Little Britain boosts BBC profits

The massive success of the comedy Little Britain has driven a huge increase in profits for the BBC's commercial arm.

BBC Worldwide, which sells the corporation's programmes and products and publishes its magazines across the world, has seen record profits in the last year due to the success of such shows as the cult sketch series and Strictly Come Dancing.

Profits for BBC Worldwide in the year 2004/05 went up by 50 per cent compared to the previous 12 months to a record £55million. Sales increased by seven per cent to £706million, with cashflow into the BBC reaching a new high of ?145million.

Key factors behind the performance include increased magazine circulation and unprecedented profits on the TV sales side, with 40,000 hours of shows sold to networks globally.

But the record sales of the Little Britain Series 1 DVD, the best-selling non-film title of the year with 1.3 million units sold, is thought to be the main force behind the success.

The programme, starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams, reached cult status almost immediately after its debut on BBC3, with the second series then being moved to BBC1.

The rejuvenated Strictly Come Dancing has also reproduced its success in Britain across the world, with the format being sold to 14 countries so far. It is already a hit in the US, where it goes under the name Dancing With The Stars and has had one of the biggest summer debuts on American television in recent years. Among the judges are former boxer Evander Holyfield.

BBC employees are currently fighting plans to axe 4,000 posts.

Luke Crawley, supervisory official for Bectu, the biggest union representing BBC staff, said: "We think that an increase in profits and increase of money coming to the BBC should go some way to reducing the need to sack staff in order to make savings.

"If the profits are higher than expected, I would think it would help reduce the numbers."

Director-general Mark Thompson said: "I am delighted to see BBC Worldwide producing such excellent results and delivering more cash back to the BBC. This success reflects Worldwide's ability to create products which people in the UK enjoy."