Cast will be revealed shortly and show is filming in Malta early next year, airing later in 2024. Gaumont UK is producing in association with Banijay Rights, which is selling around the world. Run by Alison Jackson, Gaumont UK has already produced For Her Sins for Channel 5 along with Netflix double Locked In and Obsession. “The Wives is set to bring layers of mystery and intrigue which is guaranteed to keep the Channel 5 audience guessing,” said Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer for Paramount UK.

Juno Dawson Developing Eliza Clark Adaptation

Juno Dawson...

Good afternoon Insiders. We’re back after a busy week in Cannes and Max Goldbart is here helming your weekly dose of news and analysis. Read on and sign up here.

Conflict Week Two

Here for the long haul: We are approaching the two-week anniversary of the bloody Hamas massacre on Israel, and there is now a terrifying recognition that the region is in it for the long haul. This week has been about attempted damage limitation as Israel takes revenge on its attackers and Western nations rush to stem the flow of a crisis that is so far estimated to have claimed around 5,000 lives. Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have both visited, attempting to walk a tightrope in pledging their support for Israel while stressing the need for international law to be observed and innocent Palestinian lives to be spared. Biden was the most successful, securing...

Exclusive: A modern TV series remake of The Wombles is in the works with Ipcress File producer Altitude Television.

The TV arm of Altitude Media Group is forging a fresh version of the beloved animated British family series about a secretive group of furry creatures who live beneath Wimbledon Common, which is being co-produced with The Wombles production house and written by How to Train Your Dragon’s Will Davies.

Based on Elisabeth Beresford’s children’s novels, the stop-motion show ran in the mid-70s on the BBC featuring the voice of Bernard Cribbins, was remade in the mid-90s for ITV and remastered earlier this year as it turned 50. Altitude didn’t elaborate further on how it will be modernizing the classic.

Meanwhile, Altitude, which produced ITV’s big-budget remake of Michael Caine pic Ipcress File, has hired Chris Clark as MD and Chief Creative Officer, along with Development Executive Gabby Kardar.

Nine. That’s the number of Doctor Who episodes that Wilfred Mott has appeared in so far. Just nine. And he was nearly in none.

Bernard Cribbins, a legend who spent seven decades acting and entertaining after joining a theatre club in Oldham as Assistant Stage Manager aged 14, was cast in “Voyage of the Damned” as Stan, selling newspapers from a kiosk as the aliens of the starship Titanic beam down and away again. It was intended as a cameo appearance only, but Howard Attfield was ill. Due to return as Donna Noble’s dad Geoff, Attfield filmed some scenes for Series 4 opener “Partners in Crime” before retiring from the role. He died shortly afterwards.

Behind the scenes, there had been hope that Attfield would have been able to act in the Sontaran two-parter, but his condition deteriorated and his wife said he could not carry on. It was at this point,...

Doctor Who vet Bernard Cribbins has died at the age of 93, Variety reports. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

Cribbins made his franchise debut as Tom Campbell, companion to Peter Cushing’s Doctor, in the 1966 film Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. But he is more commonly associated with his recurring role as Wilfred “Wilf” Mott, grandfather of Catherine Tate’s Donna, appearing in a total of 10 episodes during David Tennant’s stint as the Doctor.

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Bernard Cribbins, the beloved narrator of 1970s British children’s show “The Wombles” and actor on “Doctor Who,” has died. He was 93.

Variety confirmed Cribbins’ death with his agent on Thursday.

The actor’s career spanned seven decades, with memorable performances in the BBC’s iconic “Doctor Who” series, where Cribbins played the Doctor’s companion Tom Campbell in the 1966 film “Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.” He later returned to star in the revived TV show as Wilfrid Mott, the grandfather of actor Catherine Tate’s Donna. Cribbins played Mott from 2007 to 2010.

“Doctor Who” showrunner Russel T. Davies posted a heartfelt Instagram tribute to the veteran actor, saying, “I love this man. I love him.”

“He knew everyone! He’d talk about the Beatles and David Niven, and how he once sat on the stairs at a party impersonating bird calls with T H White. Then he’d add, ‘I...

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Bernard Cribbins, the British actor, singer and children’s entertainer whose career spanned seven decades and famously included roles in Doctor Who, has died. He was 93.

News of Cribbins’ death was confirmed to the BBC by his family.

A prolific performer across film, TV and stage, Cribbins — born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1928 — was perhaps best known for playing Doctor Who companion Tom Campbell in the 1966 film Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., returning to the BBC’s cult sci-fi 41 years later in its hit revival series. He was also noted for narrating the much-loved children’s program The Wombles from 1973-1975, was a regular reader on famed storytime show Jackanory from 1966 to 1991, and, more recently, played the titles role in the kids’ series Old Jack’s Boat between (2013-2015). Another famed TV appearance was that of pretentious hotel guest Mr. Hutchinson in the 1975 Fawlty Towers episode “The Hotel Inspectors.

Bernard Cribbins, the veteran British actor who narrated The Wombles and starred in the popular film adaptation of The Railway Children, has died. He was 93.

Cribbins’ agent, Gavin Barker Associates, confirmed the news to Deadline in a statement.

Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery

“Beloved actor Bernard Cribbins OBE has passed away at the age of 93. His career spanned seven decades with such diverse work ranging from films like The Railway Children and the Carry On series, hit 60’s song Right Said Fred a notorious guest on Fawlty Towers and narrating The Wombles,” the statement read. “He worked well into his 90s, recently appearing in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat. He lost his wife of 66 years, Gill, last year.”

The statement continued: “Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed...

It's game show heaven on television right now. Not only do we have all sorts of new formats making their way to screen, but some old favourites are getting a second lease of life, too - from Fifteen to One (airing daily on Channel 4) to the second series of the revived Catchphrase (Sundays on ITV.) But it got us thinking - what other game shows would we like to see return to our living rooms?

Well, we asked that very question to Fifteen to One's Sandi Toksvig and Catchphrase's Stephen Mulhern - and then had a bit of office debate about our own favourites...

You Bet! - Stephen Mulhern (Host, Catchphrase)

"This is an easy question: You Bet! It was one of my favourite TV shows and Matthew Kelly was one of my favourite presenters. I love it.

"I can give you some great examples that still amaze me to this day.

The Wombles will make a TV comeback in 2015 on Channel 5, it has been confirmed.

Channel 5's pre-school strand Milkshake has snapped up the rights to the classic children's characters, who first became popular on TV in the 1970s.

"This show was so loved by generations of children and the time is right for it to gain a whole new following," said Channel 5's head of children's TV Jessica Symons.

"The stories and characters are as compelling as ever and we're excited to welcome The Wombles to Milkshake."

Dramatico Animation Ltd will be creating 52 episodes of The Wombles, which will now be animated in CGI.

Mike Batt, who now owns the rights to The Wombles and wrote the programme's original theme tune, said: "It will look more like stop motion but with great fur.

"We believe that there are audiences of new children who missed The Wombles the first time around...

Mike Batt reveals big plans for the furry orange eco-creatures from Wimbledon Common, including a movie, new series and 'interactive experience'

Missing believed lost on Wimbledon common, the Wombles could be set for a big-screen return under the auspices of co-creator Mike Batt. The gentle, point-nosed eco-activists were a mainstay of British television in the 1970s, going on to enjoy film and chart success. And now, it seems, they could be back.

The British songwriter Batt recently gained a controlling interest in Wombling Copyright Holdings, the company that owns the creatures and is now angling for a major relaunch. Batt previously enjoyed a 50-50 share of the company with the estate of the author Elizabeth Beresford, who wrote the original Wombles story back in 1968.

"We have plans for two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive Womble World experience," announced Batt.

He added: "We think there are...

News Louisa Mellor 9 Aug 2013 - 15:35

The Wombles co-creator Mike Batt has announced plans for a Wombles revival, including a TV series, movie, and a Womble World Experience...

Hugo Myatt is playing Tregard again, Peter Lord wants to take Morph out of the mothballs, and now Mike Batt, Wombles and Katie Melua song-writer extraordinaire, has announced plans to bring the Wombles back in force. Make Fruit Salads 1p again, reintroduce Baker Days, and let us gorge on school dinners made entirely from trans fats, and the time tunnel to our childhoods will be complete.

The Guardian reports that following his gaining a controlling interest in Wombling Copyright Holdings (now there's a company name), co-creator Mike Batt wishes to bring the eco-conscious characters back with "two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive Womble World experience". Batt continued, "We think there are audiences of new children and international...

The Wombles may return in a new TV series and feature film.

Mike Batt - who helped turn the children's TV characters into popstars in the 1970s - has outlined plans to bring back the Wombles after acquiring the rights to the brand.

The songwriter announced to his fans that his firm now has the major shareholding in Wombles Copyright Holdings, after having a 50-50 share for many years with the estate of author Elisabeth Beresford.

He wrote: "Suffice to say we have plans for two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive online Wombles World experience.

"We think the Wombles characters are timeless, funny and lovable, and we can assure the Beresford estate that we shall protect and look after the quality and integrity of the characters as we always have done.

"We think there are audiences of new children and international audiences who missed the...

The Wombles may return in a new TV series and feature film.

Mike Batt - who helped turn the children's TV characters into popstars in the 1970s - has outlined plans to bring back the Wombles after acquiring the rights to the brand.

The songwriter announced to his fans that his firm now has the major shareholding in Wombles Copyright Holdings, after having a 50-50 share for many years with the estate of author Elisabeth Beresford.

He wrote: "Suffice to say we have plans for two new 26-part TV series, a feature-length movie and an interactive online Wombles World experience.

"We think the Wombles characters are timeless, funny and lovable, and we can assure the Beresford estate that we shall protect and look after the quality and integrity of the characters as we always have done.

"We think there are audiences of new children and international audiences who missed the...

Bernard Cribbins has criticised the current state of children's television in the UK. The veteran actor - who previously starred in a number of classic kids' TV shows including The Wombles and Jackanory - said that shows today are too "fast and noisy". He also said that current shows drop intelligent storytelling for the "gratuitous" use of CGI graphics. The 84-year-old told BBC News: "You can't help but notice how children's TV has changed." Cribbins will return to children's TV in CBeebies show Old Jack's Boat, which begins today (January 21). He said: "It's all very fast and noisy now I think. You think of the gentleness of Jackanory, somebody would walk onto the set, sit down and say 'hello I'm going to tell you about Ratty and Mole and the Wind in the Willows' (more)...

Veteran actor Bernard Cribbins has been honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal.

The beloved TV and radio favourite was recognised for his services to drama and presented with the prestigious award by Princess Anne, Princess Royal on Thursday, during a ceremony at Windsor Castle in England.

Cribbins, who has enjoyed a career spanning over five decades, has appeared in British TV hits Doctor Who, Fawlty Towers and Coronation Street and he also narrated popular children's TV show The Wombles in the 1970s.

Cribbins also featured in a number of cult Carry On movies.

Now 82, he told reporters gathered at the castle he has no plans to retire: "I love it, I can't stop, why should I? I'm still able to read and write."...

Michael Eavis has said that it was "a bit of a mistake" that The Wombles have been booked for Glastonbury. The festival founder expressed his dismay that the band, which is based on the characters created by Elisabeth Beresford, will play the Avalon stage on June 26, BBC News reports. Eavis said: "I've got about 25 stages and managers and bookers for each of the stages. I can't control every single one of them but I do get cross about that kind of thing." Wombles band creator Mike Batt countered: "He probably doesn't realise what a fantastic live act The Wombles are. "Uncle Bulgaria told me he thinks Mr Eavis is probably perfectly (more)...

Prolific writer who enjoyed her greatest success with the recycling Wombles

Elisabeth Beresford, who has died aged 84, enjoyed her greatest success with the creation of the Wombles. The family motto of the colourful underground creatures – "making good use of bad rubbish" – sprang from a concern of the writer's that chimed with the growing ecological awareness of the next four decades. Famously, the inspiration for the figures came on a Boxing Day walk on Wimbledon Common, south-west London, during which her daughter, Kate, misnamed it Wombledon Common.

As elsewhere with Beresford's work, the point of departure was real – here, the place and the characters, largely drawn from uncles, grandparents, siblings and her children: Marcus, her son, genial and interested in food, inspired Orinoco; Kate inspired Bungo, a strong character in the books, though not in the films.

Their underground and above-ground adventures begin simply; in The Wombles (1968) the characters do little...

Elisabeth Beresford, the creator of The Wombles, has died at the age of 86. The novelist and journalist passed away on Christmas Eve in the Mignot Memorial Hospital situated upon the Channel Island of Alderney, her family confirmed to the BBC. Beresford was inspired to write the first Wombles books, which later spawned a 1970s children's television series, by a Boxing Day walk across Wimbledon Common. She explained during a November 2010 BBC Guernsey interview: (more)...

"The Flintstones" has topped a poll of the most memorable children's TV theme songs. The opening music for the U.S. cartoon, about a stone age family, was named the most recognizable of any kids' program, pushing "Top Cat" into second place.

The survey of 2,000 adults in the U.K., conducted by Prs for Music, featured "Postman Pat" in third, while "Scooby Doo" and "The Wombles" took the fourth and fifth positions respectively. But "The Wombles" composer Mike Batt insists his ditty should have charted higher in the top five.

He jokes, "Life is one big scramble for success and although I've had my ups, I am mortified to see that I made it only to number five compared to 'Postman Pat' at number three. I demand a recount!"

The Flintstones, whose theme was written by Hoyt Curtin, Joseph Barbera and William Hanna, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.

The great Bernard Cribbins seems to have been in the press all week, and his presence as a Doctor Who co-star at Christmas looks set to extend his presence even further. Today it was The Times turn to feature Cribbins who was interviewed by his friend Ken Russell. While he's still refusing to give anything about The End of Time away and discussing "Right Said Fred" and The Wombles there's still plenty of interest, not least in his thoughts on his BAFTA award on Sunday and his...