Lampies plan magazine and spin-off deals

The Lampies, a children’s TV cartoon series shown on BBC2 and produced by Red Balloo Productions, is to be turned into a magazine. The brand will also appear on toys and clothing in a bid to rival Bob the Builder and the Tweenies, both of which have launched successful spin-off products.

Red Balloo Productions, which owns the rights to the Lampies brand, has also signed a deal with North County Foods to produce Lampies branded pizzas.

The monthly magazine, to be called The Lampies, will be launched on October 17, priced at £1.65. Published by contract publisher Please! Publishing, the magazine will have an initial print run of 150,000.

Red Balloo Productions managing director James Coldwell says: “The magazine is only the start – we have a number of merchandising deals already agreed and a range of Lampies products, from toys to soft furnishings, will soon be on the shelves.”

He adds: “Over the next couple of months we expect the Lampies to become a household name: people should not be shocked to hear the Lampies on radio stations across the country, or even to see the characters on Top of the Pops.”

Red Balloo Productions is expecting to launch its range of toys – which will include playsets, puzzles and lunchboxes – sometime this year. Lampies-branded children’s nightwear, footwear and underwear will be launched next year. The branded food, which will include pizzas, chicken nuggets and cocktail sausages, will also be launched next year.

Other merchandise deals include duvet covers, curtains, towels, bathrobes, sleeping bags and videos.