Toy Empire: The British Force Behind Star Wars Toys
Superfan David Whiteley celebrates how an unassuming band of designers and factory workers in Leicestershire created the toys which were to define a generation.
Star Wars superfan David Whiteley celebrates the unlikely toy heroes of the 1970s.
Toy manufacturer Palitoy based in Coalville, Leicestershire, was chosen to make toys for the new Star Wars movie in the UK. The company was already successful with Action Man and Tiny Tears. But Star Wars toys were about to become the must have toys of a generation. It was an unexpected success. At that time toys from films didn’t sell well. Rich archive brings the nostalgia of the 1970s back to our screens, as David Whiteley meets the men and women who made it happen against all the odds, and the enthusiasts whose pocket money toys now fetch eye watering sums.
‘Toy Empire: The British Force Behind Star Wars Toys’ tells the success story of the toys would change the way movies are marketed forever.
Last on
Music Played
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London Symphony Orchestra
Star Wars Main Theme
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London Symphony Orchestra, John Williams
The Throne Room/End Title
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | David Whiteley |
Director | Matt Wildash |
Executive Producer | Diana Hare |
Broadcasts
- Mon 16 Dec 2019 19:30Â鶹Éç One East Midlands
- Mon 16 Dec 2019 21:00
- Sat 15 Aug 2020 00:30Â鶹Éç News UK & UK HD only
- Sat 15 Aug 2020 18:30Â鶹Éç News except UK & UK HD
- Sat 15 Aug 2020 23:30Â鶹Éç News except UK & UK HD
- Sun 16 Aug 2020 05:30
- Sun 16 Aug 2020 11:30Â鶹Éç News except UK & UK HD
- Sun 16 Aug 2020 14:30Â鶹Éç News UK & UK HD only
- Tue 18 Aug 2020 01:30Â鶹Éç News UK & UK HD only
- Tue 18 Aug 2020 08:30Â鶹Éç News except UK & UK HD
- Tue 18 Aug 2020 14:30Â鶹Éç News except UK & UK HD
- Fri 21 Aug 2020 17:30Â鶹Éç News except UK & UK HD
- Christmas Eve 2020 08:30Â鶹Éç News except UK & UK HD
- Christmas Eve 2020 14:30Â鶹Éç News except UK & UK HD
- Christmas Eve 2020 23:30Â鶹Éç News except UK & UK HD
- Christmas Day 2020 05:30Â鶹Éç News UK & UK HD only
- New Year's Day 2021 15:30Â鶹Éç News UK HD & UK only
- Sun 19 Dec 2021 00:10