Things you might not know about PEPPA PIG

CONCERNS grew for the PM last week when Boris started banging on about Peppa Pig during a speech to the CBI.

Here’s a few facts about Britain’s favourite porker…

1

THE idea for Peppa Pig came to Neville Astley and Mark Baker in 2000. The pair were animators, but without work. Or money. So they enlisted the help of producer Phil Davies and the three had to borrow money from friends and family to make Peppa happen.

2

IT was an instant hit. Twelve months after its first episode aired in May 2004, the show had won a BAFTA and earned more than £ 1million in merchandise sales. 3SINCE

Peppa Pig first debuted in 2004, three people have voiced the title character. Child voice- actors Lily

Snowden- Fine ( season 1), Cecily Bloom ( season 2), and Harley Bird

( beginning in season 3). 4

IN seasons 1 and 2 of Peppa Pig, when the family went on a drive, they weren’t wearing seatbelts. This led to complaints from concerned parents and the relevant episodes have since been re- edited.

5

PEPPA Pig is seen in more than 200 countries worldwide.

6

DURING the 2010 general election, the Labour Party invited the “megastar of children’s television” to attend an event announcing family policies, but Peppa declined the invite.

7

THE episode Mister Skinnylegs features Daddy Pig talking about how spiders can’t really hurt you. It was banned in Australia, where spiders CAN hurt you. A lot.

8

THE Queen is said to be a fan of the series, which she watches with her grandchildren and great- grandchildren. 9

PEPPA Pig World, which Boris was talking about, is a theme park within a theme park. It’s found at Paultons Family Theme Park in Hampshire.

10IN

2014 Peppa appeared on a set of Royal Mail stamps alongside Bob the Builder and Paddington Bear.