Entertainment Rights develops Postman Pat spin-off

UK children's programme producer-distributor, Entertainment Rights is planning a new spin-off series featuring the black and white cat Jess from its stop-frame kids series Postman Pat.

The company is planning to launch a brand new animated Postman Pat television series and spin-offs featuring Jess the Cat next year, using traditional stop-frame rather than cgi.

Postman Pat first appeared on the BBC in 1981, and has aired in over 55 countries. Entertainment Rights took ownership of the animated character when it acquired Woodland Animations in November 2001.

Pat and Jess will join other Entertainment Rights characters who are making a comeback after 20 years, including Basil Brush. The first 13 episodes of a new 30-minute series The Basil Brush Show have been completed for the BBC. A further 13 episodes are in production for autumn 2003.

A second series of pre-school programme Merlin the Magical Puppy will show on CiTV this autumn, while a second video will also be released.

Entertainment Rights hinted at its plans as it reported its interim results for the half-year ended June 30. Turnover increased by 210% to £11.6m, while the company made a profit of £696k, compared with a loss of £388k last year.

Chairman Rod Bransgrove said: {Significant organic growth across our existing characters coupled with further development of the characters acquired in 2001 have driven both turnover and profit.{