February 1st 2007
Hotbed signs up Metrostar for 'Star Portraits' Licensing

Hotbed Media, producers of ‘Star Portraits with Rolf Harris’ have appointed Metrostar to extend their popular BBC One TV show into consumer products.

‘Star Portraits’ is Britain’s most-watched popular art show with an average of 5 million viewers. It returns to BBC One this year for a third series and a DVD of series one and two will coincide with transmission. Metrostar is working in a number of areas from exhibitions and arts and crafts products to stationery and giftware. Metrostar is also developing a book concept with Hotbed based on the series, for submission to publishers.

Star Portraits’ sitters from series one and two were Michael Parkinson, Charlie Dimmock, David Dickinson, Meera Syal, Cilla Black, Mo Mowlam, Adrian Edmondson and Richard Wilson. Series three will feature Barbara Windsor, Kelly Holmes and Bill Oddie.

Claire Potter, Metrostar’s Managing Director comments “Star Portraits has excellent licensing potential because it’s both popular and unique – terribly rare in modern-day TV. Hotbed have chosen wonderful sitters and the artists have produced some outstanding and striking portraiture. Most importantly for licensing, it has a story to tell beyond its 30 television minutes to interest fans of the series and the genre.”

Johannah Dyer, Hotbed Media CEO and Star Portraits Executive Producer comments “The small exhibitions Hotbed produced to tie in with the first two series all achieved record visitors figures and not from regular exhibition attendees - we’ve helped people realize that art isn’t for somebody else – Star Portraits is for everyone.”

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Contact Claire Potter, Managing Director, Metrostar, 07989 940181