Need five minutes to keep your toddler and preschooler occupied? It’s Peppa Pig to the rescue

What: Peppa Pig

When: Season 3 e.tv (*194) 14:30

Which kind of programme: Animation

Need five minutes to keep your toddler and preschooler occupied? It’s Peppa Pig (2004-current) and her friends to the rescue.

And we’re not joking about the show being five minutes!

“We liked the idea of an animal that snorted – and that can only be a pig,” says series co-creator Neville Astley. “And one that likes mud. But it’s not just a five-minute bit of fun,” laughs Neville’s business partner Mark Baker. 

1. It takes three animators over two weeks to create a single episode of the British cartoon. “But there is a lot of other work that goes on way before that. It takes three months total to start and finish an episode,” says Mark.

2. There are five seasons to date, with 218 episodes. That works out to 54.5 years’ worth of animation work that has been done in the space of 13 years. Luckily Mark and Neville have a big team of digital animators! 

3. A special book called Peppa Meets The Queen was published in 2012 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee – 60 years as Queen.

4. Peppa Pig has made its creators over £400 million (R6 billion) in revenue thanks to merchandise sales.

5. Like most animated characters, Peppa doesn’t age – she’s four. Her brother George was meant to stay 18 months old too, but in season 2 episode 26 he had his second birthday party. 

6. There’s another goof to watch out for: Peppa is left-handed but has used her right hand to write with.

7. The show has been in hot water before: Peppa’s family didn’t wear their seatbelts in seasons 1 and 2, and it was sued in 2014 by Gabriella Capra, who was teased for having the same name as Gabriella Goat. 

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