# Anne Wood

Anne Wood, CBE (born 18 December 1937) is an English children's television producer, responsible for creating shows such as Teletubbies with Andrew Davenport. She is also the creator of Tots TV, Boohbah and Rosie and Jim. She was a recipient of the Eleanor Farjeon Award.

## Early years

She was born in Spennymoor, County Durham, England, and grew up in Tudhoe Colliery, a small coal-mining village nearby.

## Career

She qualified as a secondary school teacher through the Bingley Training College in Yorkshire and took up her first teaching post back home in Spennymoor. She married Barrie Wood in 1959 and moved to Surbiton in Surrey where she took up a teaching role at Hollyfield Road Secondary School.
This was the era of the first children's paperback book and Anne became an early pioneer of a children's paperback book club scheme for schools set up by Scholastic Publications. She retired from teaching on the birth of her daughter and was taken on by Scholastic as editor of their Children's Book Club.

### Children's books

When the Wood family moved to Byfleet in Surrey, she expanded her interest in how books and children's development could be brought together. In 1965, she founded and edited a quarterly magazine Books for Your Children, a publication aimed at parents, teachers, and librarians and fully supported by children's publishers. Initially the UK Arts Council supported the magazine with a small financial grant. As a further promotion of children's books, in 1969, Wood set up the Federation of Children's Book Groups, an organisation still in existence today. Also, in 1969, in recognition of her contribution to the promotion of children's books, Wood was awarded the Eleanor Farjeon Award.

### Television producer

* Tyne Tees Television for ITV 1977 Puzzle Party hosted by Gyles Brandreth and featuring Gnigel the Gnu
* Yorkshire Television for ITV 1979 – 1983 Five series of The Book Tower, a programme aimed at stimulating children's interest in books. Hosts included Tom Baker and Stephen Moore. Winner of a Children's BAFTA in 1979 and 1982. Winner Prix Jeunesse 1980. 1982–1987 Three series of Ragdolly Anna, based on the children's books by Jean Kenward. Innovative technology brought the ragdoll to life. The series starred Pat Coombs as the dressmaker owner of the ragdoll.
* Head of Children's Programmes for TV-am. In April 1983, introduced Roland Rat, a character created by David Claridge in The Spectacular Shedvision Show. The series is generally regarded as the saviour of the ailing breakfast television service. Roland took the audience from 100,000 to 1.8 million. Wood produced six further series, Rat on the Road (1983), Roland's Winter Wonderland (1983), filmed in Switzerland, Roland Goes East (1984), filmed in Hong Kong, Rat on the Road II (1984), Operation Fog I (1984), and Roland's Countdown to Christmas (1984). Concurrent with Roland Rat, Wood produced a Sunday morning series Rub-a-Dub-Tub – a magazine-style one-hour programme for very young children. It began transmission in February 1983.
* Ragdoll Productions Limited: Wood founded her own independent children's television production company in 1984. She retired from Ragdoll in 2021.

#### Productions (with first transmission years)

* Pob's Programme for Channel 4 1985–1987 (3 series); 2 special videos produced: Pob and Friends, (1988); Pob Goes to Hospital (1990)
* Playbox for ITV 1988–1989 (1 series) (35 programmes)
* The Magic Mirror for ITV 1989 (1 series) British animation series with live action opening and closing sequences. First sponsored (Kellogg's) children's programme series shown on British television.
* Boom! for Channel 4 1990–1991 (2 series) Innovative programme series aimed at giving "special needs" children a programme of equal status.
* Storytime for BBC 1990 (series 5-6)
* Rosie and Jim for ITV 1990–2000 (8 series)
* Brum for BBC 1991–2002 (5 series)
* Tots TV for ITV 1993–1998 (8 series)
* Open a Door for BBC 1994–2003 (4 series)
* Teletubbies for BBC 1997–2001 (5 series) (365 programmes)
* Badjelly the Witch for BBC 2000 (movie) (Along with Norma Farnes)
* Teletubbies Everywhere for BBC 2002 (2 series)
* Boohbah for GMTV and ITV 2003–2005 (2 series) (125 programmes)
* What Makes Me Happy for Five 2005 (1 series)
* Blips for ITV 2005–2006 (2 series)
* In the Night Garden... for BBC 2007–2009 (2 series) (100 episodes)
* Tronji for BBC 2009–2010 (2 series)
* The Adventures of Abney & Teal for BBC 2011–2012 (2 series)
* Dipdap for BBC 2011–2012 (1 series) (52 programmes)
* Twirlywoos for BBC 2015–2017 (4 series) (100 programmes)
* B.O.T. and the Beasties for BBC 2021 (1 series) (50 programmes)

## Awards
### Personal

* 1969 Eleanor Farjeon Award (for services to children's books)
* 1974 Ronald Politzer Award (for book promotion)
* 1997 The Baird Medal of the Royal Television Society, Midland Centre
* 1998 Fellowship of the Royal Television Society
* 1999 The Veuve Clicquot Award for Business Woman of the Year 1998
* 2000 Commander of the Order of the British Empire for Services to Children's Broadcasting
* 2000 BAFTA Special Award Outstanding Contribution in Children's Television and Film
* 2003 Women in Film & Television awards the Olswang Business Award
* 2007 The Harvey Lee Award for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting British Press Guild Awards
* 2010 Lifetime Achievement award from Mother and Baby Magazine
* 2013 Honorary Doctorate University of Birmingham
* 2014 Voice of the Listener and Viewer Award for Contribution to Children's Television

### Productions, For Yorkshire TV

* 1979 Children's BAFTA (for The Book Tower) Harlequin Documentary/Factual
* 1980 Prix Jeunesse (for The Book Tower)
* 1982 Children's BAFTA (for The Book Tower) Children's Programme (Documentary/Factual)

### Productions, As Ragdoll Productions

Pob's Programme
Playbox
Brum
* 1990 New York Film & Television Festival
* 1991 New York Film & Television Festival
* 1991 Birmingham (UK) Film & Television Festival

#### Rosie and Jim

* 1992 TV Ontario Award

#### Magic Mirror

* 1990 New York Film & Television Festival (The Goose Girl, The Hobyahs, Jack & The Beanstalk)
* 1990 Chicago International Film Festival
BOOM!

#### Tots TV

* 1993 TV Quick – Gold Award
* 1996 Prix Jeunesse
* 1996 Children's BAFTA (For Best Pre-School Live Action)
* 1997 Children's BAFTA (For Best Pre-School Live Action)
* 1997 Retail Marketing Award (Highly Commended) Awards of Excellence (Video Home Entertainment) "Fluffy Little Chicks"
Storytime

#### Open a Door

* 1996 Prix Jeunesse for Brazilian episode "The Boy, The Slum and The Pan Lids"
* 1998 Festival of Light Filmfest, Seattle, USA Brazilian episode "Tezi" for “ Most Popular Film of the Festival Award"
* 1998 Seoul International Family Film Festival, Korea First Prize, Short Live-Film Section "Jasper", UK episode
* 2000 Prix Jeunesse "Tuli" (Namibia) BMW Special Prize for a programme with limited production facilities.
* 2000 Early Education 28th Contest of the Japan Prize for UK episode "Laura and Barry"
* 2001 Gold World Medal, Children's Special Category the New York Festivals Television Programming and Promotion Competition for the Open a door series
* 2002 Grand Award, Best Children's/Youth Programme the New York Festivals Television Programming and Promotion Competition for the Open a door series
* 2004 Gold World Medal the New York Festivals Television Programming and Promotion Competition for Open a door series 4
* 2004 The Japan Foundation President's Prize "Yolanda", Series 4, Open a door, South Africa episode Also one of the two runners-up in the Japan Prize Early Education Program Division
* 2005 BEST Live Action Short Film 7th Annual BAMKids Film Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), USA "Hic!”, Series 4, Open a door, USA episode

#### Badjelly the Witch

* 2002 Finalist Certificate Children's Programs Category the New York Festivals Television Programming and Promotion Competition.

#### Teletubbies

* 1997 Grand Prize: Winner, Pre-School Education Category 24th Japan Prize International Contest, Tokyo
* 1997 City of Birmingham (UK) Award Best Midlands Produced Children's Television Production of 1997 (Celebrating a unique contribution to the media industry in the region)
* 1997 Royal Television Society the Children's Entertainment Award
* 1997 Video programmes award – Awards for excellence (Video Home Entertainment)
* 1998 The NATS Indies children's award Sixth Annual Awards for Independent Television Productions
* 1998 Children's BAFTA Best Pre-School Programme
* 1999 The Nickelodeon Indies Children's Award Seventh Annual Awards for Independent Television Productions
* 1999 International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association 17th Annual Awards GALA in New York
** License of the Year
** Entertainment/Character license of the year
** Entertainment/Character License of the year/Hard Goods (to Hasbro Inc for Teletubbies)
** Entertainment/Character License of the year/Soft Goods (to Children's Apparel Network for Teletubbies Apparel)
** International Licensing Agency of the year (awarded to BBC Worldwide and Ragdoll)
* 2000 BBC Audicall Indies Children's award Eighth annual awards for Independent Television Production (third consecutive year of winning at the Indies)
* 2000 Royal Television Society Best Pre-School & Infants Award
* 2003 Ghana's TV and Radio Programme Awards Best Children's Programme
* 2005 Mumsnet Best DVDs for 0-1s and 1-2s
* 2014 Joint Winner of the Most Edgy Programme of the last 50 Years at Prix Jeunesse 2014
* 2014 Runner-up in the Great Impact Programme of the last 50 Years at Prix Jeunesse 2014

#### Teletubbies Everywhere

* 2002 Children's BAFTA Best Pre-School Live Action Award

#### Boohbah

* 2004 The Flash Festival – Paris Best Website Experimental Category – www.boohbah.tv

#### What Makes Me Happy

* 2007 Golden Butterfly Award – Iran Best Short or Medium-length Video – at 2007 International Festival of Film for Children and Young Adults
* 2007 9th China Children's Film Festival Special Award – Ningbo, China As selected by a viewer panel composed solely of children
* 2008 37th ROSHD International Film Festival, Iran Golden Statue Award to "Mahmoud's Film" (Palestine)
* 2009 Chicago Children's International Film Festival "Angelina's Film" (South Sudan) nominated
* 2009 Cine Golden Eagle Award Washington, USA "Angelina's Film" (South Sudan)
* 2011 Cine Golden Eagle Award Washington, USA "Jose's Film" (Colombia)
* 2011 Toronto International Film & Video Festival "Tung's Film" (Vietnam) Best Children's Category

#### In the Night Garden...

* 2007 BAFTA Children's Best Pre-school Live Action Programme
* 2007 British Toy Retailers' Association UK Toy of the Year – Igglepiggle Blanket Time
* 2008 Australian Toy Association Australian Toy Hobby & Nursery Fair Pre-school Licensed Product of the Year – Igglepiggle Blanket Time
* 2008 BAFTA Children's Best Pre-school Live Action Programme
* 2008 Licensing Awards 2008 Best Licensed Toys or Games Range in the Night Garden Toy Range from Hasbro
* 2008 Licensing Awards 2008 Best Baby/Pre-School Licensed Property (aimed at 0- to 5-year-olds) In the Night Garden
* 2008 Licensing Awards 2008 Best Food or Drink Range in the Night Garden Confectionery Range from Bon Bon Buddies
* 2008 Right Start Magazine Best Toy Awards in the Night Garden Sit & Ride, MV Sport & Leisure Ltd for Best Use of Character for the Tombliboos in the Night Garden Gazebo Ball Pool, Martin Yaffe won the Outdoor Category in the Night Garden Wooden Ninky Nonk Stacking Train, DanJam was Highly Commended in the Mini Movers Category
* 2008 Toy Retailers Association Pre-School Range 2008 in the Night Garden by Hasbro
* 2010 Broadcast Magazine Award Best Pre-school show
* 2010 Voice of the Listener & Viewer Award for Excellence in Broadcasting Best Children's Television Programme

#### Dipdap

* 2011 Children's BAFTA Best Children's Short Form Programme