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Balamory cast: Where are the stars now from stand-up comedy to a porn star daughter and tragic death
One cast member said they would jump at the chance to reappear on the show
BALAMORY is set to return two decades after it was last filmed.
The legendary CBeebies series has been commissioned for a reboot in 2026, with two new series of the show that are expected to include some of the original characters.
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Balamory, which ran from 2002 - 2005, won Best Pre-school Live Action Series at the 2004 BAFTA Children’s Awards.
The popular children's programme was set in a fictional Scottish village with happy-go-lucky characters like Miss Hoolie and Suzie Sweet being favourites among young viewers.
BBC Children’s and Education said the new programmes would be filmed in Scotland, either in Tobermory or possibly another Scottish location such as Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.
Kate Morton, head of commissioning for BBC Children’s and Education, said: “A whole new generation will discover and enjoy Balamory as we bring families together with this new update for CBeebies.
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“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.”
But who are the original cast of Balamory, what are they doing now and who has commented on the shows return?
Miss Hoolie - Julie Wilson Nimmo
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Smiling Balamory teacher Miss Hoolie narrated the drama and always donned an all-green outfit.
She was played by actress , 50, who made the long journey from kids telly to Craiglang in drama Still Game two years ago.
Julie told the Daily Record it was the "craziest and best news ever that Balamory is coming back".
"I seriously think this is bigger than the Oasis reunion," added Julie.
Iconic 00s CBeebies stars unrecognisable as they tease return of legendary show Balamory
The much-loved children's actress also appears on BBC Scotland's Scot Squad and Cbeebies' Olga da Polga.
Although Julie has remained on television fronting numerous programmes, she has a new career on the side.
Julie runs a 'Soulful Sunday' class on Scottish beaches Ruby Bay and Elie.
Archie the Inventor - Miles Jupp
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Wacky inventor Archie lived in the huge and wore a purple kilt.
He was played by comedian Miles Jupp, 42, who has enjoyed regular TV appearances elsewhere in The Thick of It, Outnumbered, Netflix's The Crown, and on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow.
He also played the weatherman in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and his other movie credits include The Legend of Tarzan, Sherlock Holmes, Johnny English Reborn.
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Miles previously revealed he was forced to cut rude gags from his Edinburgh Festival stand-up performance after seeing young Balamory fans in the audience.
"I went on stage and there were 10 children in the front row. Nightmare," he told The Guardian.
"The show was only 40 minutes long and I had to keep cutting huge chunks of filth."
Penny Pocket - Kim Tserkezie
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Penny Pocket had a talent for mathematics and ran the village shop and cafe with Suzie.
The role won Geordie actress Kim Tserkezie, 49, an award for her representation of disabled people on TV.
If they ask me to go back then I'll absolutely be there with bells on, I'm sure
Rod Christensen
After Balamory ended she became a writer and producer with her own production company, Scattered Pictures.
She starred in short film Obsession in 2020, earning two gongs at the Royal Television Society awards for her role as Jasmine.
She returned to university and in 2024 she took on a new career path as a fully qualified integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor.
Spencer the Painter - Rodd Christensen
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Smiling Spencer was tasked with painting the colourful houses of Balamory, but he also made music with his famous ladder that had musical steps.
After Balamory ended actor Rodd Christensen, 55, quit showbiz and became a driver for bus firm Stagecoach, admitting the kids sometimes recognised him from the show.
Though he shunned the limelight, his daughter made headlines when it was revealed she was a porn star.
Raylin Joy, who lives in LA, said she got into porn "for the giggles".
Following the announcement on the return of Balamory Rod told BBC Scotland's the news was "very exciting".
"If they ask me to go back then I'll absolutely be there with bells on, I'm sure," he said.
"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," he added.
PC Plum - Andrew Agnew
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Friendly neighbourhood officer PC Plum patrolled the crime-free village of Balamory as he dreamed of becoming a detective one day.
He was played by actor Andrew Agnew, who has gone on to direct kids TV programmes and had his own CBeebies live theatre show.
Andrew was a regular on the annual panto circuit, having played Muddles in festive pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Sunderland since 2014.
He's also popped up in Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, and Peter Pan, and Cinderella.
In 2022, Andrew celebrated Balamory's 20th anniversary by making TV and radio appearances alongside Julie Wilson to talk about the much-loved show.
Fans are hoping he'll make a return.
Suzie Sweet - Mary Riggans
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One of the most popular characters was Suzie Sweet who ran the village shop with Penny Pocket.
She would wave a feather duster around while welcoming visitors into her shop.
Actress Mary Riggans was best known for Balamory, but also played Effie Macinnes in Take The High Road.
She won a Sony award for her performance as Jean Armour in the radio play Till A' the Seas Run Dry in 1993 - and starred in Taggart and Still Game.
Balamory fans were saddened to learn in 2013 that she had died "peacefully holding her daughter’s hand" after suffering a stroke the year before.
Josy Jump - Buki Akib and Kasia Haddad
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Josy Jump was the fitness instructor at the primary school next door to Miss Hoolie's nursery school.
She encouraged the young Balamory viewers to exercise and loved storytelling through movement and dance.
Actress Buki Akib (pictured) played Josy but she quit in 2004 as the role clashed with her university studies.
Akib was replaced by Kasia Haddad, but the show's young fans couldn't understand why Josy looked different and their parents complained.
After Balamory ended in 2005 Kasia starred as Wendy in Doctors.
Edie McCredie - Juliet Cadzow
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Edie McCredie drove the nursery school bus but had travelled all over the world, and had a variety of photographs and souvenirs to talk about.
She was also a motor mechanic, and when she wasn't singing in the driver's seat she would fix vehicles in her garage, and occasionally snap at other road users.
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Actress Juliet Cadzow, went on to appear in Doctor Who and Skins after Balamory ended.
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She also starred as Winston's fantasy woman in Still Game back in 2006.
In 2016, Juliet then landed the role of Suzie Fraser in Scottish soap River City and joined the cast of pantomime Snow White in 2018.
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