Children's Character Books Limited

Active05032989 Private limited company
Incorporated
3 February 2004 (22 years)
Previously known as
Penguin Character Books Limited (until 23 April 2004)
Blueyellow Limited (until 26 March 2004)
Industry
Book publishing (58110)
Directors
James Thomas Mcmullan
Geraldine Mcbride
Owned by
Accounts type
Full
Region
Greater London
Address
One Embassy Gardens
8 Viaduct Gardens
London
SW11 7BW

Filing status

Accounts due
30 September 2027
Last accounts
31 December 2025
Conf. stmt due
17 February 2027
Last conf. stmt
3 February 2026

Officers 7 active

Officer details are public data from the Companies House register.

Mcmullan, James Thomas
Director · Appointed 7 July 2025
British
Born February 1984 (42)
Mcbride, Geraldine
Director · Appointed 31 January 2023
British
Born April 1985 (41)
Director · Appointed 14 November 2019
Also at F-Beat Records Limited, 2 Entertain Management Limited, 2 Entertain Video Limited · more companies
British
Born November 1968
Director · Appointed 14 November 2019
Also at Woodlands Books Limited
British
Born April 1979 (47)
Director · Appointed 31 December 2010
Also at Snowman Enterprises Limited, Salspot Limited, Ladybird Books Limited · more companies
British
Born August 1963 (63)
Director · Appointed 29 October 2010
Also at Penguin Random House Limited, The Random House Group Limited, Snowman Enterprises Limited · more companies
British
Born August 1963 (63)
Evans, Nicola Isabel
Secretary · Appointed 3 August 2007
British
Officer history (33 former)
7 July 2025
Appointed Mcmullan, James Thomas as Director
31 August 2023
Resigned Turner, Christopher as Director
31 January 2023
Appointed Mcbride, Geraldine as Director
31 January 2023
Appointed Turner, Christopher as Director
30 January 2023
Resigned Roscoe, Sarah Elaine as Director
14 November 2019
Appointed Davies, Stephen Thomas as Director
14 November 2019
Appointed Twynam, Nancy as Director
14 November 2019
Resigned Arthur, Marcus Peter as Director
18 October 2019
Resigned Moultrie, Andrew David as Director
7 February 2019
Resigned Mistry-Saddul, Vanisha as Director
30 November 2017
Appointed Moultrie, Andrew David as Director
27 June 2017
Resigned Noakes, Jon as Director
15 June 2017
Appointed Roscoe, Sarah Elaine as Director
15 June 2017
Resigned Fidler, Naomi as Director
23 October 2015
Appointed Mistry-Saddul, Vanisha as Director
8 June 2015
Resigned Brett, Nicholas Richard John as Director
8 June 2015
Appointed Arthur, Marcus Peter as Director
22 May 2015
Resigned Gibson, Nicholas as Director
31 March 2014
Appointed Gibson, Nicholas as Director
31 March 2014
Resigned Brennan, Suzanne Margaret as Director
5 August 2013
Resigned Davies, Stephen Thomas as Director
5 August 2013
Appointed Noakes, Jon as Director
5 August 2013
Resigned Starling, Andrew Paul as Director
5 August 2013
Appointed Brett, Nicholas Richard John as Director
2 July 2012
Appointed Fidler, Naomi as Director
24 February 2012
Resigned Shepherd, Daniel Peter as Director
1 January 2012
Appointed Starling, Andrew Paul as Director
31 December 2011
Resigned Ross Russell, Neil as Director
27 May 2011
Resigned Welland, Grant James as Director
27 May 2011
Appointed Davies, Stephen Thomas as Director
31 December 2010
Resigned Barton, Stephanie as Director
31 December 2010
Appointed Dow, Francesca as Director
29 October 2010
Appointed Weldon, Thomas Daryl as Director
29 October 2010
Resigned Field, Peter as Director
27 April 2010
Appointed Welland, Grant James as Director
27 April 2010
Resigned Langford, Kevin Donald as Director
1 September 2009
Resigned Moore, Ian Christopher as Director
1 September 2009
Appointed Shepherd, Daniel Peter as Director
31 July 2009
Appointed Brennan, Suzanne Margaret as Director
31 July 2009
Resigned Landers, Brian James as Director
26 September 2008
Appointed Langford, Kevin Donald as Director
26 September 2008
Resigned Weller, Christopher Charles as Director
11 August 2008
Resigned Pritchard, Gill as Director
11 August 2008
Appointed Ross Russell, Neil as Director
25 January 2008
Appointed Barton, Stephanie as Director
25 January 2008
Resigned Floyer, Sally Margaret Doris as Director
23 October 2007
Appointed Pritchard, Gill as Director
3 August 2007
Resigned Peacock, Helena Caroline as Secretary
3 August 2007
Appointed Evans, Nicola Isabel as Secretary
30 March 2007
Appointed Weller, Christopher Charles as Director
30 March 2007
Resigned Young, Mark Christopher as Director
31 December 2006
Appointed Field, Peter as Director
31 December 2006
Resigned Welham, Andrew Peter as Director
30 June 2006
Resigned Mcaleer, Helen as Director
24 January 2006
Resigned Duhigg, John William as Director
24 January 2006
Appointed Moore, Ian Christopher as Director
2 November 2005
Appointed Duhigg, John William as Director
7 October 2005
Resigned Bowron, Peter David as Director
18 April 2005
Appointed Welham, Andrew Peter as Director
28 February 2005
Resigned Forbes Watson, Anthony David as Director
19 January 2005
Resigned King, David as Director
19 January 2005
Appointed Mcaleer, Helen as Director
30 April 2004
Appointed Young, Mark Christopher as Director
30 April 2004
Appointed King, David as Director
25 March 2004
Appointed Peacock, Helena Caroline as Secretary
25 March 2004
Appointed Bowron, Peter David as Director
25 March 2004
Appointed Floyer, Sally Margaret Doris as Director
25 March 2004
Appointed Forbes Watson, Anthony David as Director
25 March 2004
Appointed Landers, Brian James as Director
25 March 2004
Resigned Ingleby Nominees Limited as Corporate Nominee Secretary
25 March 2004
Resigned Ingleby Holdings Limited as Corporate Nominee Director
3 February 2004
Appointed Ingleby Nominees Limited as Corporate Nominee Secretary
3 February 2004
Appointed Ingleby Holdings Limited as Corporate Nominee Director

Ownership 1 active

People and entities with significant control, from the Companies House PSC register

Corporate entity · Notified 6 April 2016
Owns 75–100% of shares
Holds 75–100% of voting rights
Right to appoint and remove directors
Private Limited Company
Reg. no. 861590

Group structure 36 shown

Ownership group derived from the Companies House PSC register

Bertelsmann UK Limited
Arvato Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Arvato SCM UK Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Bertelsmann Global Business Services Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Penguin Random House Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Caterpillar Books Ltd Owns 75–100% of shares
Dorling Kindersley Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Dorling Kindersley Vision Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Funfax Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Phonic Books Limited Status not confirmedOwns 75–100% of shares
Flaname 0 Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Flaname 1 Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Flaname 2 Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Flaname 3 Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Flaname 4 Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Flaname 5 Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Flaname 6 Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Flaname 7 Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Flaname 8 Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Hay House UK Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Hugo's Language Books Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Little Tiger Press Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Penguin Books Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Allen Lane the Penguin Press Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Children's Character Books Limited This company Owns 75–100% of shares
Frederick Warne & Co Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Hamish Hamilton Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Ladybird Books Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Michael Joseph Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Penguin Pension Trustee Limited Holds 75–100% of voting rights
Snowman Enterprises Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Ventura Publishing Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
And 4 more
Prinovis UK Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Riverty UK Limited Owns 75–100% of shares
Storyglass UK Limited Status not confirmedOwns 75–100% of shares

Financials

Net Assets
(£604,886)
Cash
£512,025
Turnover
£1,094,093
Profit Before Tax
(£638,197)
Current Ratio
0.7x
Profit Margin
-58%

Trend

Turnover
£0 £500k £1.0M £1.5M £2.0M 2023 2024 £1,718,728 £1,094,093
Balance sheet detail
20242023
Current Assets£1,709,502£1,625,638
Cash£512,025£256,770
Creditors (< 1 year)£2,301,087£1,739,671
Net Current Assets(£591,585)(£114,033)
Net Assets(£604,886)
Shareholder Funds(£604,886)(£126,238)
Turnover£1,094,093£1,718,728
Cost of Sales£994,470£1,214,316
Gross Profit£99,623£504,412
Admin Expenses£570,388£876,270
Operating Profit(£638,197)(£581,412)
Profit Before Tax(£638,197)(£581,412)
Tax(£159,549)(£319,095)
Profit for Period(£478,648)(£262,317)

Filings 144

DateDescriptionMade Up ToPagesPDF
15 September 2026Full accounts31 December 2025
4 February 2026Confirmation statement with no updates3 February 2026
17 September 2025Full accounts31 December 2024
11 July 2025Appointment of a director
4 February 2025Confirmation statement with no updates3 February 2025
Show all 144 filings

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