OLLY THE LITTLE WHITE VAN SEASON TWO NEWS

The second series of 3D HD children’s animation Olly The Little White Van will be back for another run on ITV and CITV in 2012. Created by Henry Becket the show follows the adventures of the little white van of the title who has the energy and eagerness- to-please of a Labrador puppy. Just as the world would grind to a halt without white vans, Olly is all about helping and in each episode Olly comes across someone (either one of his other vehicular friends, of whom there are many, or one of the people who live in Bumpton) who needs a helping hand, and has an adventure in the course of it.

Boys and girls love the series for its fun, energy and music; parents for its quality, and the wholesome values it represents – and it often includes references that only grown -ups get (eg to The Italian Job or the Blues Brothers). For these reasons in its second month the first series secured the third-highest ratings of any children’s programme on commercial television. And the overall theme of helping – and Olly’s little helpers – is gradually garnering a small army of fans online.

The first toys, puzzles, apps, DVDs and books will be out in 2012. It is an all-British production too of 52 x 5 minute episodes:devised in London; financed entirely by private investors; and written, created, and – fairly unusually these days – animated and produced in the UK – in Birmingham. The music is composed and produced in London, as is the website. The online and social marketing are managed from Hampshire, and the first apps are being built in Bath and Bolton. The toys and puzzles are a UK development, from one of the best-known names in the business – Hornby.

Tagged Children's TV, ITV, Olly The Little White Van