A Nostalgic Return for Balamory
Balamory, the iconic children’s show, has made a triumphant return with two more series confirmed after its successful reboot. The BBC announced that the series, which first aired over two decades ago, will be back for its third and fourth seasons following the release of the second series later this year.
The re-imagining of the CBeebies show brought back original stars Julie Wilson Nimmo and Andrew Agnew in their roles, alongside ten new 15-minute episodes. Fans can look forward to another ten episodes set to drop in 2026, with the BBC confirming that the next series will not take long to arrive on CBeebies and iPlayer.
The first episode of the recommissioned series, titled One Man Band, attracted an impressive 1.5 million viewers across 28 days after its release. This made it the biggest new CBeebies episode launch of 2026, according to the BBC, highlighting the show’s enduring appeal.
Senior head of commissioning for CBeebies, Kate Morton, expressed her excitement about the return: “Balamory has always been about community, creativity and helping children understand the world around them. Seeing it return and connect so strongly with audiences, both those discovering it for the first time and those who remember it so fondly, has been incredibly special.”
Production company Lion Television Scotland’s head, Lisa Hazlehurst, added: “We are thrilled to be able to dream up more adventures for the Balamory gang following the wonderful response to the reboot. At Lion Scotland we believe there is something truly magical about seeing real people sharing adventures in one of the most beautiful settings on the planet. Balamory reminds children that kindness and teamwork can solve even the trickiest problems with a little imagination and a healthy dollop of humour.”
The first of two planned series dropped on BBC iPlayer, and fans welcomed the reboot as a nostalgic treat. Many viewers admitted they had watched the original run during their childhood and were excited to see the return of beloved characters.
Original cast members like Kim Tserkezie, who played Penny Pocket, and Juliet Cadzow, who portrayed Edie McCredie, reprised their roles. New faces included Carl Spencer, who will play the village vet Dr Ollie. Fans particularly praised Julie Wilson Nimmo for her return as Miss Hoolie, with one fan even suggesting she “deserved a damehood.”
Writing on X, a fan shared: “Watching the first episode of the #Balamory reboot felt so nice and comforting! It definitely felt like it paid homage to the original series, which is incredibly rare to see (as a whole, not just with kids TV); She is like a warm hug, where’s her damehood; Tuning into CBeebies as we speak at my big age to watch #Balamory; Not me at 53 watching new #Balamory with a wee tear in my eye; Set my alarm for 16.55 to see the new #Balamory with my big kid who used to be little, sobbing at the first sight of Miss Hoolie and PC Plum.”
Balamory was once a hit with two million viewers a week and was enjoyed globally. It was even rumoured that Pope John Paul II tuned in from the Vatican. Julie, who is also appearing on Jules and Greg’s Wild Swim with her husband Greg, told The Mirror: “Miss Hoolie is me on a good day. She runs the nursery and can’t wait for the children to come through the door so she can solve their problems. She loves being part of the community and is very kind. Balamory is obviously in Scotland, but it could be anywhere. People want to escape into that world.”
New characters include the harbourmaster, played by Will Andrews, and scientist Ava Potts, portrayed by Danielle Jam. The show’s return is also generating excitement in Tobermory itself, which saw a surge in tourism after the original series aired. The town, known for its brightly coloured houses, reported a 40% increase in visitors thanks to the show.
Kate Morton concluded: “Balamory holds a very special place in the hearts of families across the UK, so bringing it back after 21 years has been a real joy. The spirit of curiosity, creativity and community that defined the original series remains at the core of this new chapter.”
Balamory is available to stream on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer.
