Collection developed by Aykroyd and Sons

Launch coincides with new KIDZ BOP album ‘KIDZ BOP 52’ Out 9 January

KIDZ BOP, the number one music brand for kids, and Bulldog Licensing, the brand’s European licensing partner, announced the launch of KIDZ BOP’s first UK fashion line, exclusively with Character.com, UK’s biggest retailer of licensed kids’ clothing. The kids collection will consist of KIDZ BOP t-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets for every little fan ready to live their pop star dreams.

The line, developed by apparel licensee Aykroyd and Sons, will launch in stores and online at Character.com in January 2026, to coincide with the release of the KIDZ BOP’s new album ‘KIDZ BOP 52’ on 9 January. The collection will be featured in KIDZ BOP “Tears” music videos and album video content. Fans can celebrate the launch in select stores with guest appearances by the KIDZ BOP Kids early this year. Shop the KIDZ BOP collection at Character.com Collection Page.

The collection comes on the heels of KIDZ BOP’s first theatrical release, KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie and follows their massively successful global concert tour performing to hundreds of thousands of kids and families. KIDZ BOP has more than 12 billion streams and more than six billion YouTube views globally. KIDZ BOP is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year.

In the UK, the brand has achieved sustained national visibility through appearances on Good Morning Britain, the BAFTA Children’s Awards, CBBC Blue Peter, Saturday Mash-Up, BBC Children in Need, and Loose Women. The KIDZ BOP Kids have also attended film premieres and served as red carpet correspondents, interviewing A list talent. The KIDZ BOP Kids have performed at Wembley Arena and set the Guinness World Record for the youngest music ensemble to headline an arena show.

Jackie Turner, Marketing SVP, KIDZ BOP says, “KIDZ BOP is all about confidence, self-expression and fun. These new styles let kids bring that pop star feeling into their everyday lives.”

Emma Wilkins, Brand Manager, Character.com, says: ‘KIDZ BOP is a brand bursting with fun, confidence and energy—qualities we know our customers love. We’re incredibly excited to be the exclusive home of this fun new apparel range and to help bring the launch of KIDZ BOP’s latest album release to life with our in-store events and bespoke digital content. At Character.com, we’re all about celebrating the things kids are passionate about, and this partnership is the perfect match.’

Robyn Cowling, Head of Licensing, Aykroyds, says: “The continuing success of the KIDZ BOP brand has made awareness higher than ever across multiple markets and, of course, the UK is one of the biggest. That’s why we’re thrilled to be taking the brand to market on a fabulous new clothing range alongside a major name in Character apparel retail as the buzz builds around the new album.”

Laury Howat, Retail Licensing Manager, Bulldog Licensing, says: “This exclusive range of distinctive, high-quality KIDZ BOP t-shirts, hoodies and jackets promises to be wildly popular – not least as part of the showcase for KIDZ BOP’s new album. From our first meeting in Swansea, it was clear that the Character.com team were as excited about this opportunity as we are, and they have backed it to the hilt. We’re thrilled to have market leaders Aykroyds and Character.com on board to bring the magic of KIDZ BOP into UK children’s wardrobes. This isn’t just an apparel launch – it’s an event!”

Building on the brand’s success, Bulldog is targeting a wide range of categories for the brand in the UK, including apparel, video games, gifts, toys and accessories, with a target market of both girls and boys aged from five upwards.

Hachette Children’s Group to develop multi-format books for iconic character

In a highly significant new addition to the fast-growing licensing campaign, independent licensing agency Bulldog Licensing, which has been appointed by Banijay Kids & Family as UK and Ireland licensing agent for Mr Bean, has announced a major new licensee for the iconic comedy character.

Hachette Children’s Group has been appointed as master publisher for both the live action and animated versions of Mr Bean.

Plans for the publishing programme are already well advanced, with the first titles expected next year – a search and find book in which readers look for the legendary character in some very busy and crowded situations, a joke book, and a range of comic books.

The planned comic books will take their inspiration from the wildly successful animated adventures of Mr Bean. The fourth and latest, Mr Bean: The Animated Series (produced by Tiger Aspect Kids & Family) launched in Q2 2025. Executive produced and voiced by Rowan Atkinson, it airs on multiple platforms including ITVX and Boomerang in the UK. The first two comic books will be available from April 2026, with two more coming in August 2026.

Search and find titles have rocketed in popularity in recent years with Hachette boasting many bestselling titles, all of which focus on popular themes among children and parents with beautiful, full colour illustrations. The Mr Bean Search and Find book will arrive at bookshops in September 2026.

Further books planned by Hachette include joke books, colouring and activity and sticker books. All have a target audience of seven years and up.

Hachette was founded in 1846 and today is a globally known name in publishing, containing multiple divisions, each with its own distinctive personality.  Hachette Children’s Group is one of the largest children’s publishers in the UK, with an excellent track record in creating bestselling and award-winning books for children. The Group aims to cater for every child and inspire a lifelong love of reading.

Mr Bean tries to solve apparently minor problems presented by everyday tasks and usually causes major, and hilarious, disruption in the process. The visual and often non-verbal comedy that has driven the character since his debut 35 years ago has ensured there have been no language barriers to a success that has brought Mr Bean high awareness and enormous popularity in more than 200 countries.

He has starred in a live action show, four animated series and two movies and has a vast online presence that has attracted nearly 250 million subscribers across social media platforms and includes the biggest Facebook page in the world for a film and television character.

Bulldog Licensing is pursuing new and expanded opportunities for the property in kids’ and adults’ markets, focusing on both the iconic original series and the highly popular animated series.

Imagery from both live and animated formats informs a licensing campaign which targets multiple categories including (to name only a few) homewares, stationery, t-shirts, toys, collectables, bags, greetings cards, food gifting and amusement plush.

Leah James, Publishing Director, Hachette Children’s Group, says: “The highly visual, very colourful Mr Bean is an obvious fit for children’s publishing. He’s also one of the most recognisable characters in the world, with a strong and enduring fanbase. We are looking forward immensely to bringing his unique comedy to what we are sure will be a massively successful range of books.”

Roubina Tchoboian, Head of Global Licensing, Banijay Kids & Family, says: “Mr Bean had an exceptional 2025 as a leading licensed entertainment brand and this new partnership

exemplifies the brand’s strength and enduring appeal. Working with Hachette Children’s Group is a significant evolution for this much-loved property, as we continue to diversify the franchise with premium  brand extensions.”

Bulldog MD Rob Corney adds: “Mr Bean first appeared 35 years ago and remains as popular as ever, inspiring both a new animated series and incredible sales across the merchandising programme. The publishing category is always important and we’re delighted to be working with one of the most respected names in the business to bring this iconic character to multiple book formats.”

Continued growth in key territories inspires expanded regional representation

Bulldog Licensing, licensing agent for the Carte Blanche Greetings Me to You brand and its signature characters Tatty Teddy and Tiny Tatty Teddy, has announced the appointment of two sub-agents to address the brand’s growth in some key territories.

They are MJA Licensing – for France, Belgium and Luxembourg – and WP Brands, which will manage Australia and New Zealand.

Founded in 2005, MJA Licensing is a global agency that represents a growing number of European and international clients and helps them to license their brands. Under the leadership of Françoise Bouvet, an experienced professional whose background includes management posts in the consumer goods, telecommunications and leisure sectors, the company works with a wide range of brands and categories, boasting experience in both licensee and licensor roles, mastery of many different distribution channels, a strong sensitivity to merchandising techniques and international experience in sales and management.

WP Brands is a leading independent brand marketing and licensing agency based in Melbourne, Australia. The WP business creates brand marketing and licensed product partnerships for all types of entertainment and lifestyle properties – from major movie releases to leading video game franchises, platforms and apps.  MD John Vasta is a strategic consumer products and marketing executive with over 25 years’ experience in growing business for the world’s leading consumer brands.

Both of these respected companies will be working with a property that is enjoying a growing international presence more than three decades since it burst on the scene to become a hit in the greetings card market, quickly expanding into licensing.

In fact since 2001 Me to You brand owner Carte Blanche has partnered with best-in-class licensees to bring to market many best-selling Me to You products, led by its signature character Tatty Teddy, the cute grey bear with a blue nose.

More than thirty years since the character first arrived, the appeal of Tatty Teddy now extends well beyond its original incarnation as a greeting card illustration to make it a staple part of the UK brand landscape, achieving around $1.7 million in retail sales value every week. Among the many licensing categories that have embraced Tatty Teddy are daywear and nightwear, accessories, gifting, pins and patches and crafting kits.

Françoise Bouvet says: “For many years Me to You has been the go-to brand for love, friendship, and sharing the moments in life that really matter. Its values – including celebration, kindness and affection – are universal. We see it as a brand with enormous potential across the territories we manage, and we’re thrilled that Bulldog and Carte Blanche have appointed us to boost its fast-growing presence in those areas.”

John Vasta says: “When customers have something to say, whether to a friend or loved one, a Me to You product helps them express the emotion they want to convey. The sentimental nature of the brand continues to resonate with and connect fans worldwide. It’s already making major inroads into the Australia and New Zealand markets and we’re looking forward to taking this wonderful brand to the next level.”

Bulldog Brand Manager Sophie Yates says: “Tatty Teddy is already one of the most popular character brands on the market, with a strong and enduring family appeal that is extending into many new markets and growing in established ones. Managing this growth has meant expanding the brand’s representation – and we’re thrilled to have the skill and expertise of MJA Licensing and WP Brands to support brand growth in two key territories.”

Darts merchandise, arcade games and gifts join growing programme

Bullseye licensing activity has continued to ramp up – further boosted by the recent return of the iconic game show to TV screens. Bullseye licensing agent Bulldog Licensing has announced three more licenses for the Bullseye brand to add to recent major wins in gifting, dress-up, wall art and books.

This time the wildly popular brand is welcoming licensees games, gaming and gifts: Darts Corner for darts, dart flights, dartboards and other darts merchandise; Harry Levy Amusements for coin pushers and novelty redemption games; and PMS International for a wide range of gift products.

Darts Corner is a perfect partner for Bullseye-branded items. It’s the world’s number one online retailer for darts and associated products and is, as it says, “passionate about every aspect of this fantastic sport”.

The Darts Corner Bullseye range, including the highest-quality darts, flights, shirts, cases, mats, dartboards and more, is adorned with classic designs from the famous show including the instantly recognisable Bully cartoon and the famous Bullseye logo. Now available, it’s a must for anyone who loves darts or the TV show.

Harry Levy Amusements, formed in 1980, is a leading manufacturer of amusement machines in the UK. Its Bullseye range will include the company’s universally popular coin pushers along with redemptions machines that offer prizes for winning games of skill. All the machines will feature illustrations of Bully and the Bullseye logo as well as the many catchphrases of the show such as “Bully’s special prize”, and “Nothing in this game for two in a bed”. Available next year, the machines will be sold to arcades throughout the UK.

PMS International Group, the UK’s leading manufacturer and distributor of value-driven gifts and plush, draws on over 50 years of innovation and expertise to create an exciting new range of Bullseye products. Launching in Spring 2026, the collection will feature eye-catching neon bar signs, stylish drinkware, bottle openers, BBQ sets and car accessories — alongside a standout articulated “Bully” figure complete with proximity-activated movement and authentic sound effects.

And many more licence announcements are imminent in what is proving to be an amazing year for the iconic darts brand that first aired on ITV in the 1980s, spending 14 years on ITV. A revival on Sky Challenge, regular repeat showings, guest appearances, celebrity specials and a social media launch maintained brand awareness throughout the 2000s.

And now Bullseye has returned to ITV! Following the massive success of the 2024 Bullseye Christmas special, hosted by Freddie Flintoff and featuring teenage darts phenomenon Luke Littler, Freddie and official scorer Richard Ashdown are back in a brand new series on ITV. More than two million fans old and new are now enjoying this unique show in which contestants consisting of one amateur darts player and one trivia or quizzing expert, play to win Bully’s special prizes.

The show is synonymous with fun, celebrity players and its many catchphrases. The licensing programme has built on the enduring popularity of the show, with Bullseye-branded apparel, bingo, games, publishing, and food and drink, a specially created Bullseye online store, and formats adapted for holiday resorts and homes.

Led by Luke Littler’s success, the brand is also building on a growing youth interest. Bullseye was recently announced as a sponsor of the Blackburn Youth Darts Academy.

Laura Wood, Managing Director, Bullseye Group, says: “Bullseye has attracted numerous partners across all categories over the years, but the core games, gaming and gift categories have always been popular and are expected to enjoy strong growth with the widely welcomed return to ITV of the show. That is why we are delighted to be able to announce such strong partnerships in areas where the Bullseye name and associations are especially appropriate.”

Bulldog MD Rob Corney adds: “There’s a lot of excitement from everyone involved with Bullseye as brand awareness, always strong, reaches new heights after the announcement of its return to TV. These three best-in-class licensees will bring the fun, skill and unmistakable imagery of the show to arcades, handheld devices and homes across the UK. And there’s much more to come very soon!”

New appointment helps agency manage growth and address new opportunities

Award-winning licensing agency Bulldog Licensing has announced the appointment of Joel Banks as its new Licensing Coordinator. This post has been created to help manage portfolio growth along with the ongoing evolution of service demands for the agency.

Joel’s responsibilities will include supporting the team as a whole across the contract process and product approvals and general administrative tasks – an essential role as business continues to ramp up for this award-winning agency.

This is Joel’s first job in licensing and one to which he brings diverse abilities and experience. Prior to joining Bulldog he worked a chef and a mechanic. But his first love was sport – indeed he pursued academic studies in this field leading to a National Diploma and employment as a sports coach. All three roles allowed him developed creativity, people skills and excellent organisational abilities.

He is now applying these skills to a new field, but one in which he has already hit the ground running. As he says: “Licensing is a diverse and fast-moving field, offering many exciting challenges and opportunities that appealed to me from the start – and working with one of the most respected names in the field is a clear bonus. I am already greatly enjoying my new role, which I hope will be the start of a long career in this amazing industry.”

Sophie Yates, Brand Manager with Bulldog, says: “For this role we needed someone who could work with diverse projects and adapt quickly. Joel’s enthusiasm, intelligence and energy impressed us from the start; they were just what we were looking for. In fact he is already a valued member of the team.”

Bulldog brings popular character to UK food gifting and cards & wrap

Independent licensing agency Bulldog Licensing, which has been appointed by Banijay Kids & Family as UK and Ireland licensing agent for Mr Bean, has announced two major new licensee signings for the iconic comedy character: Blue Tree for food gifting and UK Greetings for greeting cards and gift wrap.

Blue Tree, a supplier of stylish, engaging and contemporary food and alcohol gifts, has launched its first Mr Bean mug and sock set which is available at retail now. A full collection will launch next year, including a breakfast set, and a hot water bottle and sleep mask with hot chocolate and marshmallows set.

Founded in 2001, Blue Tree has become one of the leading specialist gifting companies in the UK, designing, creating, producing and delivering high-quality, stylish, engaging and contemporary alcohol, soft drinks, food and confectionery gift sets to major national retailers. The company also supplies brand owners with premium gifting solutions and limited edition packaging.

The range from UK Greetings, one of the UK’s best known names in social expression products, with a strong licensed output, will also be inspired by the popular Mr Bean animated show which will supply the illustrations for a wide range of funny and memorable greeting cards and gift wrap.

UK Greetings is one of the largest direct-to-retail publishers in the country, ensuring that the Mr Bean range will be widely available from Autumn 2025 across the UK.

Mr Bean tries to solve apparently minor problems presented by everyday tasks and often causes major, and hilarious, disruption in the process. The visual and often non-verbal comedy that drives the character has ensured there have been no language barriers to a success that has brought Mr Bean high awareness and enormous popularity in 200+ countries via a live action show, and animated show, two movies and a vast online presence that has attracted nearly 250 million subscribers across social media platforms and is the biggest Facebook page in the world for a film and television character.

Bulldog Licensing is pursuing new and expanded opportunities for the property in kids’ and adults’ markets, focusing on both the iconic original series and the highly popular animated series.

Among many successes for the campaign has been Whitehouse Leisure’s amusement plush, which is now one of the most popular products in the UK amusement industry.

The fourth and latest Mr Bean: The Animated Series (produced by Tiger Aspect Kids & Family) launched in Q2 2025. Executive produced and voiced by Rowan Atkinson, it airs on multiple platforms including ITVX and Warner Brothers Discovery in the UK.

Imagery from both live and animated formats inform a licensing campaign which targets multiple categories including (to name only a few) homeware, stationery, t-shirts, toys, collectables, bags and greeting cards.

Roubina Tchoboian, Head of Global Licensing, Banijay Kids & Family says: “Mr Bean is continuing to attract a diverse range of licensing partners for whom the strength of the brand, its decades of success, its humour and its iconic visual assets offer strong and attractive selling points. And of course Blue Tree and UK Greetings, both leaders in their fields, are ideal partners for this much-loved property.”

Bulldog Retail Licensing Manager, Laury Howat adds: “It’s been 35 years since Mr Bean first appeared on screens and today he is one of the most recognisable characters in entertainment. With a new animated series enhancing his appeal to fans of all ages, it’s an ideal time to build on that success for audiences old and new – and we’re thrilled to welcome Blue Tree and UK Greetings and their wonderful products to the Mr Bean licensing programme.”

The new 52 x 11 CGI animated series fills the void for a naptime and bedtime brand

London, England – September X, 2025 — Independent licensing company Bulldog Licensing has been appointed to manage licensing and merchandising in the UK and Ireland for the new preschool TV animated series BeddyByes. The deal was made on behalf of Thunderbird Brands and Thunderbird Distribution, the show’s global media distributor and consumer products brand manager.

BeddyByes is a visually rich and uniquely tactile series that supports positive sleep routines to help the very young get ready for sleep.  Designed to soothe and calm children during the crucial pre-naptime and bedtime periods, it is one of the few shows in recent years that directly addresses the challenges of getting little ones to settle down. BeddyByes is leveraged by research from child development specialist Dr. Jacqueline Harding, who worked with the show’s team to ground the series in sleep science.  The series underscores the importance of establishing a routine for children to wind down, from playtime, mealtime, bathtime, storytime and finally, bedtime.

The series is the creation of JAM Media, the successful Dublin-based, multi-award-winning producers of animated and live action content for preschool and children’s audiences. Each episode features a different theme, with an engaging but gently paced storyline. The series follows the charming characters MeMo and BaBa through their own daily routine on Planet BeddyByes. They interact with welcoming friends in a colourful but soothing landscape on their calming journey towards sleep, preceded, of course, by a bedtime story from show narrator Gramma Leeba (voiced by the iconic Dawn French).

BeddyByes was commissioned by BBC Children’s and education and first aired on CBeebies in June 2025, with an earlier launch on BBC iPlayer at the end of May. Ireland’s RTE (the show’s co-producer) and public broadcasters DR of Denmark, YLE Finland and SVT Sweden have already signed up to broadcast the series. BeddyByes has secured a prime slot during the CBeebies Bedtime Block.

BBC iPlayer showings are expected to be accessed at naptimes during the day as well as early evening to support daytime sleep routines.

Thunderbird Brands, part of Vancouver-based Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc, a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, is maximizing the licensing potential of the series, with global toy and publishing opportunities.

For the UK and Ireland markets, Bulldog is bringing its many years of experience managing top brands including Care Bears and Sesame Street, to bear on building a comprehensive licensing offering to meet what is expected to be strong demand from children, parents, grandparents and care-givers. In addition to toys and publishing, early categories targeted will include bedding, bathtime products, apparel, personal care and sleep aids.

Richard Goldsmith, President of Global Distribution and Consumer Products at Thunderbird Entertainment, says: “BeddyByes has been crafted and researched with enormous care to be a genuinely appealing addition to the sleeptime routine – one that both entertains and soothes children and supports parents, with its heart, humour, and fun. We are sure it will be welcomed by television platforms, parents and little ones alike, ushering in strong licensing opportunities across many categories.”

Rob Corney, CEO of Bulldog Licensing, says: “BeddyByes fills a real gap in the market for an engaging series designed to help very young children and their parents with sleep routines. And it’s not just viewers who will welcome BeddyByes and its colourful and likeable characters. This is a show that many broadcasters and streaming platforms have been waiting for – one with a real point of difference that will also attract a wide range of licensees. We anticipate a great deal of excitement.”

John Rice, CEO of JAM Media adds “We’re delighted to partner with Bulldog Licensing to introduce BeddyByes to families across the UK and Ireland. From the outset, we wanted BeddyByes to feel like a warm, comforting blanket that kids could happily wrap themselves up in and parents can trust. We’ve crafted the series carefully, not only to gently ease children into bedtime but also to genuinely entertain and engage them along the way. With Bulldog’s deep expertise and creativity, we’re excited to extend the joyful, reassuring world of BeddyByes into daily routines through products families will play with, enjoy, and love.”

Collectible rubber ducks and designer watches join licensing programme

Bulldog Licensing, the independent licensing agency representing Beano, has announced two new collaborations as part of the Dennis the Menace 75^th Anniversary celebrations in 2026, underlining the diversity and wide age range of the brand’s appeal.

Duck World, the home of iconic and collectible rubber ducks, will be joining the 75^th Anniversary campaign with special limited edition Dennis and Gnasher character ducks. One thousand of each will be on sale through the company’s sites in the UK and online from Q1 2026, featuring a unique design and specially created packaging from the creative team behind the Beano comic, with a wide target audience ranging from toddlers and children to gift givers and people who just like rubber ducks.

For an adult audience that likes its designer watches to have an unmistakable point of difference, there’s another limited edition collectors’ range, this time from Mr Jones Watches, a maker of unusual and high-quality watches. Mr Jones’ inspired take on Beano will celebrate Dennis turning 10 for the 75^th time with 750 limited edition watches. The watches tell a specially commissioned comic story across an animated watch face, bespoke straps and packaging. The watches will launch in June 2026 ahead of Father’s Day and will be available on the company’s website and in its Covent Garden store.

With over 700 varieties of the best rubber ducks, Duck World is the British home of iconic and collectible rubber ducks. Its offer includes over 250 models of designer rubber ducks carefully curated from British and European designers. From the iconic Shakespeare Duck and Charles Duckins to the regal Queen Duck and Royal Guard Duck, and now Dennis and Gnasher, each duck is a true work of art that will bring joy to your life.

Mr Jones Watches was born in 2007 when Crispin Jones began designing watches as a one-man band from his home in London. Over 18 years and hundreds of designs later, it now has two workshops in London, from which every single one of its watches is sustainably produced in-house. Every colour in Mr Jones watches has been mixed by hand and printed layer by layer, before being assembled and time-tested by the company’s talented team. Mr Jones also has a super-cool shop in Covent Garden.

Both of these distinctive companies are working with a property that itself stands out in its field: the world’s longest-running weekly comic that over 28 million people of today’s UK population have enjoyed in one form or another and has entertained generations of children for nearly 90 years.

The phenomenal brand recognition of Beano has inspired not just a strong comic and annual circulation but also millions of fans and audiences across a range of touchpoints (which includes Beano.com, YouTube, FAST TV channels, and an animated TV show), not to mention an ever-expanding range of fiction titles and activity books.

Beano is a gateway into reading for fun, sparking creativity and imagination across all platforms and channels, remaining a top ten kids’ publishing brand in the UK, selling a comic every eight seconds and always topping the annuals sales charts.

Dennis the Menace, Beano’s master of mischief and most iconic character, will celebrate 75 years since his debut in the Beano comic in 2026. Beano will mark his anniversary through a year-long celebration of high-impact activations and marketing moments in ‘The Year of Mischief’, and a collection of new products and experiential collaborations. For every generation, Dennis embodies the fun, carefree childhood everyone remembers. Dennis is leading the charge, catapult in hand and Gnasher by his side. Growing up can wait!

Driven by its humour and iconic characters, it has a growing licensing list that includes publishing, apparel, toys and games, greetings cards, costume characters and dress-up, including an established presence in location-based licensed events. This year’s BLE will highlight multiple opportunities at Bulldog’s stand (A202) for potential partners as Beano gears up for Dennis’s 75th anniversary in 2026, and the brand’s 90th anniversary in 2028.

A growing adult market is now a strong focus of the Bulldog campaign, which is supported by a comprehensive adult-focused Beano style guide.

Irina Fedotova Duck World says: “Our customers love our character-inspired rubber duck collection, where classic figures meet playful design. And Dennis and Gnasher will be a worthy addition to the many classic British names we celebrate through our designer ranges. We’re thrilled to be working with these iconic characters.”

Emily Weston Mr Jones, says: “Instantly recognisable but uniquely itself, Beano is a one-of-a-kind UK brand that both boasts classic status and is fresh, funny and modern – a perfect inspiration for our aim to produce statement watches that tell a story, start a conversation or simply make you smile.”

Bulldog Brand Manager Sophie Yates says: “The addition of Duck World and Mr Jones to Beano’s licensing programme underlines the broad appeal of Beano as both a classic brand and a modern, funny and exciting property that can inspire original and distinctive products that appeal to a fanbase spanning multiple generations. It’s been a delight working with these two unique companies and we’re looking forward enormously to seeing their highly original take on one of the world’s great comic brands.”

Publishing, TV, film, games and kids’ classics highlighted in diverse portfolio

Bulldog Licensing one of the licensing industry’s leading agencies, has announced its plans for Europe’s leading event for licensing and brand extension.

At stand A202, Brand Licensing Europe, from 7-9 October, Bulldog will again be promoting an impressive selection of brands that have been big hits in such diverse media as publishing, streaming, TV and blogs, but that all have one thing in common: massive licensing potential.

They include the classic – and globally known – property Care Bears, evergreen worldwide hit Sesame Street, the much-loved Me to You character brand, the legendary Beano comic, iconic UK darts game show Bullseye, the classic comedy character Mr Bean, and successful children’s publishing brand That’s Not My… along with new arrivals that include the record-breaking publishing hit and recipe brand Pinch of Nom.

Care Bears continues to attract new generations every year with its emotionally resonant  identity and universally appealing messages of kindness, friendship, and caring. Decades after first winning hearts as a greeting card phenomenon, Care Bears remains a beloved brand, inspiring one of the most successful licensing programmes of all time.

Care Bears continues  to show incredible growth, driving major retail success across multiple categories from toys, plush, apparel, and accessories to homewares and collectibles, enthralling fans across every age.

Recent license agreements in food and beverage gifting, home fragrances, calendars, and DIY knitting and crochet kits are expanding its footprint even further, reinforcing Care Bears as one of the UK’s must-have multi-generational brands.

Nearly 60 years after its TV debut Sesame Street is a global phenomenon: one of the best-known and most beloved children’s brands in the world, engaging fans of all ages while delivering on its mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger and kinder.

Working on behalf of the non-profit organisation Sesame Workshop, Bulldog has continued to expand the brand’s retail presence in the UK, announcing numerous deals for Sesame Street appealing to all ages from very young to adult.

Recent additions to the Sesame Street licensing campaign include Heathside Trading with gifts and novelties, including mini figures, 2D keychains, 3D bag clips, drinking bottles, bobblehead figures and die cast figures, and OddBalls, with underwear and pyjamas for both children and adult fans.

Today the Sesame Street brand is available on multiple broadcast and streaming platforms. The recent announcement of its impending launch on Netflix later this year has excited retail everywhere. Sesame Street has a strong social media presence, engaging fans of all generations.

Carte Blanche’s Me To You has been a well-known brand since 1995 and Bulldog is expanding the extraordinary reach of Me To You and its signature character Tatty Teddy, the cute grey bear with a blue nose, along with the nursery property Tiny Tatty Teddy. Me To You achieves around $200 million in retail sales value each year.

Recent new partnerships include Dalian Talent International for scented products including candles, wax melts and car air fresheners, and Fizz Creations for lighting and puzzles. Iced biscuits, nightwear, patches and pins, arts and crafts kits, food gifting, tech accessories and apparel and babywear have also been successes for this evergreen and popular brand, whose international popularity has recently led Bulldog to appoint sub-agents to manage licensing in France, Belgium and Luxembourg, and a another to manage Australia and New Zealand.

The phenomenal brand recognition of the world’s longest-running weekly comic has boosted the success of a property that has entertained generations of children for nearly 90 years. Beano brings with it a strong magazine and annual circulation, millions of fans, and audiences across a range of touchpoints (which includes Beano.com, YouTube, FAST TV channels, and an animated TV show), not to mention an ever-expanding range of fiction titles and activity books.

Beano is, of course, a gateway into reading for fun, sparking creativity and imagination across all platforms and channels, remaining a top ten kids publishing brand in the UK, selling a comic every 8 seconds and always topping the annuals sales charts. Driven by its humour and iconic characters, it has boosted a growing licensing list that includes publishing, apparel, toys and games, greetings cards, costume characters and dress-up. Add an established presence in location-based licensed events and this year’s BLE will be able to highlight multiple opportunities for potential partners as Beano gears up for Dennis’s 75th anniversary in 2026, and the brand’s 90th anniversary in 2028. A growing adult market is now a strong focus of the Bulldog campaign, and, like the programme as a whole, is supported by a comprehensive style guide.

As the iconic darts game show Bullseye makes its triumphant return to our screens with a major new series hosted by Freddie Flintoff, Bulldog Licensing is ramping up an already strong licensing campaign for the Bullseye brand which recently welcomed multiple new partners to its licensing programme.

Darts Corner for darts, dart flights, dartboards and other darts merchandise, Harry Levy for coin pushers and novelty redemption games, and Barnstorm Games for mobile games and apps have now joined Rose Marketing for chocolate gifting and confectionery gifting, Blues Group for dress up and dress up accessories, Wunder Limited for wall stickers, murals, prints and LED wall art, and Penguin Books for an Official Bullseye Quiz Book.

Following the success of the 2024 Bullseye Christmas Special, which has inspired this year’s return for the show to ITV, 2025-2026 promises to be the biggest year for the brand since its 1980s launch, with an appeal that now extends to the youth market thanks, in no small part, to teen sensation Luke Littler.

And speaking of brands with a strong appeal for many decades, Mr Bean – the iconic comedy brand that has been wildly popular for 35 years in both live-action and animated formats, on TV and in films has continued to attract licensing deals into its fourth decade, most recently through partnerships with Blue Tree for Food gifting (including a hot water bottle and sleep mask with hot chocolate and marshmallows!) and UK Greetings for greeting cards and gift wrap. Whitehouse Leisure’s amusement plush is delivering huge sales into the specialist channels and join the ever-popular Ty beanies in the Mr Bean plush offering..

Ongoing categories for the licensing campaign, which targets both kids and adults, include (to name only a few) homeware, stationery, t-shirts, toys, collectables, bags and greeting cards.

Published by Usborne, That’s Not My… is the bestselling touchy-feely book series for babies and toddlers and a gifting favourite for new-borns as their first book. Featuring bright pictures, with patches of different textures, the books are designed to develop sensory and language awareness. There is also a little white mouse for children to spot on every page.

The humour, bright colours and distinctive That’s Not My… illustrations have inspired delightful ranges from some of the UK’s major names in licensed apparel. Other licensed products currently available include wall stickers, bags and a gift range, with more categories on the way, not to mention  strong experiential potential, underlined by the launch of That’s Not My…Farm (a partnership with children’s activity farms) and That’s Not My Shark… (a partnership with SEA LIFE centres including London Aquarium). The brand is also enjoying a growing retail presence in the US and Australia/New Zealand.

Underlying the diversity of the Bulldog client list and its skill in developing highly original brands, is new arrival Pinch of Nom: the recipe-inspired brand already attracting strong attention.

Pinch of Nom began life as a Facebook group and blog for friends who wanted to eat healthy, slimming-friendly food that actually tastes good – a space to share hints, tips and motivation.

Then the Pinch of Nom blog became a cookbook – and its sales of 210,506 copies in its first three days were more than any other non-fiction work had managed in a single week since current records began in 1998.

More books followed and today the blog’s creators Kate and Kay Allinson are bestselling authors with over five million books sold.

Now a licensing campaign is set to build on the appeal of the books by targeting a wide audience and leveraging the distinctive look and feel that makes the Pinch of Nom brand instantly recognisable – a brand that thrives on colour and a friendly, approachable appearance.

A popular range of seasoning sachets from The Flava People is already at retail and expanding across food aisles in the UK, joining the popular cards and calendars from Danilo. Fruity Pots from Caterer’s Choice are set to launch later in the year and the focus for further growth the Pinch of Nom brand is on kitchenware and related products, homewares, food delivery and home baking.

Bulldog, by contrast, doesn’t expect to have much time to relax during BLE! As MD Rob Corney says: “We are always busy at BLE and the strength of our portfolio, now extended with a number of established or fast-growing brands, is going to keep us very occupied. We’re already getting ready to respond to a lot of enquiries about the extraordinary opportunities these appealing and diverse properties offer across multiple categories and markets. Do join us on stand A202 to find out more!”

As the iconic darts game show Bullseye prepares to make its triumphant return to ITV, Bullseye licensing agent Bulldog Licensing has announced an equally impressive boost for the Bullseye brand as it welcomes not fewer than four new licensees – with many more on the way!

The newest partners for the top-scoring brand are Rose Marketing for chocolate gifting and confectionery gifting, Blues Group for dress-up and dress-up accessories, Themed.co.uk for wall stickers, murals, prints and LED wall art, and Penguin Michael Joseph for an Official Bullseye Quiz Book.

Rose Marketing, a company that brings novelty and fun to confectionery, is planning a licensing and brand partnership that will bring Bullseye to a fabulous selection of themed sweets for confectionery fans of all ages. The first products – two gift boxes containing Strawberry flavoured gummy ‘Bullseyes’ and Beer flavoured gummy ‘Pints’ – will arrive in the UK later this year to coincide with the Christmas selling period. The packaging will feature the Bullseye logo and much-loved mascot Bully.

Blues Dress-up is the newest division of bespoke apparel collection designer Blues Group. It delivers innovative, market-leading costume collections, with a strong commitment to sustainability, for women, men and children. The new Bullseye dress-up and dress-up accessories range for the adult market features both Bully and dartboard-themed costumes (with Velcro balls for the board!), an iconic Bully darts shirt, complete with character gloves and head, and even a ride-on costume that makes it look as if Bully is giving the wearer a piggyback. Launching online in September, the range is ideal for parties, events or even a fun night out watching the darts!

A brilliant range of Darts Board Backdrop, Wall Stickers, Full Wall Murals, Prints and LED Backlit Wall Art from Themed.co.uk, a print-on-demand manufacturer and retailer of licensed wall art and gift products, includes Bully himself with his famous stripes and logo along with catchphrases like You Can’t Beat a Bit of Bully, 180! and Bullseye in One! The range will be available directly from www.themed.co.uk on the 10th July.

And of course fans will not be able to resist the Official Bullseye Quiz Book from Penguin Michael Joseph, which brings the excitement of the show to your own home over three rounds of darts and questions (though you’ll have to supply your own prizes!). There are four question difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Hard and Marksman. Expect to see it at bookshops everywhere in November and available to pre-order online now!

 And many more licence announcements are imminent in what is proving to be an amazing year for the iconic darts brand Bullseye, which first aired on ITV in the 1980s, where it peaked at 19.8 million viewers in its Boxing Day broadcast on ITV in 1989. After it left ITV it maintained a strong following throughout the UK boosted by showings on Sky Challenge since 2006 and its social media launch in 2008.

And now it’s returning to ITV! Following the massive success of the 2024 Bullseye Christmas special, hosted by Freddie Flintoff and featuring teenage darts phenomenon Luke Littler, Freddie and official scorer Richard Ashdown will be back in a brand new series on ITV later this year. Contestants are already being invited to apply to be contestants in teams consisting of one amateur darts player and one trivia or quizzing expert. The application deadline is midnight on the 19th of September.

The show is synonymous with fun, celebrity players and of course catchphrases such as ‘Bully’s special prize’, and ‘nothing in this game for two in a bed’. The licensing programme has built on the enduring popularity of the show, with Bullseye-branded apparel, gifts, games, publishing, and food and drink, a specially created Bullseye online store, and formats adapted for holiday resorts and homes.

Led by Luke Littler’s success, the brand is also building on a growing youth interest. Indeed, Bullseye was recently announced as a sponsor of the Blackburn Youth Darts Academy.

Laura Wood, Senior Brand Manager at Bullseye, says: “This is a very exciting time to be part of the Bullseye family, with darts in general enjoying a massive surge in popularity across all ages and the Bullseye brand in particular building on its long-term strength and credibility in the market thanks to the wildly popular reaction to the new TV show and sterling work from Bulldog Licensing. We’re delighted to welcome these four partners to the Bullseye licensing programme – and there’s much more to come.”

Bulldog MD Rob Corney adds: “The saying ’You can’t beat a bit of Bully!’ has never been truer than it is today, with the Bullseye TV show reaching new heights and the brand extending its appeal to new licensing categories. We’re thrilled to be working with Rose Marketing, Blues Group, Wunder and Penguin Michael Joseph and expecting continuing growth for the brand both in the run-up to the new show and well beyond!”