Acamar Films has signed a significant new content deal with the BBC for a new series of its award-winning preschool property Bing. A further 26 x 7’ episodes are set to air on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer from October 31, following the launch of the new episodes on Acamar’s new app Bing: Watch, Play, Learn. The BBC has also relicensed the original 78 episodes, bringing the total number of episodes to 104.
Produced by Acamar Films in association with Dublin-based partner Brown Bag Films, Bing has seen extraordinary success since it launched in 2014. A ratings hit on CBeebies in the U.K. and the top rated preschool show on BBC iPlayer, the series won an International Emmy Award in the Kids Preschool category in 2016, a Writer’s Guild Award and a BAFTA nomination for best Preschool Series.
Adapted for television from the much-loved original books by author Ted Dewan, Bing celebrates the joyful, messy reality of preschool life and the everyday micro-dramas that all young children and the grown-ups in their lives will recognize.
The new series boasts an extraordinary new voice cast: new-comer Rafferty Railton as Bing, award-winning actor David Threlfall as Flop and Noah Hicks as Pando, along with original cast members Akiya Henry playing Amma, Eve Bentley as Sula, Jocelyn McNabb as Coco and Briony Hannah as Padget. Two new key characters join Bing and his friends in this series: Dr. Molly, voiced by Tamsin Greig, and Sula’s young cousin Nicky, voiced by Xavi Nixon.
Viewers will join Bing in celebrating his birthday, and the entire cast celebrating Christmas and Halloween. New episodes also include stories about face painting, finding a fossil, a visit from the Fire Engine and camping in the garden.
Mikael Shields, CEO of Acamar Films, commented, “We are delighted to continue our long partnership with the BBC; it has been a treat to get back into Bing world with our writing-team, as well as with our amazing ensemble cast. We’re all excited to show these new episodes to our highly discerning audience.”
In addition to the U.K., Bing airs in 116 markets, including ABC and Nick Jr. in Australia, Rai Yoyo and DeA Junior in Italy, Carousel and O! in Russia, Disney Junior in South East Asia, KiKa in Germany, NPO Zappelin in the Netherlands, VRT in Belgium, TVO and TFO Canada, Okto Singapore, S4C in Wales, Irish broadcaster RTE, SVT in Sweden, Clan TV in Spain, MiniMini and Puls TV in Poland, CBeebies in Africa, Norwegian broadcaster NRK, LTV Latvia, HOP in Israel, Czech TV in Czech Republic, M2 in Hungary, RSI in Switzerland and AMC in CEE. Bing is also available on three airlines: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates.
Bing’s success continues off-screen with a fantastic reaction from retailers across Europe to the toy launch from master toy partner Golden Bear, a hugely successful and comprehensive licensing program in Italy and expansion into new markets, including Russia.
The new Bing app features a safe and ad-free world of content, including free episodes from the new series and specially developed educational games and activities designed to encourage positive emotional development. Bing: Watch, Play, Learn launches on Apple App Store, Google Play and very soon Amazon Appstore. Bingsters and their parents can watch three brand new episodes for free. Those wishing to enjoy additional content on the app can take advantage of a half-price “early bird” upgrade offer – £7.49 for 12 months – ahead of a fuller version of the app being released at the end of October.
