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Monty Python star and traveller extraordinaire Michael Palin will be voicing the Clangers in their new series arriving in 2015.

The new series is being co-produced by CBeebies, Coolabi Group, Smallfilms and Sprout, and will air in the UK in Spring 2015. Of his role in the new Clangers series, Palin said: “The world of the Clangers is delightful and irresistible. It’s a real pleasure and a great privilege to be a part of its return to television.”

Palin takes up the mantle from the late Oliver Postgate, creator and narrator of the original series, who is often cited alongside original Clangers’ co-creator, Peter Firmin, as one of the founding fathers of UK animation.

Oliver’s son, Daniel Postgate, who will be executive producing the new series alongside Peter Firmin, commented: “Michael Palin was my first and favourite choice, so of course I’m absolutely delighted. Among other things, he’s been a warm and charming guide for us all in his extensive travels around this world, so it seems wonderfully appropriate that he should pack his bags once more, go off across the starry expanse of space and do the same for the world of the Clangers.” Peter Firmin said: “As an old stick-in-the-mud I don’t often change my mind and from the very beginning I wished and hoped that Michael Palin would agree to be our narrator. Once in a blue moon wishes come true. This is once in a blue moon. I hope Michael enjoys his voyage to our little Blue Planet.”

Kay Benbow, Controller of CBeebies, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be bringing the Clangers back onto the screen for our young audience to enjoy, and to have Michael Palin involved really is the icing on the cake. He’s such an iconic entertainer and will bring a wonderful warmth to the Clangers stories as he takes CBeebies viewers on out-of-this-world adventures. We’re really excited that he’s agreed to be involved.”

Jeremy Banks, CEO, Coolabi Group, also commented: “Michael Palin is a wonderful entertainer and someone who is part of the fabric of British television. The narrator is such a crucial element of the show and we know he will be an engaging and insightful observer of the Clangers – the perfect companion to audiences watching from Earth.”

The new series is produced in stop motion animation by specialists Factory Transmedia (Strange Hill High, Raa Raa the Noisy Lion), and award-winning puppet makers, Mackinnon and Saunders (Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox, Mars Attacks). Peter Firmin and Daniel Postgate are actively involved in the new series as executive producers. Firmin is also part of the design process and Postgate is writing storylines and scripts.