Dolly Parton On Board Lily’s Driftwood Bay

BELFAST: Dolly Parton is lending her voice talents to guest star in a special episode from the upcoming season of the animated preschool show Lily’s Driftwood Bay from Sixteen South.

Parton will voice a famous singing chicken named Noleen in a special double-length episode titled “The Salty Chicken.” Parton’s episode is slated for next year and will see her character try to convince Salty the old sea dog to go on tour with her and pursue an international singing career. The second season will also feature the voice talents of actor and comedian Rob Brydon as a seafaring silver fox named Tom in “The Proposal.”

Lily’s Driftwood Bay tells the story of a young girl who creates an imaginary world from treasures she discovers washed up on the beach. The new season will begin on Nick Jr. in the U.K. on June 6 and on Sprout in the U.S. on June 27. Season one will premiere on KiKA in Germany on May 29.

Series creator and producer Colin Williams said, “What a thrill to welcome Rob and Dolly to Driftwood Bay! We’ve three generations of Lily fans: children, parents and grandparents and I was looking for two very special people who are loved by all three generations to be our special guest. Who else to play a handsome and smooth Welsh fox than Rob Brydon! ‘The Salty Chicken’ was the first story outline that we wrote for series two and it was always Dolly that I wanted. It took me a year to convince her but what an honor to meet her, work with her and have her part of our special show. She’s an amazing and lovely lady—and a Lily fan too!”

Parton remarked: “I’ve never played a chicken before but I have been known to lay a few eggs! Noleen is a very famous chicken, probably one of the most famous chickens ever there was. She washes up on Driftwood Bay and she’s trying to get Salty to go with her on tour. Now whether he does or whether he doesn’t, you’ll just have to watch and see!”

Brydon commented: “Tom is a charming old rover and it’s a lovely show, beautifully made. It’s always great to do jobs that my younger children can watch and enjoy. There’s something magical about good children’s programs and it’s lovely to be a part of that.”