Farshore has announced a new series of activity books with Beano Studios ahead of the comic’s 85th anniversary in 2023.
The deal was signed by Emma Cairns-Smith, Director License Acquisitions for English Worldwide Rights with Rob Glenny, Head of Commercial and New Business at Beano Studios
Released Farshore The ultimate comic book collection from Dennis & Gnasher and Beano’s new fiction series Dennis & Gnasher last year. Two more fiction titles will appear in April and November 2023.
The release of the five new activity books will begin in September this year with a brand new one Beano joke book. The offer will be continued until 2023 with the formats “Search & Find” and “Would you prefer”. To commemorate the official 85th anniversary of Beano, a completely redesigned and updated version The Ultimate Guide to Beano will appear in June next year.
Beano’s 85th birthday will be celebrated throughout the year with a comic book special, a national press and media campaign, school activities and special appearances by celebrity comic book fans. The year will also mark anniversary milestones from some of Beano’s favorite characters, including the 30th anniversary of the Numskulls and the 70th anniversary of Roger the Dodger, the Bash Street Kids and Minnie the Minx.
Zoe Masters, Brands and Licensing Publisher at Farshore, said: “We’ve had such a positive response to our Beano release in 2021 from both consumers and retailers, so we’re extremely excited to announce our rights to activity books from Fall 2022 to have expanded. Start laughing yourself silly Beano joke book in September. The Beano team has so much passion, creativity and energy and is fantastic to work with. The creative minds behind the Beano and authors of the novel titles, Craig Graham and Mike Stirling, sold out events across the UK, taking an absolute storm. The demand at this year’s Hay Festival was so overwhelming that we needed a bigger tent! We can’t wait to release our exciting new formats and celebrate Beano’s 85th anniversary in 2023.”
Glenny added: “Beano will be celebrating 85 years of unleashing laughter and creativity across the country in 2023, so we are thrilled to extend our partnership with Farshore on our shared mission to make children laugh through reading with these new activity books bring to. Developing the novel titles, written by Beano geniuses Craig Graham and Mike Stirling, has been a dream collaboration with Farshore, so we’re thrilled that Farshore’s amazing team is now bringing the Beano DNA into fresh new formats. Personally, I’m looking forward to the new one Beano joke book that will make families giggle this Christmas. I’d test a chemistry joke on you…but it might evoke an unexpected reaction!”
