The Wombles, the iconic British children's television series from the 1970s, is set for a major return. Created in 1968 by children's author Elisabeth Beresford, the show will relaunch this summer as part of a full-scale global revival.
New Content and Platforms
The revival includes new YouTube content that blends original 1970s episodes with contemporary live-action and influencer-led shows. The original episodes will be uploaded to a dedicated official YouTube channel, alongside newly created content produced in both live-action and digital formats.
Modern Digital Animation
While the original stop-motion series was narrated by Bernard Cribbins, the new generation of Wombles will be created using modern digital animation techniques. The new material will feature social media personalities and young hosts exploring environmentally friendly topics such as recycling, sustainability, arts and crafts, cooking, and gardening.
Returning Characters
Among those returning are Orinoco, instantly recognisable in his signature red hat; Wellington, the group's inventor and scientist; and Alderney, whose name was inspired by the Channel Island where creator Elisabeth Beresford spent her later years.
Global Franchise Expansion
Rights holder The Blair Partnership has brought together all intellectual property linked to The Wombles and is working on a wider expansion of the brand, including an interactive video game, celebrity-led audio productions, new books, and a broader range of merchandise.
Founding partner and agent at The Blair Partnership, Neil Blair, said: "The Wombles is an iconic British brand with strong cultural appeal, distinctive characters with core values that translate and resonate globally. It is a rich content opportunity and, with rights now aligned plus a clear development pipeline in place, the property is ideally positioned for expansion across multiple platforms and categories."
He added: "We see significant potential to build The Wombles into a multiplatform international franchise for a new generation of audiences."
Previous Modernisation Efforts
This is not the first effort to bring The Wombles into the modern era. In 2020, the characters were reworked to better reflect diversity, including a redesigned Wellington with a darker skin tone, alongside an active social media campaign supporting International Women's Day and climate awareness.
