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Paloma Faith stars in Disney's new 101 Dalmatian Street series

101 Dalmatian Street (Credit: Disney)

Set in 21st century London in the borough of Camden, the comedy follows eldest siblings Dylan and Dolly, parents Douglas and Delilah and the 97 younger puppies.

Actor and comedian Ben Bailey Smith will voice Spencer Sausage Dog, the side-kick of Portia Poodle, voiced by the singer Paloma Faith.

“I’m voicing a poodle who is dark, intense has tons of attitude. She is pretty much the coolest pup in Camden Town and loves taking centre stage when drama happens,” said Paloma Faith of her new role.

Comcast and Disney vie for the Murdoch empire

(Credit: AP)

However it ends, the battle royal for the right to own most of the assets of 21st Century Fox, and all of Sky, reflects deep and significant trends in global media. The resolution (in favour of suitors Disney, Comcast or both) may end up being less important than what the outcome tells us about market dynamics.

This battle is about the response of legacy media to accelerating shifts in consumer behaviour and to the threats posed by the big digital disruptors. In a market where content and distribution are increasingly intermingled and global, size unlocks the prize.

Disney's new kids series promises pure magic

The pair are among a talented roster of British talent who will feature in new animated comedy series, Sadie Sparks.

Launching on the Disney Channel in early 2019, the show follows 14-year-old Sadie, who finds out she has magical abilities and becomes a wizard in training – under the guidance of a very old, very grumpy rabbit Gilbert (Hound), who has been sent to help her harness her skills.

Content wins in battle of sale versus scale

From left: Mike Darcey, Kate Bulkley, Matthew Garrahan, Mathew Horsman and Tim Hincks (Credit: RTS/Paul Hampartsoumian)
The genesis of the event, “Sale or scale”, lay in 21st Century Fox boss James Murdoch’s comments at last year’s RTS Cambridge Convention on the benefits of size: “Scale buys confidence to invest strategically and take risks, and supports the development of new technologies and innovation.”
 

Disney Junior orders second series of smash-hit animation Vampirina

Vampirina follows the Hauntley family, friendly vampires who have recently relocated from Transylvania to Pennsylvania.

The show focuses on lead character Vampirina (AKA Vee), as she adapts to a new school in the human world and it features a mixture of heartfelt storytelling, spooky fun and Broadway-calibre music.

New commissions announced for Disney channels

The new content includes a modern animated series inspired by One Hundred and One Dalmatians, an animated space comedy, a dinosaur adventure series, and the return of hit shows DuckTales and Star Vs The Forces of Evil.

101 Dalmation Street, Disney Channel

A brand new eleven-part series will air next year on Disney Channel based on the Dodie Smith novel and Walt Disney film One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

Children in Need joins forces with Lucasfilm for new Star Wars sketch

Lord Sugar (Credit: BBC)

The BBC has revealed that R2-D2 and C-3PO will be joined by Warwick Davis (who played the Ewok Wicket in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi) for a special, one-off sketch.

The telethon, which has been running since 1980, will air its appeal show on Friday 13 November from 7.30pm on BBC One.

Details about the Star Wars segment are scarce, but the BBC has said that the characters will join Davis and the three will "attempt to find a worthy winner to help trigger the first BBC Children in Need totaliser of the night."