BBC buys Lonely Planet company

The Lonely Planet company - whose series of travel guides have long been regarded as bibles by backpackers - has been sold to the BBC in a multi-million pound deal.

The deal will see BBC Worldwide acquire the firm's portfolio of 500 books which provide regularly updated essential travel information from locations all over the globe.

Lonely Planet was founded 35 years ago by backpacker couple Tony, 60, and Maureen Wheeler, 57, whose first effort rejoiced under the title Across Asia on the Cheap and was put together by the pair on their kitchen table.

The first edition sold out its initial print run of 1,500 within a week.

John Smith, chief executive of BBC Worldwide, said he planned to invest further funding in the Lonely Planet's web presence and shift much of the books' content on to the internet.

Details of the size of the deal were not disclosed.

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