Cliff Notes – Children’s TV icon announces return to series reboot after 20 years
- Andrew Agnew, known for his role as PC Plum, will reprise his character in the Balamory reboot set for 2026, following the show’s original run from 2002 to 2005.
- Julie Wilson Nimmo, who played Miss Hoolie, has also confirmed her return, expressing excitement about the show’s revival for a new generation.
- The reboot aims to introduce both old and new characters, with production expected to return to the picturesque Isle of Mull, where the original series was filmed.
Children’s TV icon announces return to series reboot after 20 years
A legend of British children’s TV has confirmed that he’ll be reprising his iconic role from one of the best-loved kids shows of the last 20 years.
Andrew Agnew, who played PC Plum in Balamory between 2002 and 2005, will be stepping back into his old costume for the planned reboot, coming in 2026.
Balamory, which ran for four seasons and more than 200 episodes, was the Scottish kids’ TV show that defined a generation with its memorable ‘What’s the Story?’ theme tune and picturesque setting.
Filmed in the town of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull – one of the largest of the Inner Hebrides islands in Scotland – Balamory followed the lives of the small fictional island community who lived in the titular village.
In September 2024, it was confirmed that Balamory would be returning with brand new episodes in 2026, with BBC bosses setting the official revival date.
Ever since, speculation has been rife as to whether its lead stars Andrew, Julie Wilson Nimmo, and Miles Jupp, among others, would be coming back for another go.
Now Andrew has confirmed that he’d be well up for producing more stories from Balamory, returning to the role of Balamory’s local police officer PC Plum.
He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live that he’d be more than eager to get back to Tobermory for more filming when production resumes in the near future.
‘If they ask me to go back then I’ll absolutely be there with bells on, I’m sure. But at the moment we’re all just getting excited at the fact that it’s happening. I don’t think it would be same if we weren’t involved in it.’
Andrew’s recent comments echo those of Julie’s too, who simply said ‘Yup’ when asked by a fan of the show if she’d be coming back as Miss Hoolie, Balamory’s nursery teacher.
Joking that Balamory’s anticipated return was ‘bigger than the Oasis reunion’, Julie made it clear that any future episodes of the children’s show would involve her.
Head of children’s TV at the BBC, Kate Morton, revealed the news in 2024: ‘A whole new generation will discover and enjoy Balamory as we bring families together with this new update for CBeebies.
‘It will be a real treat for parents who grew up with the show to now introduce their little ones to the brightly coloured world getting to know a host of old and new characters together.’
While some of the old cast appear to be returning, there’s also the question of whether a reboot calls for some original and newly developed characters.
And while many fans would love of whether production will return to the beautiful Isle of Mull, which has a population of approximately 3,000 people.
Watch episodes of Balamory on BBC iPlayer.