BBC & Aardman Celebrate 30 Years of Shaun the Sheep

BBC One has slated the seventh season premiere of Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep for May 24, in celebration of the eponymous character’s 30th anniversary.

The season debut will feature a double episode in which Shaun impulsively wishes away his pal Bitzer the dog. Prior to the episode airing, BBC One will broadcast Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave, which first introduced the character in 1995.

After the double episode, BBC One will air the most recent Wallace & Gromit film, Vengeance Most Fowl.

The double episode and Wallace & Gromit films will also air on CBBC. The new season will become available to stream on BBC iPlayer on May 24. More episodes from season seven will air on weekdays on CBBC beginning on May 26.

Shaun the Sheep features vocal effects from Justin Fletcher (Shaun the Sheep, Timmy, the Pigs and Mowermouth) and John Sparkes (Farmer, Bitzer and Bitzer’s Dad), with a theme tune sung by Vic Reeves.

The series was originally created by Richard Starzak. The production is led by a creative team from Aardman, with Seamus Malone (Lloyd of the Flies) as director and Danny Gallagher (Robin Robin) as producer. Jacqueline White is a senior producer and executive producer, and Carla Shelley and Sarah Cox are studio executive producers.

“We’re so proud of our long-standing relationship with Aardman, supporting British animation and bringing families more Shaun the Sheep adventures,” said Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s & Education. “As you would expect, the new episodes are brilliantly characterized and full of British humor, as we celebrate this very special anniversary year by bringing audiences together to be entertained by Shaun and his pals.”

Cox, chief creative director at Aardman, added, “It’s a real joy to be marking Shaun the Sheep’s 30th anniversary with brand-new episodes on the BBC—our longtime creative partner. This new series continues to celebrate Shaun and the flock’s unique blend of warm and witty mischief through visual storytelling that aims to entertain all ages.”