Teletubbies founder awarded honorary degree

Anne Wood, television producer of co-founder of Teletubbies, has been awarded an honorary degree by Sheffield University.

Credit: Paisan Homhuan

She is one of the UK’s most prolific children’s television producers and is responsible for popular children’s programmes such as Brum, In the Night Garden, Tots TV and the Teletubbies.

Ms Wood, who set up Ragdoll Productions, developed the Teletubbies with Andrew Davenport, after consulting with nursery practitioners, linguists and young children.

In the show, the four Teletubbies, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa Laa and Po live in a magical land with a vaccum cleaner friend called Noo Noo.

Ms Wood used some of the money generated from Teletubbies to set up the Ragdoll Foundation, to help children in deprived areas and unlock their creativity.

A Fellow of the Royal Television Society and winner of a special BAFTA for her Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Television, Ms Wood received a CBE for services to children’s broadcasting, and has some 70 international television awards as markers of her achievements.

Sheffield University has awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Letters.