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WHAT'S THE STORY Balamory’s Miss Hoolie almost unrecognisable as she fronts new CBeebies show 17 years on from TV debut
Alex Doyle
15 Nov 2022 09:35:29
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BALAMORY’S Miss Hoolie looks completely unrecognisable as she fronts a brand new kids TV show.
Julie Wilson Nimmo, who played the beloved school teacher, looks worlds away from her character. The pre-school series, which aired on CBeebies between 2002 and 2005, featured characters wearing distinctive colours that matched their houses.
Now, 17 years on from her role, Julie will front a brand new children’s TV series with her partner Greg Hemphill. The pair will play the role of on screen couple of Mr and Mrs Sawdust.
And the 50-year-old actress has debuted a new look as she revealed her red long hair.
During her time on Balamory Julie sported a flipped bob haircut with a green jacket, scarf and hat. Her new TV series, Olga da Polga, is based on Paddington creator Michael Bond’s children’s books based on a guinea pig. The much-loved pet guinea pig lives with her owners, eight year-old Karen and her mum and dad.
Julie recently appeared on ITV’s This Morning alongside her co-star Andrew Angew who played PC Plum. Speaking about the beloved show, Nimmo said: “There was no-one on our show cutting about, thinking look, we’ve arrived on this show. We were one of the first shows on Cbeebies channel, which wasn’t even a thing at the time. “We just loved the script and we were just so excited. It sounds really cheesy but we all just fell in love with each other and all just got on like a house on fire.”
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16th January 2023 Mail Online Article on Julie Wilson Nimmo “Kids TV star looks unrecognisable 21 years after her debut as she returns to front new TV series but can you guess who it is?”
15th November 2022 OK! Article on Julie Wilson Nimmo “Balamory's Miss Hoolie looks barely recognisable as she fronts new kids show”
Balamory's Miss Hoolie looks barely recognisable as she fronts new kids show
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Balamory star Julie Wilson Nimmo is worlds away from her beloved kids TV character Miss Hoolie, who she played for three years up until 2005.
Alongside real-life husband Greg Hemphill, the 50 year old will soon front a new series for CBeebies titled Olga da Polga, adapted from books written by Paddington author Michael Bond between 1971 and 2002.
And in a new promotional photo, Julie is almost unrecognisable from her days as Miss Hoolie in Balamory, where she used to have a flicked out bob.
In Olga da Polga, the married couple are playing Mr and Mrs Sawdust, who live with their young daughter Karen and the eponymous, talking pet guinea pig.
"Olga da Polga is a guinea pig who is going places. She spends her days dreaming of getting her own family of 'sawdust people' until Karen arrives and takes her home to a grand new hutch specially built by Mr Sawdust," teases a synopsis.
The character of Karen, who's brought to life by 8 year old newcomer Isla Mercer, is based on the aforementioned writer's own daughter Karen Jankel.
Meanwhile, the voice of Olga will be provided by actress Lesley Harcourt in the series - known for her roles as Agent Owen in Apple TV+ spy drama Slow Horses and Gemma Kerr in Taggart.
Recently reflecting on the enormous success of Balamory with PC Plum's Andrew Agnew, Miss Hoolie star Julie told This Morning: "There was no-one on our show cutting about, thinking, 'Look, we've arrived on this show'.
"We were one of the first shows on CBeebies channel, which wasn't even a thing at the time.
"We just loved the script and we were just so excited. It sounds really cheesy but we all just fell in love with each other and all just got on like a house on fire," she added.
14th November 2022 Daily Star Article on Julie Wilson Nimmo “Balamory’s Miss Hoolie unrecognisable 17 years on as she stars in new CBeebies show”
Balamory’s Miss Hoolie unrecognisable 17 years on as she stars in new CBeebies show
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CBeebies star Julie Wilson Nimmo, who played Miss Hoolie on Balamory, is set to star in a new programme with her husband.
The beloved actress will return to CBeebies in her new show Olga Da Polga alongside partner Greg Hemphill where the duo will play Mr and Mrs Sawdust.
As stunning as ever, Julie looks completely unrecognisable in new promotional pictures from the show.
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Many will know Nimmo for her iconic flipped bob hair cut, but nowadays the actress prefers to wear her hair long.
A new picture of the cast showed Julie with her red hair tucked behind her ears while wearing a bright green jumper as she beamed for the camera.
Fans know and love Julie as the iconic Miss Hoolie (Image: BBC)
She stood alongside her partner Greg, who wore a red and black lumberjack style shirt, and their on-screen daughter Karen Jankel.
The actress’ new series is an adaptation of Paddington creator Michael Bond’s children’s books based on a guinea pig protagonist.
Olga, Karen’s furry friend, will come to life with the help of voice actress Lesley Harcourt.
Greg spoke to The Sunday Post about the couple’s new venture and is excited to be working with his wife.
The real life couple are also married on screen (Image: BBC / CBeebies)
He said: “After all the years we’ve been together, this is the first time Jules and I have actually had the opportunity to act together as a couple, and it’s been an absolute delight. Mr Sawdust is a very hands-on dad who looks after Karen as Mrs Sawdust is out working.”
Greg continued: “With Jules and I both acting, I’ve spent a lot of time making the tea and looking after our boys when she was out working, so it wasn’t a great leap to portray Mr Sawdust. Little Isla who plays Karen was wonderful, and as we all love animals, working with guinea pigs, cats and tortoises was a dream job.”
This will be eight-year-old Isla Mercer's debut role (Image: BBC / CBeebies)
The actor appreciated the role as it was “a joy to just be himself” and he received “compliments telling him how young he looked”.
He also loved working with children and animals as “it is very different and very sweet” and the “animals were incredibly expressive”.
The Miss Hoolie actress also added: “Everyone knows and loves Paddington, so it was a wonderful compliment to be asked to bring the Olga da Polga books to life.”
Olga Da Polga is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
16th January 2023 Heart Radio London “Balamory's Miss Hoolie is unrecognisable as she returns to TV”
Balamory's Miss Hoolie is unrecognisable as she returns to TV
16 January 2023, 16:50
Julie Wilson Nimmo will star in a new BBC series alongside her partner, Greg Hemphill.
Picture: BBC
Julie Wilson Nimmo played Miss Hoolie in CBeebies' hit kids show Balamory.
Julie Wilson Nimmo, who played school teacher Miss Hoolie on Balamory, looks unrecognisable as she makes her long-awaited return to television 20 years later.
The actress, 51, will be returning to kids' TV alongside her partner, Greg Hemphill, in a new BBC series titled Olga da Polga
Julie and Greg will play Mr and Mrs Sawdust in the new series, which is based on Michael Bond's children's books, The Tales of Olga Da Polga
In pictures from the new series, Julie looks worlds away from her previous role of Miss Hoolie, who sported an iconic short bob.
Balamory first aired back in 2002 and ran for 253 episodes before ending in 2005.
The show became an instant hit with kids and families, and still remains an iconic classic to this day.
Last year, Julie appeared on This Morning alongside her former co-star Andrew Angew, who played PC Plum on the hit series.
While on This Morning, Julie said about Balamory: "We were one of the first shows on Cbeebies channel, which wasn't even a thing at the time.
"We just loved the script and we were just so excited. It sounds really cheesy but we all just fell in love with each other and all just got on like a house on fire."
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Talking about why the show worked so well, Andrew said on This Morning: "We as characters always got there slightly after the kids, the idea was that the kids would work out what was happening before we did."
They also spoke about the diversity and inclusivity of the show, with Julie explaining: "Brian Jameson, who created the show, it was never really discussed, that was what was happening, and it was like this is an inclusive show for everybody."
She added: "What was brilliant is that the kids just went along with it, they never questioned any of it."
