Bruce Abrahams is to join the internationally acclaimed producer of children's television, Ragdoll Productions, as 1st Assistant Director of Rosie and Jim as the stories of the two ragdolls and their friend Duck, prepare for their tenth year of delighting children with their mischief and adventures on the waterways of Britain.

Rosie and Jim is one of the great success stories of children's television: the series now showing on Children's ITV on Tuesday afternoons has been attracting audiences of more than 1.55 million and up to 40% of the available children's audience. Videos of Rosie and Jim are consistent best-sellers, and the programmes are also enjoyed by children in Australia, Bosnia, Finland, Holland, Italy and South Africa.

Abrahams has most recently been working as 1st Assistant Director and Production Manager on Series 2 of United Film & TV Productions; Survivors for C5 and Discovery Channel; and also on a series of three dramas for BBC Education, Turning Points.

He has worked with BBC TV Features in Bristol as 1st Assistant Director on 999 and its specials, including 999 International, 999 Lifesavers and Missing in Action; and also with BBC Features London on Mysteries with Carol Vorderman.

As a Location Manager with BBC TV Drama in London Abrahams' work has included EastEnders, Casualty, Crown Prosecutor, Between The Lines and House of Eliott.

Now with the Stratford upon Avon based company founded by Anne Wood which produces Teletubbies, Tots TV, Brum and Open A Door, as well as Rosie and Jim, Abrahams is preparing for the challenge of putting his experience and skills to making children's comedy.

"It's a difficult but nice challenge to bring the ragdolls to life on a small, tightly controlled location." he says. "There are actually considerable similarities with managing the reconstructions of drama 999 and Survivors. I'm looking forward to it very much".

Abrahams, 34, lives in Bristol. He was born in Birmingham and lived briefly in Solihull before moving to Stockfield in Northumberland and education at Mowden Hall School, and then at Oundle.

His early love of the theatre led to work as a stage manager and technician at the Edinburgh Festival, and productions in London, Liverpool, Scotland and Sweden before moving to television to work as an assistant floor manager with BBC TV Drama.