Bing (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bing |
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Based on | Bing Bunny by Ted Dewan |
Developed by | Acamar Films |
Voices of | Elliot Kerley Trystan Tomos Thurtle Mark Rylance David Threlfall |
Composer(s) | Julian Nott |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 2 |
No. of episodes | 104 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
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Producer(s) | Mikael Shields |
Running time | 7 minutes |
Production company(s) |
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Release | |
Original network | CBeebies (UK) S4C (Wales) |
Original release | 9 June 2014 | – present
Bing is a British CGI-animated children's television series based on the books by Ted Dewan. It is broadcast on UK TV channel CBeebies; the series follows a pre-school bunny named Bing as he experiences the world around him. It uses small everyday occurrences to demonstrate how he learns new ways to manage situations with the help of his carer, Flop (voiced by Mark Rylance is series 1 and David Threlfall in series 2) and friends. The show is aimed at 2-6 year olds.
Episodes
List of Bing episodes
The 1st series of 78, eight minute episodes show the "mishaps, mess, energy and wonder of being a relatively new human being". The programme focuses on real-life situations experienced by many toddlers and their parents. At the end, Bing summarizes what he has learnt in the episode, with Flop intoning "It's a Bing thing". The second season began airing on Cbeebies on 31 October 2019.
Main characters
- Bing (voiced by Elliot Kerley in series 1 and Rafferty Railton in series 2) is the titular protagonist of the programme. Bing is a 3-year-old black anthropomorphic bunny. His favourite toy is Hoppity Voosh, a rabbit superhero. Bing wears a green shirt, red chequered dungarees and black and white sneakers and Bing loves to hum, whistle, pretend and do untroubling childlike things.
- Flop (voiced by Mark Rylance, while David Threlfall provides the voice of Flop in the 2nd series) is Bing's carer, guiding Bing through his toddler life, entertaining him and soothing him when Bing faces a problem. Flop is a short orange-skinned creature and is literally a stuffed rabbit toy.
- Sula (voiced by Eve Bentley) is a 4-year-old female brown anthropomorphic elephant and one of Bing's best friends. Sula wears a pink and yellow shirt with trousers and pink sneakers.
- Amma (voiced by Akiya Henry), is Sula's guardian. Amma runs the creche and park café which the programme's child characters sometimes visit. Amma is a short blue-skinned elephant-like creature and is literally a stuffed elephant toy.
- Pando (voiced by Shai Portnoy in series 1 and Noah Hicks in series 2) is a 2 and a half year old anthropomorphic male panda who is also Bing's second best friend, and lives next door to him. Pando shares his catchphrase, "Hoppity-voosh! " with Bing. Pando wears a white shirt that doesn't completely cover his belly, black sneakers and underwear and Pando hums, whistles, pretends and does untroubling childlike things just like Bing. Pando is often seen wearing pants, before taking them off at the earliest possible opportunity, remaining in his underwear.
- Padget (voiced by Bryony Hannah) is Pando's guardian. Padget runs the corner shop near to where Bing lives. Padget can sometimes be spotted out jogging or else driving her yellow tuk-tuk. Padget is a short green-skinned creature.
- Coco (voiced by Jocelyn Macnab in series 1 and 2) is a white anthropomorphic bunny who is Bing's cousin and Charlie's older sister. Coco is the oldest of the child characters at age 10.
- Charlie (voiced by Poppy Hendley), is a white anthropomorphic bunny who is Coco's 1-year-old baby brother and Bing's cousin who cannot talk. Charlie puts everything in his mouth and the others say, "Don't chew it, Charlie!"
- Molly (voiced by Tamsin Grieg), is Coco and Charlie's carer. Molly also works as a doctor. Molly is a small red-skinned creature often seen wearing glasses and a white lab coat.
- Nicky (voiced by Xavi Nixon), is a small anthropomorphic brown elephant who is Sula's younger cousin. Nicky wears glasses, an orange t-shirt blue & white sneakers and blue dungarees. Nicky first appears in series 2. Nicky is often the source of disagreement between Bing and Sula.
Production
Bing was based on a series of books called "Bing Bunny" written and illustrated by Ted Dewan. Acamar Films acquired the rights to Bing Bunny and produced the program in conjunction with Brown Bag Films and Tandem Films. The series was developed for CBeebies though initial episodes were viewable at MIPTV.
HarperCollins Children's Books signed a deal with Acamar and The Licensing Company to re-publish the stories to link with the TV programme. The books were re-issued in 2013–14.
The 70-minute DVDs are released by Studio Canal. The first DVD "Swing... and other episodes" was released on 31 March 2015 and features 10 episodes - Bye Bye, Swing, Blocks, Ducks, Smoothie, Frog, Car Park, Shadow, Musical Statues, and Voo Voo. A second DVD was released on 15 June 2015 and is titled "Storytime... and other episodes", featuring a further 10 episodes - Storytime, Growing, Atchoo, Hide & Seek, Bake, Train, Say Goodbye, Lost, Picnic, and Balloon.
Fisher Price have developed a range of Bing toys, which were released in July 2015, including "play sets, figurines, role play items, ride-ons, musical toys, wooden toys, and soft toys".
Toys are currently manufactured by Golden Bear Toys
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Refs |
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2014 | BAFTA | Pre-School Animation | Bing | Nominated | |
2015 | Annecy International Animated Film Festival | TV Series | For episode "Bye Bye" | Nominated | |
2015 | Pulcinella Award | TV Series for PreSchool | Bing | Nominated | |
2015 | Writers Guild Award | Best Children's TV Episode | Denise Cassar & the Bing Writing Team (for episode "Bye Bye") |
Won | |
2016 | International Emmy Kids Award | Pre-School | Bing | Won |