Carte Blanche Group has signed a major global licensing deal with Ashleigh Butler and ROAR Global to create the Pudsey the Dog brand.
Pudsey the Dog shot to fame with his owner and trainer Ashleigh Butler in May 2012 as the winner of Britain’s Got Talent, with 14.5m viewers watching his triumph. Pudsey – an eight-year-old Border Collie, Bichon Frise and Chinese Crested Powderpuff cross breed – has gone on to become one of the world’s most famous dogs and has starred in a number of other British TV programmes.
His shows include That Dog Can Dance for ITV1 and Who Let the Dogs Out for CBBC, and cameo appearances on both America’s Got Talent and The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. The friendly pooch has even made the transition to the big screen with the launch of his very own film, Pudsey The Dog: The Movie, which was produced by Vertigo Films and was released in cinemas nationwide on July 18th.
Carte Blanche has been involved in a number of licensing initiatives over the past year or so, including a collaboration with Mind Candy and their Moshi Monsters brand. The partnership with Pudsey the Dog will see Carte Blanche create a new range of plush, gifts and greeting cards as well as representing Pudsey the Dog globally across a consumer product and digital portfolio.
Ashleigh Butler said: “I’m thrilled at the prospect of Pudsey coming to life in a range of consumer products. Pudsey and I share a very special relationship and it’s lovely to know that other people will now get to know the lovable, cheeky character that plays such an important part in my life.”
Founder and Chairman of Carte Blanche, Stephen Haines, said: “This year is an exciting one for Pudsey the Dog and we can’t wait to apply our expertise in creating much loved characters that stand the test of time to build a new brand inspired by Ashleigh and Pudsey”.
Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, ROAR Global chairman and manager of Ashleigh and Pudsey the Dog said: “Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt have never had their names in the title of a movie – but Pudsey has. This is the popularity and stature of Pudsey. And now he is taking his popularity to the next logical step – with Carte Blanche, the experts in their field. ”
Stephen Mills, Licensing Manager at Syco Entertainment, who negotiated the partnership, added: “When considering the long-term plans for any brands and talent we only consider working with industry leaders. In Pudsey the Dog’s case, Carte Blanche were the perfect fit.”
