AN independent TV production firm is hoping to take its successful children’s programming to the international market.

Calon, with its HQ in Cardiff, is to showcase its Zoo Factor series – which parodies TV talent shows – in Cannes next month.

After the success of previous made-in-Wales animations, such as SuperTed, Fireman Sam and Hana’s Helpline, Calon is premiering its puppet show at the five-day international trade event MIPTV where broadcasters buy the latest TV shows.

Zoo Factor is a 13 x 20minute comedy puppet show in the style of such TV phenomena as American Idol and X Factor, and is due to be broadcast on CBBC this spring. Aimed at six to 12-year-olds, it features the catchphrase: “If you’re beaten you’re eaten”. In every episode a cast of wild animals parade their dubious talents and sob stories in front of a panel of judges headed by Clive, a vain and lazy lion who quite literally eats acts for breakfast, Celia a showbiz seal and Barry, a baboon guaranteed to say the wrong thing.

The series is hosted by a marsupial named Hilly Wallaby. Voices come from comics Katy Brand, Mel Geidroyc, Tim Vine and Kim Wall.

Zoo Factor is part of a new trend in children’s TV programming where comedy writers who are better know for adult comedy are writing specifically for the younger market. Zoo Factor’s Welsh writer Mark Evans, has previously written for That Mitchell and Webb Look and Saxondale while Will Ing has worked on Pop Idol and 8 Out of 10 Cats.

Other similar CBBC children’s comedy commissions include a children’s sketch show Sorry I’ve Got No Head featuring Marcus Brigstocke, a comedy drama with Eddie Izzard, and the puppet show Dead Puppet’s Society with Johnny Vegas.

Managing director Robin Lyons said: “We are delighted to be working with CBBC on this series. Puppet shows are back in fashion and this show has the largest cast of puppets seen on TV since the Muppets.

“With the success of TV talent shows like X Factor and American Idol throughout the world Zoo Factor has already been featured in the national and trade press in America. Now we are hoping it will also have the talent to be a global hit too.”

At MIPTV Calon will be hoping to secure worldwide sales for their back catalogue of award-winning pre-school children’s series Hana’s Helpline and Sali Mali, which has already been sold to 25 countries, and their feature films Under Milkwood and The Princess and the Goblin.

They will also be looking for financial partners to develop two new programmes File 404 aimed at teenagers and Cruel Aliens, an animated comedy for adults.

File 404 is based on an idea created by former Western Mail journalist Rhodri Owen, Jez Gaydon and Mark John. Part-animated, part CGI, part live action, it takes characters from cult computer games – a FIFA footballer, Italian hitman and a teen vampire slayer – and follows their adventures in the real world.

Described as “an extraterrestrial Simpsons”, Cruel Aliens is a series of 30-minute animated comedy programmes following the lives of a dysfunctional family from outer space. Scripted by Red Dwarf creator Rob Grant, Calon will be looking for investors to develop the series.

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