Football, films and now some Noddy

FOR those who think of Channel 5 purely in terms of late-night adult entertainment, its move to buy 100 new 10-minute episodes of Make Way for Noddy from Chorion may come as something of a surprise.

But Channel 5 claims that it is already the number two broadcaster to pre-school children. Its controller of children's programmes Nick Wilson said: 'We are building a great portfolio of children's animation to ensure that Channel 5 becomes the leading terrestrial broadcaster of children's programmes.'

Channel 5 already broadcasts Barney, the purple dinosaur, Bear in the Big Blue House, Tin Tin and Roli, Polie, Olie.

Nick Tamblyn, chief executive of Chorion which demerges from its bar night club business, spun off as Urbium, this week, said the deal would be 'fantastic for sales of videos, books and other Noddy merchandise'.