Media Release
Ref: PR 124
Date: 28 October 2005
Cancellation of Tweenies Shows Rhydycar Leisure Centre 28th October 2005
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council regretfully announce the cancellation of both of todays’ scheduled ‘Tweenies’ show.
Late yesterday afternoon the Council were made aware by a ticket holder that the Tweenies are not the genuine Tweenies that are associated with the BBC.
Enquiries with the BBC confirmed that the organiser of todays’ shows is known to the BBC and that they not authorised by the BBC to organise such events. There are no legitimate ‘Tweenies’ events touring at this time.
Further the BBC indicated that they have received complaints from members of the public about the quality of the shows that have been held in other parts of the UK.
In a letter to the Chief Executive of Merthyr Tydfil Council the BBC made it clear that to let the shows go ahead would be a breach of their intellectual property rights and indicated that the Council, as the venue provider, would be liable.
The BBC requested in the letter what steps the Council were going to take to protect their rights. Having assessed the legal position and having regard to the complaints received by the BBC about previous shows regrettably the only course of action available to the Council was to cancel both shows.
The Council acknowledges the distress and inconvenience that this will cause. A full refund of the purchase price of the tickets is available from Rhydycar Leisure Centre.
Officers from Merthyr Tydfil Trading Standards Service are making enquiries with the organisers with a view to investigating any criminal offences that may have been committed by them.
For further information please contact Merthyr Tydfil Trading Standards on 01685 725021.
The Council have been misled about the authenticity of the shows and very much regret having to take this course of action.
ENDS