ITV Digital’s Monkey set for spin-off TV series

Al and Monkey, the stars of ITV Digital’s advertising campaign, are to get their own ITV show.

The series, to be screened later this year, is in production. It will consist of a number of vignettes rather than half-hour programmes.

The campaign’s creator, Mother, is not involved in the show’s production, but has advised the director on characterisation.

The programmes will feature British Comedy Awards winner Johnny Vegas – otherwise known as Al – and the voice of comedian Ben Miller – who is Monkey.

Monkey is animated by Hensons, the company created by the late Jim Henson.

Mark Waites, a founder of Mother, says a single is also in the pipeline after months of speculation and approaches by record companies.

He says: “During rehearsals [for the ads] it started looking more likely that Monkey would be picked up by the public. We knew there would be spin-offs.”

He adds: “Outside ITV Digital’s ads, he will still represent the brand.”

Despite the projects, Waites says Mother and ITV Digital want to continue the Al and Monkey ads.

They have been reluctant to over-expose Monkey, preferring to give toys of him away with ITV Digital subscriptions rather than selling them in shops.