Created by acclaimed director Nick Park, the character of Shaun the Sheep was first seen in the television Christmas special A Close Shave before moving on to appear in his own standalone series on the older-skewing CBBC. The show is classic stop frame Aardman with the main character Shaun constantly convincing the rest of his slightly less excitable flock to join in with his madcap and dangerous schemes that usually end in disaster, often to the annoyance of Bitzer the sheepdog but always without being noticed by the oblivious farmer. There’s no dialogue in the show, but there is plenty of classic Aardman slapstick. The executive producer is Miles Bullough. Like much of Aardman’s output, the programme has exhibited serious international appeal too and the show has now secured television sales and licensing deals in over 150 territories. The show’s first 40-part run was originally commissioned by Dorothy Prior.