Shropshire company wins rights to produce toys for CBeebies programme
He's as big as it gets in children's TV – and now a Shropshire company has won the rights to make toys in his name.
Hortonwood-based Golden Bear has won the rights to market characters linked to Justin Fletcher and his CBeebies programme Justin's House.
The firm already makes the Mr Tumble toy range for Justin's other programme, Something Special, for BBC Worldwide.
Now it has won the right to produce a series of toys for Justin's House, which also features Robert the Robot and Little Monster.
"Justin's House has immense popularity and it continues to be a huge success on CBeebies, so we're thrilled to be adding the license to our toy portfolio," said Katherine Pierce, senior licensing and marketing manager at Golden Bear.
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"It was a natural next step for us to add Justin's House to complement our highly popular, award-winning Something Special range. It extends the huge appeal that Justin Fletcher has across this TV programme and we are delighted to be supporting this with new toy products."
The new tie-up was announced at last week's London Toy Fair, a major exhibition devoted to the toy industry, which is worth around £3 billion to the UK economy.
Justin's House sees the livewire performer larking about in a colourful house alongside his robot butler Robert and sidekick Little Monster, in front of an excited live audience of children. It is among the most watched programmes to have been broadcast on the BBC's standalone pre-school children's television channel.
Speaking at the toy fair, Justin said: "It's lovely to see Mr Tumble as a collection of toys. I think Golden Bear has done a wonderful job and stayed very familiar to what the programme looks like. I think it's a great extension."
Julie Kekwick, senior licensing manager at BBC Worldwide, added: "We're so pleased to be working with Golden Bear; they are renowned for being able to capture the true essence of properties that delight and excite younger audiences. Justin's House is a unique show which lends itself perfectly to the careful merchandising that Golden Bear can offer and we are delighted with the initial product they have created."
