A £350,000 loan from a Liverpool city region business growth fund is keeping Milo the cat on our TV screens and will create up to 10 jobs. Tony McDonough reports
Animators from Liverpool-based Fourth Wall are the creators of TV cat Milo and a £350,000 loan has ensured a second series and the creation of up to 10 jobs.
First aired on Channel 5’s Milkshake in May 2021, Milo is a cartoon in which a five-year-old cat explores different jobs with friends Lofty and Lark. Since then it has consistently been one of the UK’s top shows for children aged four to six.
Its first 52-episode series won the Best Children’s Series at the 2022 British Animation Awards. The cartoon was also shortlisted for Best Pre-school Programme at the 2022 Broadcast Awards and won bronze at the 2022 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
In order to make a second series for Channel 5, city centre-based Fourth Wall needed to plug a funding gap. It secured a £350,000 loan from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Flexible Growth Fund.
This cash injection, secured via River Capital, leveraged a further £2m in private sector investment and will lead to the creation of up to 10 jobs.
For the first series Fourth Wall had secured funding from the British Film Institute’s Young Audience Content Fund. But that fund closed in 2023. Milkshake commissioned a second 26-episode series which is when Fourth Wall turned to the city region fund for help.
Joe Moroney, from Fourth Wall, said: “We are thrilled to have received this vital support. The £350,000 loan has been instrumental in bringing our Milo brand back for a second series, allowing us to continue our journey of creating engaging, world-class content.
“This investment not only helps us expand our team and IP portfolio but also reinforces the vibrant creativity of the Liverpool city region’s digital sector. We’re excited to see Milo reach new heights and showcase the talent flourishing in our region on a global stage.”
Fourth Wall is based in Bold Street and employs 30 staff members. Producing a second series will enable the business to create at least three and up to 10 jobs. Producing the second series will help retain and nurture much of the talent from the first series of Milo.
READ MORE: New skyscraper ‘cluster’ planned for Liverpool
READ MORE: Liverpool FC takes ‘LFC Experience’ to China
Jeff Cummins, investment manager from River Capital, added: “River Capital were keen to find a way to support Fourth Wall’s plans and the development of their award-winning animated series Milo.
“The £350,000 loan through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Flexible Growth Fund enabled the second series to move into production.
“Fourth Wall’s success demonstrates the immense creative talent in the Liverpool city region’s digital and animation sector and we’re excited to see Milo reach new heights and continue putting the region’s creative capabilities on an international stage.’’