5 July, 2012
The Foundation and CBBC Create New Dani Harmer Project - Dani’s Castle
CBBC has commissioned Zodiak Kids’ production company The Foundation to produce a new
comedy series starring TV sensation Dani Harmer, which sees the resourceful young actress
take over her very own crumbling estate in Dani’s Castle.
Made by the same creative team behind the hugely successful Dani’s House, the 13 x 30 min
series goes into production shortly and will be filmed over the summer in Northern
Ireland. Written by a team of writers led by Paul Rose, Dani’s Castle will showcase Dani
Harmer in the title role. Waterloo Road and Scott and Bailey star Shannon Flynn and
singer/songwriter and Friday Download presenter Kieron Alleyne also star.
“Dani Harmer is one of the most exciting and successful young actresses on television and
this new project will really showcase her unique comedy talents and her growth as a
performer,” says executive producer Elaine Sperber. “Dani has a huge following on CBBC
and this new series will be a major treat for her existing and new fans”.
Dani’s House series 4 was a big ratings success for CBBC, averaging a 16.5% share per
episode of the 6-12 target demographic, making it the channel’s second highest rating
regular series of 2011 in the Friday 1730 slot. And Series 5 has recently started a 13-week
broadcast on the channel.
Picking up from where Dani’s House ended, Dani’s Castle sees Dani reassessing her life
following the cancellation of fictional soap opera McHurtie’s Hospital. But her life is soon
turned upside down when her mysterious Great Aunt Marjorie dies and bequeaths Dani her
very own castle.
With dreams of becoming the lady of the manor, Dani arrives at her new home full of ideas
and optimism. But she’s soon brought up short when she reaches Bogmoor Castle to find
it’s been voted the No 1 worst tourist attraction in the country for ten years running. With
crumbling towers, howling corridors and an overgrown jungle for a garden, Bogmoor Castle
even has a resident pair of extremely difficult young ghosts. And what’s more, Dani isn’t the
only heir. She soon encounters a troublesome cousin she didn’t even know she had!
With the castle threatening to become a burden around her neck, Dani has no choice but to
restore it to a thriving family business. Can Dani get the better of the sceptical locals, the
isolated conditions and the meddlesome ghosts to restore the castle’s fortunes and find
herself some sort of life into the bargain? And could she have found her romantic soulmate
in the gorgeous but ghostly form of Gabriel? Dani’s convinced he would make perfect
boyfriend material – if only he hadn’t died 250 years ago!
Dani’s Castle is produced by Paul McKenzie, the lead writer is Paul Rose and the lead
director is Dez McCarthy. The Executive Producers are Elaine Sperber for The Foundation
and Melissa Hardinge for CBBC.
Dani’s Castle will transmit on CBBC later in the year. The series is produced by The
Foundation, a Zodiak Media company, for CBBC.
-EndsFor more information please contact the Zodiak Kids/Rights press office on:
Tel: + 44 (0) 207013 4428 / 4368
Email: press@zodiakrights.com
Notes to editors:
About Zodiak Kids
Zodiak Kids is the global independent leader in kids’ entertainment, combining Zodiak Media Group’s
dedicated kids’ Production Companies, Consumer Products and Sales Division. Zodiak Kids
represents a yearly output of over 350 episodes of new programming produced by prominent
producers: The Foundation (UK); Marathon Media (France); Tele Images Productions (France); and
Zodiak Active Kids Entertainment Division (Italy).
Sales for Zodiak kids are handled by a dedicated team within Zodiak Rights, one of the leading
international distributors in the industry.
Zodiak Kids boasts one of the largest, high-quality kids catalogues in the world, which
includes Totally Spies!, the international hit animation series; Waybuloo, the CBeebies pre-school
hit; Redakai, a brand new series on Cartoon Network US; Mister Maker, the ultimate arts and craft
show; Gormiti, based on the extraordinarily successful figurine range that sold over 100 million
pieces; Street Football, one of the top rated animated shows in France and Italy.
About The Foundation
The Foundation is one of the UK’s leading independent producers of children’s television. It is based
in Maidstone, Kent and was established by Vanessa Hill and Ged Allen in 1994. In August 2006 The
Foundation joined the RDF Media Group and Nigel Pickard, founding controller of CBBC and
CBeebies became its Chairman. In 2010 RDF Media Group merged with Zodiak Entertainment and
The Foundation is now part of the Zodiak Media Group.
The Foundation has an expertise in pre-school, drama, comedy, factual and family entertainment
and has produced content for a variety of broadcasters. Shows include the landmark CBeebies series
Waybuloo, Mister Maker Comes to Town, Mister Maker, Tricky tv, Basil & Barney’s Swap Shop,
Skillicious, Finger Tips, Big Barn Farm, Planet Ajay, Dani’s House, Summer in Transylvania, Escape
from Scorpion Island and up-coming Nickelodeon pre-school show Tickety Toc.
About CBBC
CBBC is the BBC’s multiplatform offering for 6-12 year olds bringing the very best drama,
entertainment and factual programmes to its young viewers. CBBC is the most-loved and mostwatched channel of children in its target age group. Almost a third of children (6-12) consider it one
of their favourites and over a third tune into the CBBC channel each week.
CBBC aims to encourage children to find out more about existing interests and inspire them to
develop new ones; helps them understand the world around them and provides an entertaining
watch when they just want to relax. The majority of our output is UK-made, reflecting children’s
lives in the UK today. Popular programmes on the channel include Horrible Histories, Deadly 60, The
Sarah Jane Adventures and Tracy Beaker Returns as well as long-running favourites Blue Peter and
Newsround.