Iconic 1970’s British TV show set for huge return to screens

The eco-friendly characters, created in 1968 by children’s author Elisabeth Beresford, will relaunch this summer as part of a full-scale global revival that includes new YouTube content blending original 1970s episodes with contemporary live-action and influencer-led shows.

Originally made famous by the BBC’s 1973 stop-motion series, the loveable Wimbledon Common dwellers became cultural icons for their environmental message about reusing and recycling objects they found.

Neil Blair, founding partner and agent at The Blair Partnership, which now manages The Wombles’ rights, 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.

“We see significant potential to build The Wombles into a multiplatform international franchise for a new generation of audiences.”

The relaunch will see the original 1970s episodes made available on a new official YouTube channel, alongside fresh content in live-action and digital formats.

This will include collaborations with social media influencers and young presenters, who will explore themes of reuse and sustainability through arts, crafts, cooking, and gardening.

The Wombles are coming back!

If they emerged from Wimbledon Common this morning, what piece of rubbish do you think they’d be most shocked to find?

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A first-look image from the new content reveals updated versions of some of the most familiar characters.

These include Orinoco in his trademark red hat, Wellington the scientist, and Alderney, named after the Channel Island where Beresford spent her later years.

Unlike the classic stop-motion series narrated by Bernard Cribbins, the new Wombles will be brought to life using digital animation.

Plans for the franchise go well beyond YouTube.

The Blair Partnership has consolidated all intellectual property rights for The Wombles and is developing an interactive digital game, audio productions featuring celebrity casts, new storybooks, and expanded merchandise.

There are also opportunities for television, film, theatre, live events, and mobile apps.

This is not the first attempt to modernise The Wombles.

In 2020, the characters were redesigned to reflect greater diversity, including a darker-skinned Wellington and a social media presence that promoted International Women’s Day and climate action.

The reboot was dubbed the “Woke Wombles” by some.

At the time, Beresford’s son Marcus Robertson criticised the changes, calling them “insulting to her memory.”

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Despite previous efforts, including a series announced in 2023 that never materialised, the latest relaunch has the backing of a unified rights structure and a comprehensive content pipeline.

The original series ran on the BBC from 1973 to 1976.

In the new programmes, influencers will join the Wombles to demonstrate how to reuse everyday objects through arts and crafts, cooking, and gardening.

Are you happy to see the return of The Wombles? Let us know in the comments