BBC prepares for Fimbles

Fimbles could be as popular as the Tweenies

Filming is about to start on Fimbles, a new BBC series targeted at younger pre-school children.

The series for two to four-year-olds will hope to repeat the success of Teletubbies and the Tweenies.

Featuring three characters in Fimbles suits, it will go into production next month and start screening in September.

But a BBC spokeswoman said it would be "totally different in look and totally different in environment".

Unlike Teletubbies it will place the emphasis on "song, story and language" when it goes out on CBeebies and BBC Two.

Licensing deal

Some shows targeted at younger pre-school children have been criticised for lacking educational value.

Teletubbies was attacked for swapping gabble for spoken English.

The BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, has already signed a licensing deal with British toy manufacturer Fisher-Price.

The firm will make and manufacture soft toys and educational product spinoffs.