Dora the Explorer

Nickelodeon UK today announces The Saturdays as guest judges for Dora the Explorer’s Beyond the Backpack Foundation. The Foundation celebrates Dora’s 10th anniversary and encourages Brits to apply for funding to make their adventures happen.

The Saturdays will sit on Nickelodeon’s ‘adventure panel’, including David De Rothschild, who recently sailed across the South Pacific on a boat made of recycled plastics and Ed Stafford who has just returned from walking the Amazon river. Together they will decide who will receive funding for all, or part, of their chosen adventures.

“We’re really excited to be part of Dora’s Beyond the Backpack Foundation as guest judges. It’s a fantastic campaign which encourages people across the UK to get out of the house and go on the adventure they’ve always dreamed of. Good luck everyone!”  -  The Saturdays.

Applications by Brits for funding of their dreams of adventure have been pouring into the Foundation, which is running in association with UNICEF, up until Sunday 14th November when entries close. The winners will be announced later this month. You can apply at: www.dorabeyondthebackpackfoundation.org

The Foundation, which launched in September, has seen A-list celebrities (from actresses and models to pop stars and rock royalty) giving their support to the campaign by designing bespoke, limited edition Dora backpacks which were auctioned for UNICEF.

(From a press release)

The voice actress who provides the voice of Dora The Explorer is filing a law suit against Nickelodeon over pay issues.

14-year-old Caitlin Sanchez has enlisted the help of her lawyer to get back what they believe is tens of millions of dollars worth of earnings.

They are accusing Nickelodeon of duping her out of profits from merchandise and public events and tricking her into signing a “bizarre, impenetrable, unconscionable” contract.

“She is not suing to stay on as Dora,” Sanchez’s lawyer said.

“She is suing because they paid her nothing for residuals, a few thousand dollars for merchandising and ended up making her spend most of her time – uncompensated – promoting the $11 billion Dora brand rather than performing as a paid actress.”

Nickelodeon has said they have let Sanchez go because she was hitting puberty and her voice was no longer suitable for the role of Dora.

Source: Stuff.co.nz