GAVIN and Stacey legend Alison Steadman is making an epic – and unexpected – return to the BBC in a new adaptation of Quentin Blake’s beloved children’s books. 

Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures is an upcoming animated series based on the beloved illustrators’ classic children’s books. It will be narrated by Adrian Lester and feature a host of popular stars, including Gavin and Stacey alum Alison Shipman.

Alison, 77, is best known for playing Pam Shipman in Ruth Jones and James Corden’s beloved TV comedy. 

In the years since the show ended, she starred in a handful of projects, including the 2021 spy film The King’s Man and Tom Basden’s BBC sitcom Here We Go. 

Now, Alison is returning to the BBC once more, this time bringing to life Quentin Blake’s indomitable character Mrs Armitage in the animated adaptation of Mrs Armitage on Wheels. 

The episode will be part of a larger series adapting six of Quentin’s beloved stories. Titled Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures, the series will be narrated throughout by Adrian Lester. 

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Jack and Nancy, “a tale of fun, friendship and adventure,” is the first episode in the series which will premiere in December along with the second episode, Zagazoo. 

Mrs Armitage and the remaining stories, Snuff, Angel Pavement and Loveykins will premiere next year. 

Alongside Alison and Adrian, the cast for the series includes Simon Pegg who’ll be voicing Jack in Jack and Nancy, and will also take on lead voice roles in Snuff and Angel Pavement. Meanwhile, Nina Sosanya will bring Angela Bowling to life in Loveykins. 

The six-part series is being adapted for the BBC by Eagle Eye Drama in a co-production with Creative Conspiracy. This is an exciting move for Quentin, who made a statement saying: “I am tremendously pleased to be working with Eagle Eye, who I’ve successfully teamed up with before, along with the BBC, on what will be the first ever series based on my work. 

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“It will be most enjoyable to see characters from some of my books jumping off the pages and onto the television screen,” the famed illustrator added. 

The series has been created using traditional hand-drawn animation techniques to capture the iconic style of his stories. 

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