Dermot O'Leary has revealed that his children's book series Toto the Ninja Cat is being adapted into an animated 52-part action-comedy television show. The 53-year-old broadcaster shared the news during a guest appearance on BBC's Saturday Kitchen on August 22.
O'Leary, best known for hosting This Morning and The X Factor, is also the author of the six-part Toto the Ninja Cat book series, aimed at readers aged 6 to 10. The books feature illustrations by Nick East and are inspired by O'Leary's own pet cat, Toto, whom he and his wife Dee Koppang rescued as a stray from an olive grove in Italy.
Seventh book and stage play
The real Toto, like her fictional counterpart, is almost completely blind but has sharp reactions and senses, which inspired the books. The series has been published over the past decade, with the first book adapted into a stage play that premiered earlier this year.
A seventh book, Toto the Ninja Cat and the Football Fiasco, is due for release later this year. The books have been translated into 19 languages and have sold more than half a million English-language copies.
Animated adaptation details
During his Saturday Kitchen appearance, host Matt Tebbutt quizzed O'Leary about his latest project. O'Leary explained: "The great thing about seven books in, now you're just world-building and that's what I love about it. A lot of people get in touch and say my kids sort of learnt how to read through this and they fell in love with reading."
O'Leary confirmed the adaptation is being developed by Emmy-winning head writers Nick Ostler and Mark Hucker. He said: "That's been optioned by the lovely people in Studiocanal and the great thing is, when anyone French options anything and tells you anything, you immediately agree with them because they're speaking of the French accent. It's very early days, but that's very exciting."
Story and O'Leary's reaction
The novels follow the titular character, the newest member of a secret league of international ninja cats. Partially sighted from birth, she turns her visual impairment into a ninja superpower, using heightened senses to navigate the city and outsmart villains.
O'Leary previously said: "I am thrilled that Toto is about to become the star of her own television series. I am often asked what inspired me to write my children's books and I cannot think of a better inspiration than Toto herself; with her kind nature and the simply wonderful idea that Toto is a loving mild-mannered kitten by day and a Ninja by night. I am inspired by the work that Studiocanal and Superprod have been developing in the family space and I can only begin to imagine Toto's continued journey with their belief and infectious enthusiasm for her potential."
Saturday Kitchen airs weekly on BBC One at 10am.
