King Bert, the Emmy Award-winning UK production company, and WildBrain, a global leader in kids’ and family entertainment, have been commissioned by CBBC (UK) and Family Channel (Canada) to produce 26 new episodes of the live-action series, Malory Towers, in association with BYUtv (US). A hit with kids and families worldwide, Malory Towers first launched in March 2020 and has since been picked up by broadcast and streaming partners in more than a dozen territories. Shooting on the new episodes is slated to commence in the UK this spring and Canada this summer, with delivery targeted for later this year.
Deirdre Brennan, Executive Vice President, Content Partnerships at WildBrain, said: “We’ve had a phenomenal response to Malory Towers, both on our own Family Channel in Canada and from international partners. Even though Darrell Rivers was created seventy-five years ago, she is an inspiring character, full of spirited independence that keeps these stories relatable and relevant. We’re delighted that so many partners are joining us to share more of her experiences with young audiences worldwide.”
Jo Sargent, Managing Director of King Bert, said: “It was always important to us to make Malory Towers accessible and relatable to a modern audience, so we’re all absolutely thrilled that, in partnership with WildBrain and our broadcast partners, the series was so well received by fans old and new. We can’t wait to get back on set in Cornwall and Toronto and start filming the next set of adventures with the girls at Malory Towers.”
Amy Buscombe, Commissioning Editor, BBC Children’s said: “Malory Towers has been a huge hit with our audience, bringing fun and adventure to our screens at a time our young audience needed it most. We can’t wait for viewers to see what Darrell and the Malory girls get up to next!”
Michael Dunn, Managing Director of BYUtv, said: “BYUtv is delighted to partner on new episodes of Malory Towers and looks forward to working with King Bert and WildBrain to bring the show back for its many fans in the U.S. and around the globe. At BYUtv, our vision is to create quality programming that young people and their parents will watch together, and Malory Towers delivers fully on that promise with excitement and emotions that transcend generations and appeal to all ages.”
Set in the late-1940s on the sun-drenched cliffs of the Cornish coast, Malory Towers explores the nostalgic world of midnight feasts, lacrosse, ghost stories and lasting friendships. For a modern pre-teen audience, the show is both aspirational and inspirational because of the autonomy the girls have over their daily lives. Trusted to roam the school grounds on their own, our characters enjoy independence, freedom and responsibility for their own time.
Within this evocative setting, the characters – and their struggles and triumphs – are nonetheless real and relatable for today’s kids. For better or worse, the students at Malory Towers are a family. They keep an eye on each other, offer assertive guidance, keep each other entertained and, like a family, they are forever connected by their shared experiences. The stories are brought to life by an exceptionally talented ensemble of young actors.
In the new installments of the popular show, Darrell Rivers (Ella Bright) and the North Tower girls are excited to return to Malory Towers, their beloved school. The new term brings new drama, new faces, and new adventures!
Jason Callender (4 O’clock club) joins the cast as Mr. Parker. Ashley McGuire (This Country) returns as Matron, and Geneviève Beaudet as Mam’zelle Rougier. Danya Griver, Sienna Arif-Knights, Zoey Siewert, Imogen Lamb, Natasha Raphael and Beth Bradfield are also back, joined by Carys John as Ellen Wilson. Amelie Green will be introduced in new episodes as Bill, alongside Emily Piggford (The Sounds) as Miss Johnson.
An official Canada-UK treaty co-production, Malory Towers is adapted for television by Rachel Flowerday (Father Brown, Sanctuary, The Moonstone) and Sasha Hails (The Last Czars, The Moonstone, Versailles). Executive producers for WildBrain are Josh Scherba and Anne Loi with Jo Sargent and Yvonne Sellins serving as executive producer for King Bert Productions. The series is produced by King Bert’s David Collier and WildBrain’s Angela Boudreault and directed by Gary Williams (The Dumping Ground, Doctors, Father Brown), Bruce McDonald (Creeped Out, Heartland, Dark Matter) and Tracey Rooney (Emmerdale, Holby City, Class Dismissed).
WildBrain is international distributor for Malory Towers outside of the UK and has sold the series in over a dozen territories worldwide. Malory Towers was commissioned by BBC Children’s Head of Content Cheryl Taylor and is executive produced for the BBC by Amy Buscombe. The rights were acquired from Hachette Children’s Group, owners of Enid Blyton Entertainment and publisher of Malory Towers.
WildBrain and King Bert Productions are committed to the health and safety of cast and crew on Malory Towers and will be adhering on set to all COVID-19 protocols and guidelines as mandated by public health authorities and governments in the UK and Canada.