Scottish actor, Tom Conti, is to be the voice of Andy Pandy when the children's favourite returns to TV screens next year.

The BBC is remaking the show that entertained two generations of children. It first appeared in 1950 and was revived in 1970 with 13 new episodes.

Playful Trio

Andy Pandy's first narrator was Maria Bird, who also composed the music for the show.

"As in the original series, Looby Loo and Teddy are key characters," the BBC executive producer, Theresa Plummer-Andrews, said.

"This playful trio are sure to be as popular today as the original characters were."

The move could be a big money spinner for Conti, whose film roles include the Oscar-nominated Shirley Valentine.

Plum Jobs

Actors can do very well financially from voiceover work - Neil Morrissey is currently one of the top earners as a result of narrating the hit children's series, Bob the Builder.

The BBC relaunched the children's classic, Bill and Ben, earlier this year, with the comic, John Thomson, providing the voiceover.