Lovable Children’s TV aliens The Clangers are set to return to the BBC this June.

The Clangers made their debut way back in 1969. The show features a family of mouse-like creatures who occupy a small moon-like planet. They speak only in whistles, and eat blue string soup supplied by the magical Soup Dragon. It was perfect tea-time telly for time when space travel was a new and world-changing thing, and is a fond part of many an adult’s childhood to this day.

The new show hopes to capture the original magic. Original show producer Peter Firmin is still in charge of the show’s overall look and the scripts have been produced by Daniel Postgate, the son of the original scriptwriter, Oliver Postgate. Michael Palin will narrate, bringing his trademark sense of humour and touch of warmth to the whole affair.

The new series will use the same stop-motion method as the original series, but with a larger team using more modern techniques, namely Manchester-based stop-motion animation specialists Factory (Strange Hill High, Newzoids), and award-winning puppet makers Mackinnon and Saunders (Frankenweenie, Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox, Mars Attacks). In addition to Mother, Major, Tiny, Small and Granny Clanger, we should expect to see the Soup Dragon, Baby Soup Dragon, the Iron Chicken, Sky Moos and Froglets.

Old-school Doctor Who fans will recall that The Clangers once made a brief cameo in the 1972 Pertwee-Era Doctor Who story The Sea Devils. With both shows now back on the BBC, could it only be a matter of time before the Soup Dragon and chums face The Master? We think it would make an amazing Children in Need special, but we’re not holding our breath.

Check out the sneak peek below:

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