Bob The Builder Gets Rebuilt
Children’s classic Bob the Builder has been given a redesign by rights holders HIT entertainment for a new series to air on Channel 5’s Milkshake. But it’s not just the looks that have changed for Bob, the location and even sound of the iconic children’s TV star have been changed for the upcoming reboot leaving very little trace of the original show behind.
The series began in 1998 created by the team at HOT entertainment in Altringham with Timmy Time’s Jackie Cockle producing, Raa-Raa The Noisy Lion and Frankenstein’s Cat creator Curtis Jobling designing the familiar look of the show and Keith Chapman credited as creator. Originally the adventures of Bob, Wendy and co was filmed in stop motion before switching to CGI in 2010 when the show was initially rebooted by HIT entertainment, the company that also owns Thomas the Tank and Fireman Sam, which have also made the switch to CG.
The show has always progressed when it has needed to, the earlier rather simplistic adventures changed to create a more prominent role for Wendy and later an environmental message was incorporated into the shows episodes. Bobs latest change is quite dramatic though as Bob and the gang move to Spring City to take on bigger builds in the big city environment and with a new location Bobs regeneration also sees Neil Morrissey leave the role he has held since 1998 and Lee Inglby stepping into the steel toe capped boots of Bob. Wendy – Bobs business partner will be voiced by Downtown Abbey star Joanne Froggart whilst the Inbetweeners Blake Harrison is voicing Scoop. On the HIT website it appears Roley and Dizzy will be appearing in the new series with apprentice builder Leo joining the team alongside Mayor Madison, young sports club members ‘The Spring City Rockets’ and two new machines: a heavy-lifting low-loader truck ‘Two Tonne’ and tower crane named ‘Tiny’.
L-R Bob, Wendy and newcomer Leo are all part of the new design
Character makeovers seem to be increasingly popular with TV commissioners these days. It is easy to see why, the characters are tried and tested which more or less eliminates the risk of spending money on a fresh idea that may or may not prove popular, in most cases there is already a nostalgic crowd of adults pining for their childhood favourites and so redesigning the shows also allows a fresh batch of merchandise to hit shelves and older audiences will eagerly introduce there favourite characters to the next generation, be it sons and daughters or nieces and nephews. Bob the Builder is just the latest in a series of classic creations given a makeover, whilst the majority of them such as Thunderbirds and Danger Mouse are returning to TV screens, Bob has been a constant since 1998 so his new look may take some getting used to for parents, but we can be sure the new lines of merchandise the new look show will undoubtedly generate will be prominently displayed.
So what do you make of the redesign? Is it a case of if its not broken then don’t “fix-it” or are you happy to see Children’s TV stars introduced to the next generation with a fresh new look? Let us know in the comments below.