2019 has been a very special year so far for our client, Clangers international rights owner, Coolabi Group, as the much loved pre-school brand marks 50 years since the show aired for the first time on the BBC in 1969.
In July, the Clangers kicked off their 50th birthday with a ‘big bang’ as they hosted an exclusive screening and Q and A at Bluedot Festival, a science and music spectacular at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire, to celebrate the anniversary and also mark 50 years since the first Moon landings.
Armed with two excitable Clangers costume characters, a suitcase of swanee whistles, an exclusive brand new episode, some original Clangers puppets from 1969, legendary space scientist and life-long Clangers fan, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE and an astronaut puppet inspired by her from the brand new Clangers series, Team Sundae were all set for a Clanger-tastic weekend in the beautiful Cheshire countryside.
Joining the Clangers panel to talk about the making of the show, hosted by Maggie, was Executive Producer and son of the Clangers original co-creator Oliver Postgate, Daniel Postgate, Series Producer and chief Clangers whistler, Dan Maddicott, and Clangers Co-Directors Chris Titchborne and Joanne Chalkley, from the award-winning Factory studios in Altrincham, where the show is animated.
Live streamed via the official Clangers YouTube channel, the screening and Q&A was a huge success with over 1000 festival goers filling the tent to enjoy hearing about the fascinating history, special stories and how the show is brought to life, with thousands more watching the stream live or later.
There was also an exclusive screening of ‘The Visitor’, the first episode of the brand new third series which pays homage to the original series and the first Moon landings. The episode also features an astronaut landing on the Little Blue Planet, which is inspired by Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock…it’s safe to say that Maggie had stars (and happy tears!) in her eyes as she watched herself in puppet form on the big screen for the first time!
After an exciting morning of screenings and the Q and A, it wouldn’t be a special birthday without a party and it was time for the Clangers team to let their hair down and head over to the Deep Space Disco tent for an official Clangers DJ set with family rave specialists Big Fish Little Fish. Swarms of families, nostalgic fans and ravers gathered for a one-of-a-kind DJ set of cosmic proportions as the Clangers danced the evening away on stage with confetti and space-themed musical classics. Even Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock joined the Clangers on stage to throw some shapes! It was an amazing finish to a super weekend.
But it wasn’t just Bluedot Festival which made July a fantastic month for Team Sundae and Clangers. In the weeks leading up to the festival, Sundae lined up some fantastic press opportunities for the 50th anniversary and new third series, including an exclusive interview and Clangers feature with The Sunday Times Magazine, a fun-filled birthday show opener with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning and a fantastic TV talk up on ITV’s Lorraine. TV highlights were also placed in TV Times, The Sunday Times, Daily Mail Weekend and Daily Star.
It’s been a whirlwind summer for Sundae so far, with plenty more celebrations to come, as the Clangers officially turns 50 on 16th November this year. Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting announcements!
MC x
Armed with two excitable Clangers costume characters, a suitcase of swanee whistles, an exclusive brand new episode, some original Clangers puppets from 1969, legendary space scientist and life-long Clangers fan, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE and an astronaut puppet inspired by her from the brand new Clangers series, Team Sundae were all set for a Clanger-tastic weekend in the beautiful Cheshire countryside.
