Not since the Thunderbirds lost their strings in an
ill-fated big screen spin-off has the makeover of a children’s favourite
prompted such head-scratching as the new look given to Bob the Builder.
The latest incarnation of the children’s character unveiled on Monday is younger, taller, slimmer and altogether hipper than the original Bob the Builder, whose catchphrase – “Can we fix it? Yes we can!” – has been heard in more than 100 episodes since his 1998 debut.
Actor Lee Ingleby, who starred in BBC1’s recent drama hit Our Zoo, takes over from former Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey as the voice of Bob in an all new cast that also features Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt as Wendy and The Inbetweeners’ Blake Harrison as the digger, Scoop.
The characters will be computer-generated for the new series rather than the original’s stop-motion animation, with Bob switched to a new home in the bustling metropolis of Spring City.
Bob’s methods will also brought up to date as he uses a computer to design his buildings.
A spokesman for the new series said it would retain “the emotional warmth that has always given Bob the Builder a firm place in the hearts of young viewers”.
It is not the first children’s TV series to be given a makeover for the digital age, from Noddy and Fireman Sam to Peter Rabbit and the Mr Men, with the Clangers due to return next year.
But the response on Twitter suggested it may be one of the more controversial with fans who remember Bob’s original incarnation. One complained that he did not look “old enough to hold any kind of qualification”, another that he “looks like he drinks Carling and votes Ukip”.
Froggatt, who will play Bob’s business partner Wendy, said: “Wendy is a strong and positive female role model and I think it is important that children’s television shows positive social values.”
Ingleby, who is also known for his role as Stan Shunpike in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, said: “My little nephew is such a huge fan of Bob that I had to jump at the chance. Capturing a child’s imagination is so important, and I just wish I was half as good at DIY as Bob is.”
Harrison, best known for his role as Neil in E4’s explicit teen sitcom Inbetweeners, will play Scoop the digger.
“I’m really excited to be a part of such a long-running, successful series,” he said. “I’m even more excited to be involved in a project that my daughter can watch before she’s 30.”
Bob the Builder will return to Channel 5’s children’s strand Milkshake next year.
The latest incarnation of the children’s character unveiled on Monday is younger, taller, slimmer and altogether hipper than the original Bob the Builder, whose catchphrase – “Can we fix it? Yes we can!” – has been heard in more than 100 episodes since his 1998 debut.
Actor Lee Ingleby, who starred in BBC1’s recent drama hit Our Zoo, takes over from former Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey as the voice of Bob in an all new cast that also features Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt as Wendy and The Inbetweeners’ Blake Harrison as the digger, Scoop.
The characters will be computer-generated for the new series rather than the original’s stop-motion animation, with Bob switched to a new home in the bustling metropolis of Spring City.
Bob’s methods will also brought up to date as he uses a computer to design his buildings.
A spokesman for the new series said it would retain “the emotional warmth that has always given Bob the Builder a firm place in the hearts of young viewers”.
It is not the first children’s TV series to be given a makeover for the digital age, from Noddy and Fireman Sam to Peter Rabbit and the Mr Men, with the Clangers due to return next year.
But the response on Twitter suggested it may be one of the more controversial with fans who remember Bob’s original incarnation. One complained that he did not look “old enough to hold any kind of qualification”, another that he “looks like he drinks Carling and votes Ukip”.
Froggatt, who will play Bob’s business partner Wendy, said: “Wendy is a strong and positive female role model and I think it is important that children’s television shows positive social values.”
Ingleby, who is also known for his role as Stan Shunpike in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, said: “My little nephew is such a huge fan of Bob that I had to jump at the chance. Capturing a child’s imagination is so important, and I just wish I was half as good at DIY as Bob is.”
Harrison, best known for his role as Neil in E4’s explicit teen sitcom Inbetweeners, will play Scoop the digger.
“I’m really excited to be a part of such a long-running, successful series,” he said. “I’m even more excited to be involved in a project that my daughter can watch before she’s 30.”
Bob the Builder will return to Channel 5’s children’s strand Milkshake next year.
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