Films are UK's top TV export

Thirty-five years after their peak, the Carry On movies have become Britain's biggest TV exports.

The comedies have been bought by stations across the worldfrom Botswana to the Seychelles.

Carry On Up The Khyber, made in 1968, can now be seen in 140 countries on TV, video on DVD.

Though shot on a relative shoestring, the 31 movies have proved very lucrative for producer Peter Rogers.

Their new status as Britain's hottest export comes in the annual report of the British Television Distributors Association (BTDA).

It also showed the value of TV exports had gone up by a fifth in a year, to £136million, aided by formats such as The Weakest Link and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? as well as Bob The Builder and The Brit Awards.

Rights to the Carry On films are now owned by Carlton International. Simon Wheeler, the company's international video manager, told the BBC: "The comic antics and cheeky humour of the Carry On films can be enjoyed by all, whatever their location or culture."

To buy Carry On Up The Khyber on DVD for £10

Published: 16 Jun 2002