Latest news with #CBeebies
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Five cheap activities to keep kids occupied this summer hols
AVOID school holiday boredom by planning ahead now. But before you splash out on expensive activity sets and magazines, try these brilliant DIY alternatives. And keep them stashed away, ready for those inevitable cries of 'I'm bored' . . . DOUGH THIS: Whip up a batch of playdough in minutes with ingredients you might already have in the cupboard. Mix 8 tbsp plain flour, 2 tbsp table salt, 1 tbsp vegetable oil and 60ml of warm water in a bowl until a dough forms. Split into three and add a dash of food colouring to each dough ball and knead. Store in old, clean yoghurt pots or airtight containers. Old cereal boxes can be turned into a canvas to paint, while toilet rolls can become binoculars when taped together and decorated. Head to Poundland for PVA glue, tape and paint sets for £1 if you don't have them already. Keep everything in a storage box, ready for dull days. CLEVER COLOURING: Printable activities are a lifesaver and has an amazing selection of free activity kits and animal colouring-in sheets. Watch as ex-teacher reveals why she quit and doubled her income Hey Duggee super fans can find activity pages at curations/colouring-sheets. It's also worth checking your local library website. MEMORY SAVER: Create your own custom memory game or version of Snap using plain card, £1, The Works. Use a felt tip to draw matching shapes on pairs of cards or you could use stickers you already have at home. Lay the cards face down on the floor and watch as they try to remember where the matching pairs are. GO WILD: Encourage outdoor ad- ventures with a home-made explorer kit stored in a plastic bag, tote or rucksack. Plan a scavenger hunt by writing out a list of things that can be found outdoors, such as ladybirds, soil, spiders etc on paper, which kids can tick off. Also add plain paper and wax crayons for leaf rubbing. Place the paper over a leaf and rub the crayon over the top to see the leaf come to life. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. 7 Deal of the day TREAT your hair to the Remington Style Essentials gift set with hair dryer and straighteners included. Usually £49.99, now £34.99 with free delivery at SAVE: £15 Cheap treat KEEP little ones cool with the Dreambaby Smart-Grip Flexible Caged Fan, which you can attach to prams. Was £10.99, now £7.99, Top swap TO save on buying expensive mini travel toiletries, decant your essentials into the Rawr Beauty travel bottle set, £7.50, or get the TravelShop travel bottle set for £2.99 at Home Bargains. Shop & save FOR huge savings, head to for the summer sale. This Star Wars 3D Puzzle Millennium Falcon was £49.99, now £15. Hot right now WALKABOUT bars turn 30 this year – order a Parmi dish and get a free pint on Wednesdays. Book at walkaboutbars. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
What's the story in Balamory? Twenty years after hit children's TV show ended, familiar faces gather for reboot
They were much loved characters enjoyed by a generation of children around the world. Now the BBC has revealed that many of the original cast of Scottish hit Balamory will revive their roles when the show returns to screens next year. The popular programme, which was filmed in Tobermory, on the island of Mull, was cancelled in 2005 after four series and 254 episodes. But famous characters including nursery teacher Miss Hoolie, PC Plum, shopkeeper Penny Pocket and bus driver Edie McCredie are expected to delight a new generation of young fans when they return in the CBeebies reboot in 2026. The programme, which features a nursery school in a small island community, is also expected to welcome a host of new characters for a 'joyful mix of stories, comedy, songs and adventures'. BBC children's commissioner Kate Morton said: 'It's wonderful to see some of the original cast returning alongside new faces, creating a perfect mix of nostalgia and discovery for families to enjoy together.' Described as a 'soap opera' for toddlers, the show, at its height, attracted two million viewers a week in Britian and gained 15million fans around the world. Even the Vatican received it on the BBC Prime Channel. Now 20 years on Julie Wilson Nimmo will return as nursery teacher Miss Hoolie along with some of the other original characters. Andrew Agnew will revive his role as PC Plum, while Kim Tserkezie will be back as Penny Pocket and Juliet Cadzow as Edie McCredie. New characters include scientist and inventor Ava Potts, played by Danielle Jam, local vet Dr Ollie, played by Carl Spencer, and William Andrews as the harbour master. It is understood that original characters including Spencer the painter, Josie Jump, as well as shopkeeper Suzie Sweet, played by the late Mary Riggans, who passed away in her sleep at home in 2013 a year after suffering a stroke, will not be returning to the show. Ms Morton added: 'This vibrant new series will delight both children and the grown-ups who remember it fondly.' Filming is expected to take place in a studio in Glasgow as well as on location in Tobermory, which experienced a huge rise in tourism as a result of the original show. Originally produced from 2002 to 2005, Balamory was broadcast around the world, becoming a hit with young audiences in Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada and South Africa. Its fame saw visitors flood to the island in their thousands to see the site of PC Plum's rounds, and the tourist office was swamped with calls. The BBC said the revival would continue its tradition of home-grown storytelling about the much-loved nursery school and island community that surrounds it. The programme has been commissioned for two new series, produced by Lion Television Scotland, with 10 episodes in each.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC announces return of iconic Scottish show Balamory after two decades with original cast
The popular children's show will be coming back to BBC iPlayer and CBeebies next year with five original stars all reprising their roles It's been two decades since the beloved children's programme Balamory graced our television screens, but that's all about to change as the BBC has announced the show is making a triumphant return. The final episode of Balamory was broadcast in June 2005, after an impressive run spanning 253 episodes over four years on CBeebies. Set on a fictional small island community off Scotland 's west coast called Balamory, the programme centres around eight distinctive characters, each sporting a signature colour of clothing and residing in a matching coloured house. Five of these beloved characters are set to return in the refreshed series, with the BBC now confirming that the original actors will be reprising their iconic roles. Julie Wilson Nimmo is returning as Miss Hoolie, Andrew Agnew will once again don the uniform as PC Plum, Kim Tserkezie is coming back as Penny Pocket, and Julie Cadzow will be stepping back into the shoes of Edie McCredie, reports Wales Online. The revamped series will launch on BBC iPlayer and CBeebies next year, combining the much-loved original characters with an array of fresh faces to give preschoolers an updated version of the cherished programme. Fresh additions to the cast include scientist Ava Potts (Danielle Jam), the Harbour Master (William Andrews), and local veterinarian Dr Ollie (Carl Spencer). The BBC assures viewers that at the programme's core "remains the charming fictional town of Balamory and its lively inhabitants, where brightly-coloured houses cluster around a scenic harbour and life revolves around the nursery school and its caring teacher". Filming for the beloved children's show is set to take place in a Glasgow studio and on location in Tobermory, the Isle of Mull town that served as the inspiration for the series' setting. Kate Morton, Head of Commissioning 0-6 for BBC Children's and Education, expressed her enthusiasm: "It's wonderful to see some of the original cast returning alongside new faces, creating a perfect mix of nostalgia and discovery for families to enjoy together. This vibrant new series will delight both children and the grown-ups who remember it fondly." Fans of Balamory can rejoice as two new series have been announced, each featuring ten 14-minute episodes. The show will continue to explore the lives within the nursery school and the tight-knit island community, with audiences eagerly anticipating its return in 2026. The creation of Balamory is credited to Brian Jameson, while Lion Television Scotland, part of All3Media, is responsible for its production. The team behind the revival includes Lisa Hazlehurst as executive producer, Adrian Mead directing, and Jacqueline Sinclair taking on the role of series producer.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC confirms Balamory is returning after 20 years with original favourites
The popular CBeebies series Balamory will return to screens next year, with five original cast members set to reprise their roles for the new series After a hiatus of two decades, the beloved children's TV show Balamory is set to return, as confirmed by the BBC. The final episode of Balamory aired back in June 2005, after a successful run of 253 episodes over three years on CBeebies. Set on a fictional small island off the west coast of Scotland, the show centres around eight characters, each identifiable by their distinctive coloured clothing and matching house. Five of these original characters will be making a comeback in the revamped series, the BBC has confirmed, with the actors reprising their roles. Julie Wilson Nimmo will be returning as Miss Hoolie, Andrew Agnew will reprise his role as PC Plum, Kim Tserkezie will once again play Penny Pocket, and Julie Cadzow will step back into the shoes of Edie McCredie, reports Wales Online. The new series, set to air on BBC iPlayer and CBeebies next year, will blend the original characters with a host of new faces, offering preschoolers a fresh spin on the classic programme. New additions to the cast include scientist Ava Potts (Danielle Jam), the Harbour Master (William Andrews), and local vet Dr Ollie (Carl Spencer). At the heart of the show, the BBC assures, "remains the charming fictional town of Balamory and its lively inhabitants, where brightly-coloured houses cluster around a scenic harbour and life revolves around the nursery school and its caring teacher". Filming is planned both in a Glasgow studio and on location in Tobermory, the Isle of Mull town that sparked the original series' charming backdrop. Kate Morton, BBC Children's and Education's Head of Commissioning 0-6, expressed her excitement: "It's wonderful to see some of the original cast returning alongside new faces, creating a perfect mix of nostalgia and discovery for families to enjoy together. This vibrant new series will delight both children and the grown-ups who remember it fondly." Fans can rejoice as two fresh series have been greenlit, each featuring ten 14-minute episodes. The narrative will continue to revolve around the nursery school and the tight-knit island community, with audiences eagerly anticipating its return to screens in 2026. The brainchild behind Balamory is Brian Jameson, while Lion Television Scotland, part of All3Media, is handling production duties. Lisa Hazlehurst steps up as the executive producer, Adrian Mead takes the helm as director, and Jacqueline Sinclair oversees the series as producer. Original episodes of Balamory are available to watch on BBC iPlayer
STV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- STV News
Balamory set to return to screen with original cast
Fan favourite characters like Miss Hoolie and PC Plum are set to return in a new Balamory series next year. The revival, which will air on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer, promises to 'blend familiar faces with a host of new characters' for a 'whole new generation.' The original stars announced to reprise their roles are Julie Wilson Nimmo (Miss Hoolie), Andrew Agnew (PC Plum), Kim Tserkezie (Penny Pocket) and Juliet Cadzow (Edie McCredie). The beloved children's television program set in the 'charming' fictional town of Balamory originally aired from 2002 to 2005. Now, two decades later the new series hopes to be both a revamp for new generations of children but also a 'nostalgic hit with parents who grew up with the show themselves'. Filming will take place both in the studio in Glasgow and on location in Tobermory, the real-life Isle of Mull town that inspired the show's iconic setting. BBC Kate Morton, head of commissioning 0-6 for BBC Children's and Education, said: 'It's wonderful to see some of the original cast returning alongside new faces, creating a perfect mix of nostalgia and discovery for families to enjoy together. 'This vibrant new series will delight both children and the grown-ups who remember it fondly.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
