Posted in: Movies, TV | Tagged: bbc, cbeebies, clangers, entertainment, michael pailin, oliver postgate

Michael Palin To Narrate The New Revival Of The Clangers

The Clangers were definitely my favourite television programme as a kid. Okay, maybe a toss up between them and The Flumps.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfsMZKwqw3w[/youtube]

They even turned up in Doctor Who.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOK1YdWalOw[/youtube]

Famously, despite only speaking on swannee whistle, the Clangers had full scripts written for them, to then be "whistled" out…

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OvefhhMbbg[/youtube]

And now they are returning, after four decades, with a new series for CBeebies next year based on the Oliver Postgate-created original, with Michael Palin as the narrator.

The original series was knocked together in Postgate's barn. This affair, co-produced by Coolabi Group, Smallfilms and Sprout, which will broadcast the programme in the US, has a five million pound budget. Well, you have all those producers to pay these days, I guess…

The original series saw 26 episodes over three years. The new deal will see 52 episodes in one, animated by  Factory Transmedia and Mackinnon And Saunders.

And as for the merchandise! Well, that will be down to Character Options, Penguin, MV Sports & Leisure, Gemma International, Trade Mark Collections, Rainbow Productions, Immediate Media and C&M Licensing.

There's money in those swannee whistles!

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