RTÉ, ABC venture into WildWoods

Irish pubcaster RTÉ and Australian broadcaster ABC have picked up a puppet-based sitcom for children from Belfast-based studio Sixteen South.

Puppet series WildWoods is aimed at 4-7s and is filmed outdoors

RTÉ is lead broadcaster on WildWoods (26×11’), which is targeted at kids aged 4-7 and has begun filming, with its premiere due in the autumn.

Germany’s WDR Mediagroup is handling worldwide distribution while funding agency Northern Ireland Screen is providing financial support.

WildWoods is a live-action comedy based around the adventures of a city boy who attempts simple tasks that usually go very wrong as his sheltered indoor existence makes him ill-prepared for outdoor living.

Colin Williams, creative director at Sixteen South, said: “It’s a very special comedy series that’s been almost eight years in the making and features two funny new characters that we hope will encourage children to disconnect from the digital device and reconnect with nature – and the only place to film a show like that is completely outdoors.”