Pingu for Number One!

While I was working at Marvel UK, Paul Neary once foolishly confessed admiration for the animation Pingu. Once the laughter had died away he made me watch the show with a view to a potential pitch for a comic and for this reason, this wonderful animated show - perhaps the best-known Swiss export after clocks and chocolate - always strikes a chord when I read some news about it.

Now, Pingu is making a bid for Christmas Number One chart success with a new single, 7-11, from indie-disco group Eskimo Dance. It was produced by Hot Animation for children's entertainment producers Hit Entertainment, who now own UK rights to Pingu - as well as owning Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends and Fireman Sam - and made 52 new episodes of the five-minute show in 2004, currently airing on kids channel CBeebies.

Digital Spy reports the promo has already become one of the most downloaded videos on YouTube racking up 27,000 views in less than a week.

So, without further ado, let me just say: Pingu Rocks!!