Chapman Entertainment is a United Kingdom television production company founded by Keith Chapman and the producer of the Fifi and the Flowertots television show for Five.
The company was founded by Chapman in 2001, together with Greg Lynn, a former record industry executive and Andrew Haydon a former managing director of John Reid Entertainment, an artist management company. The company was created for the purpose of exploiting both the intellectual property rights of Chapman's creations and also those of interested third parties.[1]
The company is structured to allow greater rewards and input to property creators. This developed from Chapman's own frustrations at his lack of involvement with his Bob the Builder character. He created the character in the early 1990s and struck a deal with HIT Entertainment which saw them develop the character. The project was handed over to HOT Animation, specifically Jackie Cockle and Curtis Jobling, who took the basic title and premise of the show and ran with it, developing the project in-house from a blank canvas. The resulting show was commissioned by the BBC.
In May 2005 Chapman Entertainment launched Fifi and the Flowertots, a stop-frame animation show on Five's Milkshake! and Nick Jr. The show has been sold into over 100 territories worldwide. Fifi and the Flowertots features the voice of Jane Horrocks.[1][2]
In May 2007 Chapman Entertainment launched their second show, Roary the Racing Car on Five's Milkshake! and Nick Jr. The idea for the show was suggested by Brands Hatch employee David Jenkins and features the voices of comedian Peter Kay and racing driver Sir Stirling Moss.[2][3]
In July 2011 Chapman Entertainment announced the departure of their MD & co founder, Greg Lynn. Ahead of massive company redundancies, "soaring costs and challenging trading conditions" were listed as the reason's for the redundancies. [4]
In August 2011 Chapman Entertainment announced the company being place for sale. It has placed poor toys sales as the main cause. [5]