Beloved children's television series Balamory is set to make an unexpected return to CBeebies more than two decades after its initial broadcast, with star Julie Wilson Nimmo admitting she "never expected" to reprise her role as Miss Hoolie.
The award-winning programme, which first aired in 2002, will feature a revamped format but retain many familiar faces, including Nimmo, 53, who plays nursery school teacher Miss Hoolie. The Scottish actress expressed her excitement for the new series, revealing that she and co-star Andrew Agnew initially could not believe the show was making a comeback.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Nimmo shared her delight at returning to a show she "loved so much", adding: "We were so lucky the first time around, and as actors to get to get to go back to a show that you loved so much… I mean, that’s the lovely thing about the return. We never expected that at all." She recounted how Agnew initially thought she was "winding him up" when she told him the news, noting that "loads of the original cast remain friends."
Andrew Agnew, 49, known to viewers as the friendly local police officer Pc Plum, echoed Nimmo’s enthusiasm, calling the comeback "really exciting". He explained that even after hearing about the show’s revival, the cast was unsure if they would be involved. "But the fact that they are bringing it back for the kids, it was just amazing," he told BBC Breakfast. "Getting the police uniform back on again, and the fact that kids were going to get to see it – that was the main thing."
Nimmo, originally from East Kilbride, reflected on the enduring appeal of the popular children’s show. "I keep thinking, as a parent myself, it’s just a nice, innocent time, isn’t it?" she mused. "You want them to enjoy that and not take themselves so seriously and have a laugh and all of that. That’s what Balamory feels like. It’s a big, warm blanket." She also praised the integration of new characters, noting they have "added such a lovely new energy to (the show), and the kids are so excited when we’ve been filming with them all as well."
Among the fresh faces joining the Balamory community is Danielle Jam, who takes on the role of Ava Potts. Ava is introduced as the daughter of Archie the inventor, a character from the original series played by actor and comedian Miles Jupp. Jam expressed her profound connection to the programme, telling the breakfast show: "I’m coming into this as such a fan, and I’m still honoured to even be in this world. It’s so exciting just to be part of this world, I loved (the show) as a kid."
Describing her experience on set as a "pinch-me moment", she added: "I was just like, ‘this can’t be real’. I didn’t think that my life or my career would lead up to being a part of something that was so special to me as a kid. It’s just such a nice full circle thing."
The BBC previously marked Balamory’s 20th anniversary in 2022 by making episodes available on BBC iPlayer. The revival will feature two new series, each comprising 10 episodes. The first episode is scheduled to air on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer from 5pm on Monday.
