​Peppa Pig Voice Actor Stands Down After 13 Years In Role

The actor behind the voice of Peppa Pig is stepping down after 13 years in the role, making way for a younger star to take her place.

Harley Bird, 18, has been voicing the anthropomorphic pig since she was just five years old, having appeared in a total of 185 episodes.

Bird, who will be replaced by nine-year-old Amelie Bea Smith from 14 February, said she looks forward to her 'next chapter' in her life as she continues in her final year of A-Levels.

Bird said: "The people that work on Peppa Pig have become like a family to me and they've given me some unforgettable memories.

"I wish Amelie the best of luck in the role and am looking forward to starting the next chapter in my life."

Entertainment One

The cartoon character was first voiced by Lily Snowden-Fine, who joined the cast in series one at the tender age of five.

She then handed the reins over to Cecily Bloom for series two, before the season three introduction of Bird - who even went on to win herself a BAFTA in 2011.

Peppa Pig co-creators Neville Astley and Mark Baker, from animation studio Astley Baker Davies, said: "We're delighted to welcome Amelie to the Peppa Pig voice cast and confident that she will continue the strong legacy of the previous Peppa voice actors.

"Lily Snowden-Fine defined the role when she first voiced the character in series one at age five.

"Lily passed the baton to Cecily Bloom for series two before handing the reins to Harley Bird.

"As our longest-standing Peppa, Harley's award-winning contribution to the show over the past 13 years has been tremendous, making her a key part of the success of Peppa Pig."

Entertainment One

Now Amelie Bea Smith will be stepping into the trotters, having appeared in several episodes of EastEnders in 2018 and 2019.

She will appear in her first Peppa Pig episode next month.

Her agent Mark Jermin said: "Amelie has been a huge fan of the show since she was little, so voicing the title role is like a dream come true and she's thrilled to become part of the voice cast."

The new voice of Amelie Bea Smith will feature in the show for viewers in UK, the US and Australia, along with other international territories that air the programme in English.

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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