The Australian High Commission in London has hosted a celebratory event organised by BBC Studios which transformed the iconic Australia House into Bluey House for 24 hours.

Bluey flags adorned the Australian Embassy, as members of the public lining the streets for the London marathon were treated to a musical marching band playing the Bluey title music, alongside a surprise visit from Bluey herself.

The activation coincides with the brand-new, unexpected Bluey episode, called ‘Surprise’, that landed globally on ABC Kids and ABC Iview in Australia and Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney Junior in the rest of the world.

The award from the High Commissioner is the first of its kind and celebrates the spectacular growth of the show. BBC Studios, which manages the Bluey brand and global rollout, shared that the brand has had a huge impact on children and families, with new 2023 figures revealing:

•  British children aged 3-6 spent 110m hours playing with Bluey toys.
• Over 1m hours enjoyed by families playing Bluey video games.
• Globally, over 700,000 hours have been spent by families attending live events ranging from Bluey’s Big Play through to events at CBeebies Land at Alton Towers and Camp in the US.
• The online Bluey Book Reads series read by an all-star celebrity line up including Kylie and Dannii Minogue has been viewed over 20m times since its launch.

The award comes just one week after a star-studded blue carpet screening event was held at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square to celebrate the global premiere of the supersized special episode ‘The Sign’, and Bluey appeared on the green carpet of the prestigious Olivier Awards where Bluey’s Big Play received a nomination for Best Family Show.

Australian high commissioner Stephen Smith, said: “Bluey’s phenomenal success in the UK and globally is testament to the ingenuity and artistry of Australia’s creative industries. Bluey highlights the power of Australian stories to resonate with children and parents the world over.”

Nicki Sheard, president of BBC Studios Brands and licensing, said: “What an incredible accolade for an Australian-born show that has truly become part of the world’s cultural zeitgeist. We are thrilled to have created experiences that have unlocked family time and opened the magical world of Bluey for fans across the world of all ages.”

Joe Brumm, the show’s creator added: “It is an honour to receive this award on behalf of everyone who helped bring Bluey to life. Our beautiful country is a character in the show just as much as any of the dogs, so to have brought it into the living rooms of the whole world, encouraging people to come and visit is something I’ll always be proud of.”