Pokémon in the United Kingdom: Difference between revisions

|EP001=29 March 1999

|AG001=6 June 2004

|DP001=4 February 2008

|BW001=27 February 2011{{tt|*|Sneak peek, CITV}}<br>4 June 2011{{tt|*|Actual season premiere, CITV}}

|XY001=19 October 2013{{tt|*|Sneak peek, CITV}}<br>5 April 2014{{tt|*|Actual season premiere, CITV}}

|SM001=20 November 2016{{tt|*|Sneak peek, CITV}}<br>11 April 2017{{tt|*|Actual season premiere, CITV}}

|JN001=25 May 2020{{tt|*|Sneak peek, POP}}<br>1 September 2020{{tt|*|Actual season premiere, POP}}

All [[Pokémon games]] that have been released in {{pmin|the United States}} have also been released in the UK, with the exception of [[Hey You, Pikachu!]]. Additionally, English-language versions of [[Pokémon Tetris]] and [[Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure]] have been released in the UK, despite these titles having never been released in North America. Prior to release dates becoming simultaneous globally, the UK release dates tended to be some time after the U.S. release dates, with the exceptions of {{g|Dash}}, [[PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure]] and {{game|Black and White|s}}, which were released in the UK before the United States.

Games that are released in the UK are inconsistent with {{wp|American and British English spelling differences|British English spelling}}. For example, spelling variations such as ''color'' and ''center'' are not changed to ''colour'' and ''centre'' for the UK releases. This is due to most games using a single English translation as localised by [[The Pokémon Company International]] in the United States. However, the English translation of [[Pokémon Sword and Shield]] contains some British words such as "rubbish", "mum" and "chaps", as the [[Galar]] region is based on Great Britain.

Prior to [[Generation IV]], [[event Pokémon]] were sporadically released in the UK. An event in 2005 known as "The Hunt for Deoxys" was held at Vue cinemas for two days each across the country, where players of {{game|FireRed and LeafGreen|s}} and {{game|Emerald}} were able to download the [[AuroraTicket]]. The introduction of Wi-Fi events in Generation IV has allowed UK players access to many events, including previously unavailable event Pokémon; prior to this, very few event Pokémon were made available to UK players, and when events at malls and other stores were held, many parts of the country were overlooked. Since [[Generation V]], in-store events have become much more widespread across the country.

{{wp|Sky One}} was a British pay television channel owned and operated by {{wp|Sky Group|Sky}}, a subsidiary of {{wp|Comcast}}<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/b402969a-cbd5-11e8-b276-b9069bde0956 ''Comcast completes Sky deal'' - Financial Times] (retrieved 20 May 2020)</ref>, that first began broadcasting on 26 April 1982 and served (along with sister channel {{wp|Sky Atlantic}}) as the flagship channel for {{wp|Sky UK}} and {{wp|Sky Ireland}}. The channel ceased broadcast on 31 August 2021 and was replaced with two new channels; {{wp|Sky Showcase}} and {{wp|Sky Max}}.

[[S01|Season one]] of the anime first began airing on Sky One on 29 March 1999, on weekday mornings at 9am. Sky One was the first-run and main broadcaster for the Pokémon anime for the first seven seasons.

In May 2004, Sky One's first-run pay rights to the first three seasons expired, with [[4Kids Entertainment]] signing a third-window deal with [[Cartoon Network]] to also air the seasons on the Toonami channel in addition to Sky One. Sky One retained the rights to first-run [[S07|season seven]].<ref name="3rdwindow">[https://www.c21media.net/news/3rd-window-uk-deal-for-pokemon/ ''3rd window UK deal for Pokemon'' - C21 Media] (retrieved 18 September 2021)</ref>  

In 2005, 4Kids' deal with Cartoon Network was extended, which fully moved the pay-rights to new episodes of the Pokémon anime to Toonami starting from [[S08|season eight]].<ref name="Toonami">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060314070919/http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=4kids620.htm ''4Kids in New U.K. Pokémon Deal'' - World Screen] (archived from the original 14 March 2006; retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref> Despite this, Sky One continued to rerun older episodes until their rights fully expired in the middle of 2008.

{{wp|ITV (TV network)|ITV}} is a British {{wp|free-to-air}} television network first launched on 22 September 1955.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/22/newsid_3131000/3131477.stm ''On This Day - 1955: New TV channel ends BBC monopoly'' - BBC News] (retrieved 20 May 2020)</ref> The network is split into 14 regional licences and a "national breakfast time" licence. These licences were originally awarded to separate companies that would produce local programming for their region as well as sharing programmes across the network. However, these companies eventually merged and by 2015<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/itv-buys-irish-broadcaster-utv-for-100m-a6700716.html ''ITV buys Irish broadcaster UTV for £100m'' - The Independent] (retrieved 20 May 2020)</ref> the network was made up of three channels owned by two companies; {{wp|ITV1}} and {{wp|UTV (TV channel)|UTV}} owned by {{wp|ITV plc}} and {{wp|STV (TV channel)|STV}} owned by the {{wp|STV Group}} (with the UTV channel being fully absorbed into the ITV channel in 2020). The two channels broadcast largely the same content, although there continue to be local news broadcasts in the 14 regional areas.

From 1999 to 2001 and in 2003, the Pokémon anime aired as part of the program ''{{wp|SMTV Live|SM:TV Live}}'', a Saturday-morning children's television programme which aired between 29 August 1998 and 27 December 2003 across the ITV network. Between 1999 and 2001, the [[Who's That Pokémon?]] segment of anime episodes was replaced by former SMTV hosts {{wp|Ant & Dec}} (and often other celebrity guests) performing a "[[Pokérap|PokéRap]]"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSsp-Gpx1VE ''B*Witched - PokéRap - SM:TV Live 2000'' - VHS-Portal] (YouTube) (retrieved 20 May 2020)</ref> or "Pokéfight"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l08XV0nuhfE ''Bryan Westlife Pokemon- Ant & Dec'' - Julesy83] (YouTube) (retrieved 20 May 2020)</ref> {{wp|SMTV Live#Sketches|sketch}} instead.

Between 1 January 1993 and November 2009, the "national breakfast time" licence was held by {{wp|GMTV}} (who were then acquired by ITV plc).  

On 6 June 2004, [[S06|season six]] began airing on GMTV's Sunday ''Up on the Roof'' block, with one new episode being shown every week up until ''[[AG020|Brave the Wave]]'' in mid-October that year when the show was removed following news of its cancellation.<ref>[http://pkmn.net/?action=news&page=viewnews&id=442/ ''Up On The Roof Axed!'' - PKMN.NET] (retrieved 20 May 2020)</ref>

{{wp|CITV}} (short for Children's ITV) was a late afternoon children's television block on the ITV network from 3 January 1983<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20780372 ''CITV set for classic kids TV weekend'' - BBC News] (retrieved 21 May 2020)</ref> until late 2006.  

On 11 March 2006, CITV launched as a separate channel<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060301023815/http://media247.co.uk/skydigital/newsarchive/2006/02/citv_to_launch.php ''CITV to launch on Sky in May'' - Media 247] (archived from the original 1 March 2006; retrieved 21 May 2020)</ref>, owned and operated by ITV plc, that broadcasts from 6am to 9pm daily. Between 2006 and July 2010, the CITV channel (including Pokémon episodes) was often simulcast on {{wp|ITV 4}} during that channel's ''GMTV2'' block.

Since its launch, the CITV channel has shown the terrestrial premiere of [[S09|season nine]] and was the main British broadcaster for ''[[Pokémon the Series: Black & White]]'', ''[[Pokémon the Series: XY]]'' and ''[[Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon]]'', including their respective movies. In the mid-2010s, CITV also reaired ''[[Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl]]'' and ''[[Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire]]'', alongside their respective movies, and aired ''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness]]''.

Between 27 May 2014 and 30 May 2014, all four episodes of ''[[Pokémon Origins]]'' aired on the channel and on 9 April 2016, to mark the beginning of [[S19|series 19]], a mini-marathon including the ''[[Mega Evolution Specials]]'', [[M03|movie three]] and [[M18|movie 18]] aired. On 1 January 2019, the channel held the UK television premiere of [[M21|movie 21]].

On 23 April 2020, it was announced that [[S23|season 23]] of the anime would air exclusively on rival channel POP<ref name="pop">[https://pokemon.gamespress.com/The-Pokemon-Company-International-Reveals-New-Animation-Trailer-and-De ''The Pokémon Company International Reveals New Animation Trailer and Details for Pokémon Journeys: The Series'' - The Pokémon Company International] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref> from 1 September 2020. With this, the show no longer broadcasts on CITV.

{{wp|ITV Hub}} (originally ITV Player) is an ad-supported streaming {{wp|video on demand}} service, owned and operated by ITV plc, that launched as a unified service on 5 December 2008<ref>[https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/itvs-catch-rebranded-itv-player/867729 ''ITV's Catch Up rebranded ITV Player'' - Campaign] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>. The service offers programmes shown on the ITV network and its sister channels (including CITV). The service is available via the ITV website and dedicated apps for {{wp|iOS}}, {{wp|Android (operating system)|Android}} or {{wp|Smart TV}} devices.

Episodes of the Pokémon anime were available on the service for up to 30 days after their broadcast on the CITV channel. On 1 September 2020, [[S23|season 23]] began airing on POP, and Pokémon stopped being available on ITV Hub shortly thereafter.

{{wp|Cartoon Network Too}} was a children's channel owned and operated by {{wp|Turner Broadcasting System|Turner Broadcasting System Europe}} (a subsidiary of {{wp|WarnerMedia}}) that aired between 24 May 2007 and 1 April 2014 (having previously been broadcasting as {{wp|Toonami (British and Irish TV channel)|Toonami}} since September 2003).

Between 11 May 2005 and 5 October 2005, ''[[Pokémon Chronicles]]'' had its world premiere on the UK Toonami channel<ref name="Toonami" />, and the channel then began airing [[S08|season eight]] of the anime<ref>{{n|Toonami UK snags Pokémon: Advanced Battle|''Toonami UK snags Pokémon: Advanced Battle'' - Bulbanews}} (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>. Toonami / Cartoon Network Too then went on to air [[S09|seasons nine]] and [[S10|ten]] as well as broadcasting episodes from previous seasons, beginning with [[S03|season three]].

{{wp|Disney XD (British and Irish TV channel)|Disney XD (UK)}} was a British children's channel owned and operated by [[The Walt Disney Company#Disney Channels Worldwide|Disney Channels Worldwide]] that aired between 2 October 1996 and 1 October 2020.<ref>[https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/25/21303043/disney-channel-united-kingdom-xd-streaming-plus-new-zealand-sky-comcast ''Disney is eliminating Disney Channel in the UK, moving titles to Disney Plus'' - The Verge]  (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref> Originally named {{wp|Fox Kids}}, the channel was rebranded as {{wp|Jetix}} in January 2005<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150222015625/http://www.jetixeurope.com/site/press_office/press_releases/2004-01-08_-_jetix_launch.html ''ABC Cable Networks Group, Fox Kids Europe And Fox Kids Latin America Launch Jetix As New Global Action-adventure Kids Programming Business'' - Jetix Europe] (archived from the original 22 February 2015; retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref> and then as Disney XD in August 2009<ref>[https://www.digitalspy.com/media/a148638/jetix-to-become-disney-xd/ ''Jetix to become Disney XD'' - Digital Spy] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>.

{{wp|Pop (British and Irish TV channel)|POP}} and sister channel {{wp|Pop Max|POP Max}}, are children's television channels owned and operated by Narrative Capital. POP launched on 1 October 2002 as Toons & Tunes before rebranding in May 2003. POP Max launched as Kix! on 19 May 2008 before rebranding in August 2017. Both channels were launched by {{wp|CSC Media Group}}, which was acquired by {{wp|Sony Pictures Television}} on 15 August 2014<ref>[https://tbivision.com/2014/08/15/sony-closes-csc-deal-ups-kate-marsh/317571/ ''Sony closes CSC deal, ups Kate Marsh'' - Television Business International] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>. On 25 May 2021, Sony Pictures Television sold its UK channels to Narrative Capital<ref>[https://variety.com/2021/tv/global/sony-channels-uk-sold-narrative-1234972645/ ''Sony Pictures Television U.K. Channels Sold to U.S. Investment Firm Narrative Capital'' - Variety] (retrieved 21 June 2021)</ref>.

On 1 January 2018, POP Max began airing episodes from ''[[Pokémon the Series: Black & White]]'', and from 29 October 2018, episodes from ''[[Pokémon the Series: XY]]''. These seasons were also shown on POP, and beginning 4 March 2019, POP and POP Max started airing ''[[Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl]]'' followed by the [[original series]] in May 2019. In May 2020, POP began airing ''[[Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon]]'', while POP Max re-aired ''Pokémon the Series: XY''.

The POP website features a ''Pokémon Picture Puzzler'' {{wp|sliding puzzle}} game based on ''[[Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon]]''<ref>[https://www.popfun.co.uk/games/pokemon-puzzle-game ''Pokémon Picture Puzzler'' - POP] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>, as well as a page about the [[Pokémon 25th Anniversary]]<ref>[https://www.popfun.co.uk/special/pokemon-day-celebrate-25th-anniversary ''Pokémon Day | Celebrate the 25th anniversary'' - POP] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>.

On 23 April 2020 it was announced that POP would gain the exclusive first-run rights to the Pokémon anime<ref name="pop" />, and on 25 May 2020 the first four episodes of [[S23|season 23]] aired on the channel as a preview. On 1 September 2020, the season premiered on the channel.

POP Player is streaming {{wp|video on demand}} service, owned and operated by Narrative Capital that launched on 4 December 2017. The service features shows from {{wp|Tiny Pop}}, POP and POP Max and is available via dedicated apps for {{wp|iOS}}, {{wp|Android (operating system)|Android}}, {{wp|PlayStation 4}} and other {{wp|Smart TV}} platforms<ref>[https://www.popfun.co.uk/special/pop-player ''POP Player'' - POP] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>.

The {{wp|BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation}} is the world's oldest national broadcaster, having been founded on 1 January 1927, and is the primary public service broadcaster in the UK.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/timelines/1920s/ ''History of the BBC - 1920s'' - BBC] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref> The BBC, and its subsidiary {{wp|BBC Studios}}, operate several national and international television and radio services, extensive online services, and its {{wp|BBC News}} division is the world's largest broadcast news organisation.

On 20 July 2021, the BBC acquired rights to ''[[Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl]]'' and ''[[Pokémon the Series: Black and White]]'' for {{wp|BBC iPlayer}} and the rights to air the eight movies linked to those series on the {{wp|CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC channel}} as well as iPlayer.<ref>[https://www.licensing.biz/pokemon-is-heading-to-the-bbc-for-the-first-time-as-iplayer-catches-series-and-movies/ ''Pokémon is heading to the BBC for the first time as iPlayer catches series and movies'' - Licensing.biz] (retrieved 18 September 2021)</ref>

{{wp|BBC iPlayer}} is a {{wp|video on demand}} service, owned and operated by the BBC, that launched on 25 December 2007.<ref>[https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/internet/5-years-on-how-the-bbc-iplayer-sparked-a-tv-revolution-1120558 ''5 years on: How the BBC iPlayer sparked a TV revolution'' - TechRadar] (retrieved 18 September 2021)</ref> The service is available to {{wp|Television licensing in the United Kingdom|television licence}} holders, offers programmes shown on the BBC's channels in the last 12 months, archived content, shows from Welsh language broadcaster {{wp|S4C}} and programmes exclusively made or acquired for the platform.

[[S10|Season 10]] and [[S11|season 11]] of the Pokémon anime, alongside ''[[M10|The Rise of Darkrai]]'' and ''[[M11|Giratina and the Sky Warrior]]'', were added to BBC iPlayer on 2 August 2021. Since then, additional seasons and movies have been added on a bi-monthly basis. [[S12|Season 12]] and ''[[M12|Arceus and the Jewel of Life]]'' were added to iPlayer on 22 October 2021, followed on with [[S13|Season 13]], [[S14|Season 14]], ''[[M13|Zoroark: Master of Illusions]]'', [[M14|''Black—Victini and Reshiram'' and ''White—Victini and Zekrom'']] on 3 December 2021. The final content to be added - [[S14|season 14]], [[S15|season 15]], and the movies ''[[M15|Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice]]'' and ''[[M16|Genesect and the Legend Awakened]]'', were added on 18 February 2022.

[[S20|Season 20]] alongside ''[[M20|I Choose You!]]'' and ''[[M21|The Power of Us]]'' were added to iPlayer on 14 July 2022. [[S21|Season 21]] was added on 11 November 2022.

[[File:Cbbc 2023.png|thumb|150px|CBBC logo as of 15 March 2023]]

{{wp|CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC}} (short for Children's BBC) is a children's television channel owned by the BBC. The channel launched on 11 February 2002,<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/01_january/07/cbbcdate.shtml ''CBBC digital channels go live on Monday 11th February 2002'' - BBC Press Office] (retrieved 18 September 2021)</ref> and broadcasts from 7am to 9pm daily. Between 1985 and 2013, CBBC was also a block on the {{wp|BBC One}} and {{wp|BBC Two}} channels with BBC Two reviving the block in 2017.

On 7 August 2021, the CBBC channel first aired ''[[M10|The Rise of Darkrai]]'',<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09qh6p4 ''Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai'' - CBBC] (retrieved 18 September 2021)</ref> followed by ''[[M11|Giratina and the Sky Warrior]]'' on 14 August 2021.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09qh70p ''Giratina and the Sky Warrior'' - CBBC] (retrieved 18 September 2021)</ref> The rest of the premieres wrapped up with ''[[M12|Arceus and the Jewel of Life]]'' on 23 October 2021 and ''[[M13|Zoroark: Master of Illusions]]'' on 11 December 2021.

The first four episodes of [[S10|Series 10]] premiered on CBBC on 1 January 2022, as part of a mini-marathon with ''Black—Victini and Reshiram''. Two episodes aired on the channel's morning schedule every Saturday afterwards.

[[S11|Series 11]] began airing on 14 February 2022, with two episodes airing every weekday during the half term. The series has since aired in random blocks on the network.

[[S20|Series 20]] premiered on CBBC on 25 July 2022, with episodes airing every weekday during the summer holidays.

The Pokémon anime is also available on [[Pokémon TV]], [[Prime Video]], [[Google Play]], [[YouTube]], the [[iTunes Store]] and {{wp|Now (Sky)|Now}} in the UK.

* [[S10|Season 10]]<ref>[https://www.nowtv.com/watch/pokemon-diamond-and-pearl/d7f854dbc9481610VgnVCM1000000b43150a____ ''Watch Pokemon-Diamond And Pearl'' - Now TV] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>

* ''[[M12|Arceus and the Jewel of Life]]''<ref>[https://www.nowtv.com/watch/pokemon-arceus-and-the-jewel-of-life-2010/A5EK3JYiLcazDfpjwmARw ''Watch Pokemon: Arceus And The Jewel of Life'' - Now TV] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>

* ''[[M14|White—Victini and Zekrom]]''<ref>[https://www.nowtv.com/watch/pokemon-the-movie-white-victini-2015/A5EK3Pw87R37ejkbQ43tS ''Watch Pokemon the Movie: White-Victini'' - Now TV] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>

* ''[[M14|Black—Victini and Reshiram]]''<ref>[https://www.nowtv.com/watch/pokemon-the-movie-black-victini-2015/A5EK3Pw87R37ejjJDVHUL ''Watch Pokemon The Movie: Black-Victini'' - Now TV] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>

* ''[[M15|Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice]]''<ref>[https://www.nowtv.com/watch/pokemon-the-movie-kyurem-vs.-the-sword-of-justice-2016/A5EK3JYiLcaA8LkgQNhyQ ''Watch Pokemon The Movie: Kyurem Vs. The Sword of Justice'' - Now TV] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>

* ''[[M16|Genesect and the Legend Awakened]]''<ref>[https://www.nowtv.com/watch/pokemon-the-movie-genesect-and-the-legend-awakened-2017/A5EK3Pw87R37ejtL9s8jQ ''Watch Pokemon The Movie: Genesect And The Legend Awakened'' - Now TV] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>

* ''[[Detective Pikachu (movie)|Pokémon Detective Pikachu]]''<ref>[https://www.nowtv.com/watch/pokemon-detective-pikachu-2019/A5EK6sKrAaycFET4Zn59G ''Watch Pokemon Detective Pikachu'' - Now TV] (retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>

The first three Pokémon movies, as well as the [[M20|20th]] and [[M21|21st]], were released theatrically, accompanied by the same [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] promotions as the US releases. The [[M01|first movie]] was released on 14 April 2000 to coincide with the two week Easter school holidays; the [[M02|second movie]] on 22 December 2000; the [[M03|third movie]] on 6 April 2001; and the 21st movie on 24 November 2019. The first three movies were released on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray; and the 20th and 21st on DVD and Blu-ray.

The live-action ''{{mov|Detective Pikachu}}'' movie was filmed in London. It was released in the UK on 10 May 2019.

[[Pokémon manga]] licensed and translated into English is distributed in the UK by [[VIZ Media]], including [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!]] and the popular [[Pokémon Adventures]] series.

The [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] is sold throughout the UK, with releases matching those in the U.S..

In 2000, the {{tcg|Base Set}} fourth print run mirrored the Unlimited print, with the only difference being the copyright date, which reads "1999-2000". The English version was exclusively released in the UK. In 2020, the {{tcg|Pokémon Futsal}} was exclusively released in the UK.

The UK receives some of the same [[Pokémon merchandise]] that is available in {{pmin|the United States}}, such as plush toys which have been released in major department chains, though merchandise given away in fast food restaurants has become non-existent, as the [[Pokémon movie]]s are no longer shown at cinemas. Some collectibles, such as the [[Pokémon Advanced Action Cards]], were sold in the UK and Europe but not in North America. Despite Pokémon's decline in popularity, merchandise can be found in UK stores, such as {{wp|Game (retailer)|GAME}} and {{wp|W H Smith}}.

In 2001, a [[Pokémon Daily Express CD-ROM|promotional CD-ROM]] was released in the Daily Express newspaper. When played in a CD player, it would play a sample of the song {{so|Gotta Catch 'Em All}} by 50.Grind. When played in a computer, additional features could be accessed, such as desktop wallpapers, the music video to Gotta Catch 'Em All and other content.

In 2004, a [[Pokémon Official Magazine]] was launched. It was intended to have a quarterly release schedule, but it was cancelled after its second issue due to low sales. In February 2013, Future Publishing announced that the Pokémon Official Magazine would be returning, with a publishing schedule of 13 issues per year. However, this was also soon cancelled after publishing 13 issues. A third Pokémon Official Magazine started on 29 March 2017. [[Pocket World]] magazine was also published in the UK, although it does not exclusively cover Pokémon, being made up of several other franchises that involve 'cartoon brands starring monsters' (such as {{wp|Moshi Monsters}}, {{wp|Bakugan}} and {{wp|Redakai}}).

Pokémon fan, [[Lisa Courtney]], holds the {{wp|Guiness World Record}} for having the largest collection of Pokémon memorabilia, over 17 thousand items.<ref>[https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-collection-of-pokemon-memorabilia ''The largest collection of Pokémon memorabilia'' - Guinness World Records]</ref>

An eight-city tour was held in the UK in commemoration of the [[Pokémon 10th Anniversary]]. Ten {{DL|List of English event Pokémon distributions (Generation III)|Top 10 Distribution Pokémon|event Pokémon}} were distributed at the events &mdash; {{p|Charizard}}, {{p|Pikachu}}, {{p|Articuno}}, {{p|Raikou}}, {{p|Entei}}, {{p|Suicune}}, {{p|Lugia}}, {{p|Ho-Oh}}, {{p|Latias}} and {{p|Latios}}. These ten Pokémon were chosen by Nintendo of Europe following a popularity poll earlier in the year. Other activities at the events included [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] and [[Pokémon Trading Figure Game]] stations and {{pkmn|anime}} episode screenings.

| 14-15 October 2006

| 21-22 October 2006

| 23-24 October 2006

| 26-27 October 2006

| 28-29 October 2006

| 4-5 November 2006

| 11-12 November 2006

| style="{{roundybl|5px}}" | 18-19 November 2006

Between 18 October and 15 November 2019, a temporary [[Pokémon Center (store)#United Kingdom|Pokémon Center]] opened at the {{wp|Westfield London}} mall in {{wp|White City, London|White City}}, {{wp|London}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190813170327/https://www.pokemon.com/uk/pokemon-news/a-pokemon-center-pop-up-store-opens-in-london-this-october/ ''A Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store Opens in London This October'' - Pokemon.com] (archived from the original 13 August 2019; retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref> to celebrate the release of [[Pokémon Sword and Shield]] games.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190614125031/https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/we-interview-junichi-masuda-and-shigeru-ohmori-about-pokemon-sword-and-pokemon-shield/ ''We Interview Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori about Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield'' - Pokemon.com] (archived from the original 14 June 2019; retrieved 22 February 2021)</ref>

 

 

Initially intended to be held in August 2020, they were cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], first moved to August 2021,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200403190905/https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/2020-pokemon-championship-series-canceled/ 2020 Pokémon Championship Series Canceled | Pokemon.com] (archived from the original 3 April 2020; retrieved 20 March 2023)</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200702200030/https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/play-pokemon-2021-championship-series-information/ Play! Pokémon 2021 Championship Series Information | Pokemon.com] (archived from the original 2 July 2020; retrieved 20 March 2023)</ref> subsequently moved to 2022.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210209160624/https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/next-pokemon-tcg-video-game-and-pokken-tournament-dx-world-championships-moved-to-2022-in-london/ Next Pokémon TCG, Video Game, and ''Pokkén Tournament DX'' World Championships Moved to 2022 in London | Pokemon.com] (archived from the original 9 February 2021; retrieved 20 March 2023)</ref>

 

A pop up {{OBP|Pokémon Center|store}} was opened during the 2022 World Championships.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230320052626/https://www.pokemoncenter.com/en-gb/worlds Pokémon World Championships in London | Pokémon Center UK Official Site] (archived from the original 20 March 2023; retrieved 20 March 2023)</ref>

* {{game|Black and White|s}} were represented in the UK by ''{{wp|The X Factor (UK TV series)|The X Factor}}'' finalists {{wp|One Direction}}. The group promoted the games through television commercials and concerts, and its members have been life-long Pokémon fans.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230320090249/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/pr/26004/x-factor-stars-one-direction-revealed-as-ambassadors-for-pokemon-black-version-and-pokemon-white-version X Factor Stars One Direction Revealed as Ambassadors for Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version] (archived from the original 20 March 2023; retrieved 20 March 2023)</ref> They are one of a number of acts representing Nintendo as ambassadors in the UK, which has also included {{wp|Alexandra Burke}}, {{wp|JLS}} and {{wp|The Saturdays}}.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210730145345/https://www.nintendo-insider.com/the-saturdays-become-nintendo-ambassadors-in-latest-tv-campaign/ The Saturdays become Nintendo ambassadors in latest TV campaign] (archived from the original 30 July 2021; retrieved 20 March 2023)</ref>

* [https://www.pokemon.com/uk The official UK & Ireland Pokémon website]