Shine, Davenport in kids’ venture

UK-based superindie Shine Group has made its first major move into the children’s production space, launching a prodco with In the Night Garden creator Andrew Davenport.

Andrew Davenport

The news comes a day after Shine unveiled US formats business Ardaban and hired Notional co-president Chachi Senior to helm it.

Davenport, who along with Night Garden also co-created another CBeebies hit, Teletubbies, will next month become CEO of the new venture, which is yet to be named.

The launch marks Shine’s first move into dedicated children’s production, though drama prodco Kudos Film & TV produces CBBC spy series MI High and Swedish arm Metronome has produced in the genre.

Shine’s distribution arm Shine International will sell the company’s programmes, which will be both traditional TV and interactive content.

Shine 360° is responsible for commercialising non-broadcast rights. Its creative director is Francis Adams, who held the same role as BBC Worldwide until January and worked with Davenport on Night Garden and Teletubbies.

Davenport began his career as a puppeteer at Anne Wood’s Ragdoll Productions, which was behind programmes such as Teletubbies, Night Garden, Rosie and Jim and, more recently, The Adventures of Abney and Teal. As Ragdoll’s creative director, he wrote all 365 episodes of Teletubbies before leaving two years ago.

Shine CEO and chairman Elisabeth Murdoch called Davenport a “world class talent” and added: “Partnering with him brings opportunities to create truly multi-platform children’s brands whose full ambitions can be realised by working closely with our ancillary and distribution teams.”