One upmanship: Twilight helps drive 17% revenue surge

FILM distribution outfit Entertainment One hailed the fourth instalment in the vampire romance the Twilight Saga as the highlight of its year as it unveiled a jump in sales and profits yesterday.

The company, also behind the Peppa Pig cartoon series, reported a 33 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £43 million in the year to 31 March.

The group said the Twilight Saga release helped its film division lift revenues by 17 per cent to £272 million as it hit number one at cinemas and on DVD in the UK and Canada.

The Twilight films, based on the books by Stephenie Meyer, have made stars of its leads Robert Pattinson as the lovelorn vampire Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart, who plays high school student Bella Swan in the film, pictured.

Peppa Pig continued its global dominance as the show became number one on pre-school charts in Australia, Italy and Spain.

PERRY GOURLEY