There will be something of brass band connection to the return of one of the iconic children’s television programmes of the 1970s.

A new series of ‘The Clangers’ will be seen on screens in 2015 as part of the BBC ‘CBeebies’ children’s network — and will be produced by a company run by former Fairey cornet player Phil Chalk, whose music division is headed by composer Paul Lovatt-Cooper.

BAFTA

The company has just been nominated for a BAFTA Award for their children’s series ‘Strange Hill High’ which features bespoke musical scores by PLC, and it is hoped the same success will recreated with a new take on the little mouse figures who speak in whistle language and eat blue string pudding and green soup supplied by the Soup Dragon.

The original series ran from 1969 to 1972 with its stories of the Clanger family, the Iron Chicken and froglets who live in a flying top hat. It quickly became a classic, thanks in part to its popularity with students, bemused parents and any person who could whistle!

Everyone of a certain age loved the original and we hope to do the same with the new series. Paul and I are dusting off our Swannee whistles as we speak!Phil Chalk

Commission

Phil exclusively told 4BR, that he is particularly delighted that the company has secured the opportunity to bring one of the great children’s television programmes back to the small screen.

"We are thrilled that we have just secured the commission to recreate a series of The Clangers which has been commissioned by Sprout in the US and CBeebies," he said.

"Everyone of a certain age loved the original and we hope to do the same with the new series. Paul and I are dusting off our Swannee whistles as we speak!"