The characters were originally created in the 1960s by author Elisabeth Beresford, who lived in Alderney for more than 30 years.
The Wombles became a national phenomenon after the BBC adapted her books into a stop-motion television show that ran from 1973 to 1975.
A revival on ITV in the 1990s, together with a feature film, stage productions and a thriving merchandise business, helped secure the Wombles’ place in British popular culture.
Now, Wombles Operations Ltd has appointed The Blair Partnership to manage worldwide rights and commercial strategy, opening the door to new television, film, audio, publishing, theatre, live events, digital media and gaming projects for the first time since 1999, with plans aimed at nostalgic adults and a new generation of children.
‘The Wombles is an iconic British brand with strong cultural appeal, distinctive characters with core values that translate and resonate globally,’ said The Blair Partnership founding partner and agent, Neil Blair.
‘It is a rich content opportunity, and with rights now aligned plus a clear development pipeline in place, the property is ideally positioned for expansion across multiple platforms and categories.
‘We see significant potential to build The Wombles into a multi-platform international franchise for a new generation of audiences.’
The return will begin this summer with the launch of a Wombles YouTube channel, to reintroduce the Wombles.
Uploaded content featuring original episodes alongside new live-action content, featuring young hosts and influencers who will front programmes to promote creativity and environmental awareness through arts, crafts, cooking and gardening. Also in the works is a new interactive digital game, audio productions with celebrity casts, a new range of story books and publishing formats.
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