Bulldog Licensing to manage licensing for CBeebies series BeddyByes

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 caregivers. 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."