JAM scores double commission for Little Roy and The Roy Files from CBBC and CBeebies
Skwigly
Multiple award-winning creative production, distribution and licensing company JAM Media has won a far-reaching cross-over commission from both CBBC and CBeebies for brand new series Little Roy (52 x 14’).
The series was jointly commissioned by Controller of CBeebies Kay Benbow and by Controller of CBBC Cheryl Taylor will air on both channels. Sue Nott and Michael Towner from the BBC will executive produce, along with Alan Shannon and John Rice from JAM Media. The series is produced by Mark Cumberton.
Building on the success of the BAFTA award-winning pre-school series Roy, which currently airs on CBBC, Little Roy is a live action/animation hybrid starring Roy O’Brien, an animated 5-year-old boy on a journey of self-discovery through imaginative play. Little Roy embraces all the winning elements of the existing 11-year-old Roy brand: laugh out loud comedy, physical hijinks and emotional learning, but with the added dash of madcap humour and craziness. Little Roy is Roy with the brakes off.
In a separate deal, CBBC has also commissioned a spin-off series The Roy Files also featuring the star of JAM’s hit series Roy, a live action/animation mockumentary.
The Roy Files (15 x 14’) is currently in production and was commissioned by Controller of CBBC Cheryl Taylor. Sue Nott at the BBC and Alan Shannon and John Rice at JAM Media will executive produce with Mark Cumberton producing and Alan Shannon also directing.
The series will give fans a new and exclusive insight into the life of Roy O’Brien – Ireland’s only cartoon boy living in the real world. Roy turns his history homework from Mr Hammond into a scrapbook about himself that features exclusive new material combined with highlights from all four series of the main show. The pace, humour and heart will mirror that of Roy and each episode will feature core themes that are relatable to the audience like teachers, bullies, and being yourself. At the end of every chapter in the scrapbook, Roy will offer his conclusions to the events he’s just relived, though being an 11-year-old cartoon boy, he is prone to slightly getting the wrong end of the stick!
JAM Media has worldwide rights to both series.
Cheryl Taylor Controller CBBC says: “Roy has been a huge success with the CBBC audience, so it’s fantastic to be able to collaborate further with JAM Media and CBeebies to open him to the wider children’s audience through Little Roy and The Roy Files. We’re sure our viewers will enjoy following him through his heart-warming and hilarious animated journeys of self-discovery in both series.”
John Rice, CEO JAM Media adds: “We are thrilled once again to be working not only with CBBC but also CBeebies to build the franchise together and take the show to a new audience. Little Roy promises to be an ideal cross over show for CBBC and CBeebies. Wonderful also to be making The Roy Files for CBBC which has Roy reflecting on past adventures.”