Time for Tubby Second Series

When Teletubbies was Launched in November 2015, the refreshed version of the much-loved preschool show was an immediate hit with viewers, becoming a key pillar of CBeebies’ morning schedule and also proving hugely popular on iPlayer. Now, award-winning UK production company Darrall Macqueen has produced 60 more episodes of the iconic show for DHX Media and CBeebies, which will see the Teletubbies getting up to lots of playful fun in Teletubbyland and having new adventures such as playing golf and going on a picnic. The new series will launch in the same month as the 20th anniversary of Teletubbies’ first airing on the BBC.
“It’s only every so often that such a classic global show like Teletubbies comes onto the children’s television landscape and I think for all of us it’s incredible that it’s still delighting children 20 years later,” Executive Producer Maddy Darrall commented.
Darrall went on to explain that Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po continue to laugh, learn and play as they discover a new area of Teletubbyland called the Hidey Hup – a colourful, larger-than-life playground situated in a hidden glade containing apparatus for physical Teletubby fun including the Tubby Bouncy, Tubby Slidey, Tubby Uppy Downy and the Tubby Spinny. The Teletubbies journey there in a brand new ‘honk honk’ Tubby Car! Viewers can also look out for the Teletubbies Circus, pink Tubby Custard turning green and a very special Tubby Custard Ride carriage for The Noo-noo. The Tiddlytubbies become more active and their individual characteristics are built upon too as viewers discover more about Mi-Mi, Daa Daa, Baa, Ping, RuRu, Nin, Duggle Dee and Umby Pumby and learn their brand-new signature song.
“Since it launched, the new series of Teletubbies has been a huge hit with our very youngest viewers. It is so exciting that 20 years on the CBeebies audience can still enjoy and discover a world of fun and laughter.” Kay Benbow, Controller of CBeebies, said.
Multi-talented actor, writer and comedian David Walliams and pop star turned TV presenter Rochelle Humes step up to the mic to star as the Voice Trumpets, joining the existing cast of Jim Broadbent, Jane Horrocks, Daniel Rigby, Fearne Cotton and Antonia Thomas.
“It’s really thrilling to be asked to take part in Teletubbies because it’s such an iconic show and it’s watched all around the world by millions and millions of children and it was just too good a thing to turn down. I just want to come to the set, I want to go onto the Teletubby Car, I want to go onto the train, all those things. I just want to be in Teletubbyland all day long!” David Williams commented.
“I’ve always been such a big fan of the Teletubbies. My sister and I used to watch it together when we were younger and as I now have a little girl, it was a real no-brainer to be part of it. I jumped at the chance to be involved.” Rochelle Humes commented.


Tubbyfacts
The new series features 60 brand new 14 minute long episodes
The original series was filmed outdoors, but filming for the new series has been brought indoors into a studio in Twickenham, London using pioneering new production techniques
Many familiar outdoor elements remain including Home Hill and the Windmill. Even the positioning of the pathways remains faithful to the original series
The new Windmill has a more natural look and, in reality, is 25cm high
A 1:20 scale 3D printed model of Teletubbyland was built. Measuring 3m x 3m, it represents the 360 (degree) world around the Teletubbies’ home, known as Home Hill
There are 20,000 laser-cut flowers and 40,000 real dried flowers on the Teletubbies landscape model. The flowers were all hand-painted and placed onto the model to make them look natural and realistic
There are 4 varieties of flowers on the model- buttercups, poppies, daisies and cornflowers
The grass is 6mm high and was chopped and trimmed with nail scissors, hairdressing scissors and beard trimmers to give the natural feel of a meadow. Longer pieces of grass were also added by hand. After grass cutting, the model was sometimes hoovered with a hand vacuum
Teletubbyland has 5 variations of hillock. They are 4cm high on the model but, after clever compositing, an 8 foot tall Teletubby will stand on them.
The countryside horizon backdrop is modelled on the hills of Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
The size of the Teletubbies’ tummy screens have changed to reflect modern televisions and are now 16:9
The Noo-noo is the original Noo-noo, but lovingly restored with a brand new engine and colourful makeover
The Tubby Phone is a touch-screen phone which plays music, speaks and takes photos – the voice is that of Jane Horrocks!
The Dup Dup is a brand new lift connecting the Teletubbies’ dome and the hills. It replaces the slide which was used in the original series
The Tubby Custard Ride is a brand new toy for this series. It is 10 meters in length and splats out pink custard for the Teletubbies
Tubby Custard is made from a diuretic food thickener with added pink dye
The structure of the inside of the Teletubbies Home Hill is a large inflatable which requires constant air to keep it up. The Dome is 5 metres high and was deflated each night once filming had finished
The new series features a brand new Sun Baby! This iconic part is being played by 18 month old baby Berry from London, who replaces the original Sun Baby who is now 19!
The title sequence for the theme tune was recorded by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
The live action sequences which appear in the Teletubbies’ tummies are still a key feature of the show. Filmed from a child’s perspective, each short film corresponds to the theme of the episode. Instead of being shown again in its entirety, only highlights of the first film will be repeated in the new series.



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