BBC WORLDWIDE AND THE WAND COMPANY

        SIGN LICENSING DEAL TO PRODUCE

DOCTOR WHO SONIC SCREWDRIVER UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL

 

 

BBC Worldwide and The Wand Company - known for developing the World’s first infrared remote control magic wand, have signed a licensing deal to develop a Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote Control.  The device will be based on the Sonic Screwdriver model used by the Eleventh Doctor, currently played by Matt Smith.

 

The new Sonic Screwdriver will be a gesture-based universal remote control which will use infrared (IR) to control entertainment systems including TVs, iPod docks and DVD/Blu-ray players. With advanced gesture recognition technology, up to thirty-nine remote control codes can be stored in the Sonic Screwdriver.

Chris Barnardo, Co-Founder of The Wand Company says: “Since we launched our first wand, Doctor Who fans all over the world have been asking us to create a remote control Sonic Screwdriver and we are thrilled to be working with BBC Worldwide in order to bring this to the market. Our Sonic Screwdriver will not only look authentic, but it will really work to control electronic devices around the home. We are sure that Doctor Who fans will be as excited as we are about our new Sonic Screwdriver.”

Fiona Eastwood, Product Development Director, BBC Worldwide Consumer Products says: “Doctor Who is one of our key brands and we are very excited about working with The Wand Company. The new Sonic Screwdriver really will extend fans’ enjoyment of the show, not only will it look great, it has a range of functions and fantastic features.”   

The Wand Company became known after Chris Barnardo and Richard Blakesley appeared on BBC show Dragons’ Den in 2010 and secured offers totalling almost £1million from the five ‘dragons’ – making theirs one of the most successful business pitches in the history of the programme.

 

The Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote Control will be available through retail later this year.   

ENDS

 

For more information please contact: Andrew Green, The Wand Company: sonic@thewandcompany.com  Tel: 07816 845545

 

The BBC Worldwide Consumer Products press team: Emma Burch: emma.burch@bbc.com  Tel: 020 7612 3134

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has six core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products, Brands, Consumers & New Ventures and Magazines, with digital ventures incorporated into each business area. In 2010/11, BBC Worldwide generated profits of £160 million on sales of £1158 million and returned £182m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview 

 

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The Wand Company Limited
Established in 2009 by Cambridge-based entrepreneurs and inventors Chris Barnardo and Richard Blakesley, The Wand Company makes the finest magical instruments that combine traditional design values with modern high-tech wizardry. Its first product, the Kymera Magic Wand, has sold over 125,000 units in 81 countries worldwide. To find out more, please visit www.thewandcompany.com or email info@thewandcompany.com