Charlie and Lola

History

The series began with the book I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, published by Orchard Books in 2000. The U.S. edition, titled I Will Never NOT EVER Eat a Tomato, was released the same year by Candlewick Press. For this book, Child won the 2000 Kate Greenaway All-Medal Trophy. The animated television show premiered in 2005.

Characters

Charlie Sonner is seven years old with platinum blond hair. He is imaginative and helpful, often looking after his younger sister Lola. He breaks the fourth wall by speaking about Lola to viewers or readers. Lola Sonner is four years old, also with short blonde hair and blue butterfly hairpins.

Charlie describes her as small and very funny; she is a drama queen and has an imaginary friend named Soren Lorenson. Lola's best friend is Lotta, an African-British girl with black curly hair who follows Lola's lead and is in awe of Charlie, his friend Marv, and Marv's dog Sizzles.

Marv Lowe is Charlie's best friend; he has a dachshund named Sizzles and a pet mouse named Squeak, as well as younger brother Morten and older brother Marty. Morten is shy but fun once he starts playing, and is a friend of Lola's. Soren Lorenson is Lola's imaginary friend, rendered monochrome and translucent; he appears detailed when playing with Lola but loses detail when interrupted.

Minnie Reader, a minor character, wears glasses and likes guinea pigs and ponies. Arnold Wolf is the next-door neighbour; Lola initially mistakes him for a wolf. Granny and Grandpa are mentioned but never seen, as are Mum and Dad.

In other adaptations

Tiger Aspect adapted the books into a cartoon series using collage-style animation that captures the original book style. The animation employs 2D cel animation, paper cutout, fabric design, real textures, photomontage, and archive footage, all animated in CelAction software. The series uses children's voices rather than adult voice actors. The first series of 26 episodes (11 minutes each) aired from 21 March 2005; a second series of 26 episodes began on CBeebies on 2 October 2006, with a third series following.

Two special episodes were broadcast in 2006 and 2007, for a total of 80 episodes. A stage play, Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play, premiered at Polka Theatre on 26 May 2008 and was later staged at Glow in Bluewater, Kent, in 2013. A sequel, Charlie and Lola's Extremely New Play, premiered at King's College School in 2012. A music album, Charlie and Lola's Favourite and Best Music Record, was released on 19 March 2007, featuring 17 tracks plus a hidden track.