Beano Studios is teaming up with award-winning production company Selladoor to create an all new musical stage production based on hit TV show Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed!

The family friendly show, which is being developed by Selladoor – the company behind hits including Madagascar the Musical and Avenue Q – will launch in 2020 on a year-long tour of 40+ theatres and venues across the UK and Ireland.

BAFTA-winning writer/producer-director Will Brenton is on board to write the show which will feature Dennis and Gnasher’s hallmark slapstick comedy and ageless humour delivered with a repertoire of songs.

The stage production follows on from the success of Beano Studios’ international Emmy-nominated TV series Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! The TV show stars Beano’s irrepressible hero Dennis (voiced by Freddie Fox), his dogged side kick Gnasher and fearless mates including Rubi, JJ, Pieface and his pet potato Paul. Together they cook up crazy plans, get in all sorts of scrapes and take on every challenge, no matter how big.

The hit TV show recently secured its second series (52 x 11min episodes) on CBBC and has been sold in over 24 countries and airs on the biggest broadcasters including Super RTL in Germany, Rai in Italy and France Télévision to name a few.

Emma Scott, CEO of Beano Studios said: “Following the success of Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed around the world, bringing our gang to life on stage is the perfect next step. Selladoor are the ideal team to take on the exciting challenge of bringing the iconic characters to life in a show to entertain all ages.”

David Hutchinson, CEO of Selladoor said: “Selladoor are delighted to be working with Beano Studios to bring the iconic Dennis and Gnasher to the stage for the first time with a really exciting creative team, led by Will Brenton under Anna Fox’s dramaturgical eye.

Selladoor recently launched Selladoor Creation, our development wing focused entirely on commissioning new stories for the stage. We are delighted to have been entrusted by Beano Studios with their well-loved characters who have endured for generations, and now finally leap from the page to the stage. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring one of the Nation’s favourite rebels to life so everyone can join in on the mischief and adventures. Keep your eyes peeled for Dennis and the gang hitting a theatre near you!”

DC Thomson Media has confirmed the acquisition of PSP Media, a Glasgow based publisher and event specialist.

Following the announcement of radio growth in March, DC Thomson Media’s acquisition of PSP Media is another key step in transforming the business from traditional publisher to modern media creator.

Having bought No.1 magazine from PSP Media in 2015, a number of adjacencies and synergies were identified between the two businesses. This acquisition enters DC Thomson Media in to new markets including both B2B and B2C events and exhibitions of scale, and contract publishing.

Mike Watson, Chief Executive Officer at DC Thomson Media, said, “I’m thrilled to have Paul, Tom and the PSP team join the business. At DC Thomson Media we are working to protect our core newspaper and magazine business whilst achieving sustainable business growth. The diversification into new sectors that PSP Media brings is an exciting opportunity for everyone involved.”

PSP Media will continue to operate from Speirs Wharf in Glasgow.

Paul Grant, Managing Director of PSP, said, “My fellow director Tom Lovering and I are delighted that our company, formed 23 years ago in order to launch bunkered magazine, is now part of an institution as great as DC Thomson Media. This acquisition is an extremely exciting opportunity for the company, our staff and our ever-increasing stable of events and publications. Both Tom and I are very much looking forward to continuing to grow the PSP portfolio with the support being part of DC Thomson Media brings.”

Following the acquisition the focus for DC Thomson Media is to ensure a smooth integration of the businesses, and to continue to deliver the highest quality publications and events to their consumers.

Stylist launched its first ever Remarkable Women Awards in partnership with well-being brand philosophy this week and they celebrated remarkable women as only Stylist can. From Annie Lennox picking up her icon award to Deborah Frances-White hosting the night, the awards honoured those who have worked tirelessly to help make sure the world hears every female voice.

Winners included Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer, The Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Anne-Marie, Jameela Jamil, and the legendary Annie Lennox. Guests included Edith Bowman, Maya Jama, Sara Pascoe, Katherine Ryan, and BAFTA winner Georgina Campbell. We also hosted performance poet, Sophia Thakur and musical theatre group Suffrageddon.

Take a look at some of the wonderful pictures from the evening held at Rosewood London below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brightsolid, the Scottish colocation and cloud solutions company, has found that almost three quarters (71%) of businesses across Scotland have adopted cloud computing, with 43% of this group considering their cloud journey as mature or mainstream.

Releasing results from its 2019 Cloud State of the Nation survey, the firm also found that 45% of the respondents are looking to implement a hybrid cloud strategy into their business, with 53% already investigating ‘best fit’ approaches over ‘cloud first’ and ‘cloud only’.

Elaine Maddison, CEO at Brightsolid, said: “This research validates our business positioning in offering the best fit hybrid solutions to our clients. It’s challenging to make one type of IT infrastructure fulfil the different performance, price and functionality requirements of a business; therefore, a mix of on-premise, private cloud and public cloud services is becoming more prevalent.

“IT infrastructure is intrinsic to delivering real business value and CTOs are ever more on the hook to justify technology through business outcomes. Hybrid cloud solutions therefore need to ensure that IT teams can obtain and share real-time management intelligence that allows them to demonstrate business value – not just simply orchestration, but true operational integration.”

According to Gartner, 90% of organisations will have moved to hybrid cloud infrastructure by 2020. Hybrid cloud offers a mix of on-premise, specialised and public cloud services with a management or orchestration layer. It encompasses holistic thinking on how cloud can fit into current IT infrastructure, including colocated environments and legacy kit, as well as licensing and support agreements.

However, despite the openness to the cloud, Brightsolid’s survey also reported that 40% of the respondents believe the top barrier to cloud is cost and recovering return of investment, followed by culture and skills at 30%, with focus on defining a cloud strategy, technical architecture, optimisation and compliance.

Elaine added: “While it is encouraging to see how advanced businesses in Scotland are on their cloud journey, there is still some way to go to achieve cloud nirvana. For example, our research also found that over a fifth (23%) of Scottish businesses remain unsure as to which type of cloud they will adopt in the future. It is therefore ours and the industry’s responsibility to ensure that organisations are clear on the financial benefits the cloud will afford them and ensure they have access to the skills and training needed to maintain their journey.”

Brightsolid, the Scottish colocation and cloud solutions company, has kick-started the year with the appointment of a new chief executive and chief technology officer.

Elaine Maddison will fill the role as CEO and Bryan Lambe will join the company as CTO.
David Thomson, Executive Chairman of Brightsolid, commented on the new appointments: “Today’s pace of change is exponential. Cloud is the most disruptive force in technology in decades, and Brightsolid’s role in helping organisations realise the benefit of cloud has never been more important. Elaine’s vision, strategy and execution track record, supplemented by Bryan’s technology expertise, are exactly what Brightsolid needs as we enter our next chapter, which I am confident will be even more impactful and exciting than our last.”

Elaine Maddison, CEO at Brightsolid
Elaine has spent 20 years in the UK financial services industry and has experience across a range of disciplines including IT, operations, risk management, strategy and M&A activities. Elaine has previously experienced Brightsolid as a customer during her time working with Alliance Trust Savings. With a track record of successfully leading diverse business functions through transformational change, Elaine will lead the ongoing transformation of Brightsolid’s technology and service delivery offerings.

Speaking about her appointment, Elaine said: “I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to lead Brightsolid at such an important time in its development. The company is well positioned for growth in this evolving market as the demand for cloud and colocation solutions continues to rise.
I am looking forward to building on our credibility and success for the future whilst simultaneously ensuring we remain focused on delivering the very best quality service to our customers.”

Bryan Lambe, CTO at Brightsolid
Bryan joins Brightsolid after 12 years of working for Microsoft’s Middle East and Africa operations. Throughout his time at the technology giant, he led digital change projects, including defining cloud and IT strategies for clients and supporting the development and modernisation of data centres. Bryan will be responsible for the technical strategy and end-to-end design and delivery of the company’s technology-based services, working collaboratively with clients to meet their IT needs.
Bryan said: “It is an exciting time to return to Scotland as demand for cloud solutions is on the increase. Brightsolid is in a strong position to support this growing demand and become a major player in the Scottish cloud and colocation landscape. I very much look forward to shaping and supporting the company’s technology offerings throughout this journey.”

Brightsolid is Scotland’s only dedicated and complete colocation and managed cloud solutions company. Brightsolid’s location, connectivity and credibility, combined with 20 years of industry experience, means they are trusted advisors to help their clients realise the full potential of the cloud. Brightsolid has a diverse portfolio of clients across all sectors including Alliance Trust Savings, Aberdeen City Council, TOTAL and many more.

SKY KIDS has taken further steps to establish itself as the premier destination for Kids entertainment by announcing a new deal with Beano Studios to produce a brand-new TV show ‘SO Beano!’; inspired by the rebellious and anarchic ethos of Beano.com, the multi award-winning digital kids platform.

Filmed at Sky’s state of the art facilities – and to be available for customers on Sky, the SKY KIDS app and NOW TV kids platform – the new presenter-led entertainment show is inspired by the hottest trends and most loved content on Beano.com – from mad dance crazes and LOL-tastic comedy sketches to guest challenges and fresh new cartoons.

26x15min episodes, aimed at 8-11-year olds, showcase brilliant, young, diverse UK creatives both in front of and behind the camera. The show includes eight unique sketch acts and fresh talent in the form of presenters, animators, comedy writers and performers.

The show is hosted by rising YouTuber Joe Tasker, comedy actress Nimisha Odedra, online fan favourite Emma Shaw and Joseph Robinson who makes his debut TV appearance .

Showrunner George Sawyer (writer for Emmy Award winning ‘Horrible Histories’ and BAFTA nominated Disney animation ‘Counterfeit Cat’) brings his directing and producing expertise to Beano Studios’ flagship entertainment show.

SO Beano! marks the continued evolution of Beano Studios from a much-loved comic to a highly innovative, multi-platform entertainment producer and digital network, engaging kids across all screens with long and short form content.

Emma Scott, CEO of Beano Studios’ said: “It’s so great to work with the highly innovative, creative team at Sky Kids and bring the very best of our riotous daily Beano digital mayhem to its audiences! We’re really excited to showcase new, young and unsung UK digital talent with such a well known broadcaster. This new TV show embodies our kid-led mentality by bringing their loves and obsessions to screens across the land in a festival of hyper-relevant mayhem! ”

Head of Sky Kids, Lucy Murphy added: “We can’t wait to bring a bit of mischief to Sky Kids this autumn! This show really celebrates all the humour, mayhem and irreverence that kids (and their parents) love from the Beano.. There isn’t a kids show out there like it and it promises to bring something fresh to our screens that taps into everything kids love.”

brightsolid has announced the appointment of new CEO Elaine Van Der Berg who will be joining the business in January 2018.

Elaine has a wealth of experience in senior leadership positions spanning Europe, Asia Pacific and Australia and over 20 years of experience in the IT sector.

Prior to being appointed as the new CEO of brightsolid, Elaine was a Managing Director for Capita looking after their business simulation and transformation group, G2G3.  Elaine was previously Director of Business Operations for Optus, a large Telco in Australia, and also held a number of senior positions within DELL across its UK and Asia Pacific and Japan functions.

Elaine takes the helm at brightsolid at an exciting time for the business.

Ellis Watson, Chairman of brightsolid said, “Elaine will help us to build on the productivity, efficiency and dynamism of brightsolid. Our bright and solid team is on a mission to surpass expectations and it’s a genuine pleasure to have strengthened the team for the next exciting phase with the appointment of such an experienced leader.”

After 25 years working in London, Singapore and Sydney, Elaine is thoroughly enjoying being based back in Scotland and settling her family in their new home in Fife.

Puzzler Media works with dementia specialists Unforgettable to launch a bespoke magazine to engage, stimulate and occupy people living with dementia and their carers.

Puzzles & Pastimes is a new and innovative magazine produced by the UK’s leading creator of puzzles, Puzzler Media, incorporating the expertise of dementia specialists Unforgettable.

This pioneering format is specifically designed to engage people living with dementia and help those who continually strive to give their loved ones a better quality of life. Puzzles & Pastimes magazine includes a range of activities to suit those living with dementia – both in early and mid-stages. The specially designed content includes entertaining puzzles, colouring and other activities, alongside nostalgic images and easy recipes designed to stimulate the mind and in turn spark memories and conversations. There’s also a detachable booklet for carers containing practical tips and advice on how to get the most out of the puzzles and other activities that will allow them keep their loved one engaged.

In 2017, The Lancet reported that dementia is the greatest global challenge for health and social care in the 21st century: around 50 million people worldwide have dementia and this number is predicted to triple by 2050. Research has shown that the over 50s are now more concerned about developing dementia than getting cancer.

Publishing Manager, Mark Whiteway, talks about why Puzzler Media decided to team up with the experts at Unforgettable.

“We have over 45 years of experience in making puzzles of all types and levels of difficulty, and we know that our readers value puzzles as a way of exercising mind and memory, as well as for their pure entertainment value. Some readers resort to children’s puzzles as their sight and memory deteriorate, so we wanted to produce a dedicated magazine that would allow solvers to enjoy the benefits of puzzles for as long as possible, whether alone or in the company of a carer.

“To ensure we provided the most appropriate content and design, it was essential to seek the professional guidance of James Ashwell and his team at Unforgettable. Their advice was invaluable in compiling this unique mix of activities and puzzles of varying levels.”

Unforgettable.org was founded by James Ashwell, who, having cared for this mother with dementia for five years, wanted to help others living with the condition. He launched Unforgettable – a world-leading source of life-changing products and services for people with dementia, and set up a charitable foundation. He says, “Our mission is to create a world where people with dementia live the best possible life. People are living longer and family members have high awareness of needs so are actively seeking products to help give a better quality of life to their loved ones.

“There are very few printed products designed to engage, stimulate and occupy those living with the condition so we were delighted to team up with Puzzler Media in order to produce this high-quality yet affordable publication.”

On sale November 8

Price RRP £5.99

PUZZLES & PASTIMES is available from: WHSmith, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and all good newsagents.

ShortList, the men’s magazine that redefined print media in the UK, has unveiled a collectors’ edition to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its launch.

Featuring 10 commemorative front covers with 10 high-profile cover stars: Anthony Joshua, Niall Horan, Jack Whitehall, Jeremy Corbyn, Craig David, Chris Froome, Jamie Vardy, Rami Malek, KSI (aka Olajide Olatunji) and Jamie Bell, the striking covers depict each star holding a distinctively different photo of them from 10 years ago, highlighting what a difference a decade makes.

The magazine that has always had its finger on the pulse of contemporary masculinity, ShortList’s anniversary issue features interviews with each of its 10 cover stars. It also showcases ShortList’s trademark agenda-setting journalism, with an essay from editor Joe Mackertich on the evolution of the British male.

When it launched in 2007, ShortList introduced a revolutionary new business model to UK publishing – built on the insight that all print is not created equal. Freedom from the newsstand meant that it could experiment with covers and feature ideas that would target its ‘Met Set’ audience, delivered via a unique creative template that continues to be entirely different to traditional magazines. The scale of distribution, coupled with its unique creative freedom allowed it to develop its credentials as a highly effective way for brands to engage a hard-toreach male audience, and inspire action.

Over the past 10 years, its publisher Shortlist Media has built on the success of the freemium publishing model it spearheaded at launch, introducing the hugely successful Stylist, shifting core revenue towards content partnerships with brands, and limiting its reliance on traditional display advertising. Family, the content studio from Shortlist Media, launched last November to connect advertisers with in-house expertise, and branded content revenues are now over 50% of the business – up from 37% at launch 12 months ago.

Ella Dolphin, CEO of Shortlist Media, said: ‘This is an incredibly exciting time for our business. 10 years of Shortlist Media has seen rapid and successful evolution across our print portfolio as we continue to transform our approach to accommodate the increasing demand for big, conceptual pieces that cut through with imaginative executions. The launch of Family last year is just one example of that, and as we continue into the second decade for our business, our ambition continues to be to create memorable content on every platform and channel that will surprise, thrill and engage the metropolitan audience we reach every single day.’

Joe Mackertich, editor of ShortList, said: ‘The brilliantly bright and talented team here at ShortList is the reason why the magazine has enjoyed such impressive growth and incredible success over the past decade. Our Anniversary Issue is designed to celebrate this as we look to the next 10 years of ShortList – with the 10 celebrity cover features aiming to showcase what a difference a decade can really make, both personally but also for a magazine that’s so in sync with the evolution of its metropolitan audience.’