FAIRYTALE END FOR FILM FIRM

The makers of smallscreen hit The Gruffalo saw a monster rise in turnover last year. London-based Magic Light Pictures owns the film and merchandising rights to the much-loved children’s book, written by Julia Donaldson. Licence deals on more than 400 Gruffalo products helped turnover jump from £949,000 to £3million in the year to last April, with profits of just under £600,000. The firm, which employs only 14 people, was also boosted by Revolting Rhymes, another of its short films which was nominated for an Oscar.

Oil giant BP raked in £140 a second last year. Recovering oil prices helped it bank £4.4billion, more than double the £1.9bn haul for 2016. Boss Bob Dudley hailed it as “one of the strongest years in BP’s recent history”.