Hey hey, £3.1m for the Tweenies

THE Tweenies, the smash-hit pre-school children's TV series and stage shows, has been sold by its creators for £3.1m.

Entertainment Rights, which owns Basil Brush, Postman Pat and Little Red Tractor, is taking over Tell-Tale Productions, the Elstree, Herts-based company founded by Iain Lauchlan and Will Brenton.

The Tweenies is described as a £350m brand by the BBC which screens it in this country. It is broadcast in 60 countries and is due to become a feature film.

Entertainment Rights chief executive Mike Heap said the purchase, which will see Lauchlan and Brenton work for the enlarged firm, secured 'the services of two of the UK's most prolific creative talents'.

The pair started Tell-Tale in 1994 having worked as actors on everything from Playschool to Inspector Morse. They performed together as pantomime dames in Aladdin.

Each will receive more than £1m and will continue to produce and create shows under Entertainment Rights.