Kids’ favourite Peppa Pig brings home the bacon

Peppa Pig, the British TV cartoon character beloved by millions of children, generated more than £100 million in sales in the last 12 months.

"There is a momentum behind Peppa that is like nothing else we have," said Darren Throop, chief executive of Entertainment One, the TV production and film distribution business which is also behind movies such as An Education and the Twilght series.

Peppa is already in 180 markets worldwide but Throop is now seeing growth from "better broadcast partners" who want to license it.

Entertainment One, which is moving its listing from the AIM market to the main London Stock Exchange in July, reported a 30% rise in revenues to £444.2 million in the year to March.

Pre-tax profits rose to £6.9 million from a £31 million loss a year earlier as Entertainment One cut debts.