In Cracking Company: DCUK’s hand-made wildcard stands with heroes at prestigious Licensing Awards
The Licensing Awards. The Oscars of industry, the Baftas of business.
Held last night, 16th September 2025, at The Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair - Monopoly’s hottest property - The Licensing Awards celebrates collaborations between some of the all-time greats. Previous winners include Gucci x Peter Rabbit, Dr. Martens x Wednesday and H&M x LEGO.
This year, in the Best Licensed Giftware, Home Décor, Tableware or Housewares Range, there were some familiar faces. Barbie was there. So was Harry Potter. Peanuts was there with Zara. Disney brought Sanderson and H&M. The NBA accompanied Next. Wicked’s Elphaba and Galinda were there, casting a spell on Primark. And Wallace & Gromit were there, with DCUK.
That’s right, in a fairytale universe in which DCUK meets the Greatest Of All Time, DCUK actually did meet the GOAT. An enormous herd of GOATs. A ballroom full of GOATs. All dressed in tuxedos and gowns, and having a wonderful time.
So, how did DCUK’s Craig, Steve, and Ellie come to be sitting in such hallowed halls with such cracking company as animation titans, Aardman? Brands are rightly protective of their identities, so it’s unusual for handcrafted gifts to receive a nomination, let alone reach the finals! Well, it all began with a duck called Doris…
When Wallace says, “Wait until you see the next thing I’m working on, lad…” Vengeance Most Fowl, we all understand Gromit’s alarm. Having survived close shaves, the wrong trousers, and even the curse of a were-rabbit, the long-suffering pooch is well and truly “dun-inventin”.
However, when Ben Townsend, Aardman Animations' licensing coordinator and this year’s Licensing Award Rising Star winner, said something similar to his mum, her enthusiasm was genuine. Not only is Ben’s mum, Debbie, a huge Wallace & Gromit fan, but her love of ducks and impressive DCUK flock captured Ben’s imagination, inspiring this very special collaboration.
It all began with Doris
“My Mum's love of ducks started when we built our house, and a wild duck, who we named Doris, would visit us every day. She had a very bad leg, so she couldn't land well, but we knew when Doris was on her way as she would circle and quack above us, then land with several roly-polys, shake herself off and then run to the door and peck away until we fed her.”
From fledgling to flock
“Doris soon became tame enough to hand feed and started arriving at 5 am for her first meal. Mum would get up and feed her, and Doris got so comfortable with us that she started bringing boyfriends home. It was from then I got her the first DCUK duck I saw online. Now, well, let’s just say her display cabinet is full…”
Ducks, dreams, and animation
“My mum has helped me apply to Aardman since I left Sixth Form and was over the moon when I finally got a job there in 2021. Knowing that a Wallace & Gromit DCUK duck is now a reality because of her love for ducks is amazing.”
Quacking companions
Like so many of us, Ben and his mum found themselves sharing their home with a quirky character who won their hearts, despite stealing their lie-ins!
This sums up the spirit behind a collaboration rooted in the qualities that both Aardman and DCUK hold dear: unexpected friendships, daring adventures, and a generous serving of charm, cheese, and quackers.
Could this really be quackening
Like so many of us, Ben and his mum found themselves sharing their home with a quirky character who won their hearts, despite stealing their lie-ins! This sums up the spirit behind a collaboration rooted in the qualities that both Aardman and DCUK hold dear: unexpected friendships, daring adventures, and a generous serving of charm, cheese, and quackers.
So, how did a hand-made wildcard reach The Licensing Awards finals? Our Head of Marketing, Steve, puts it best: “This isn’t just a deal between two brands. It’s proof that licensing can be charming, quirky, memorable and brave.”
A very special thanks
And speaking of charm, quality, and imagination, we can’t finish without a huge thank you to Denise, our Chief Duck Designer. None of this would have been possible without her. Her artistic ability, creativity, and dedication to the flock are at the heart of DCUK, and we’d be nowhere without her. Thank you, Denise!
