For the first time ever, BBC Children in Need icon, Pudsey was brought to life in a magical and moving animation – Pudsey and the Thread of Hope.
The story, written by Tom Fletcher, follows Jai, a young boy navigating grief after the loss of his father, as he embarks on a journey of healing, hope and adventure with Pudsey. Along the way, they meet other children connected by a golden thread of kindness and empowerment, discovering the transformative power of friendship, courage and love. This story highlights the power of having positive and trusted relationships in young people’s lives, and the transformative impact these can have.
Co-commissioned by CBeebies and BBC Children in Need and produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family with animation studio Creative Conspiracy, the special was developed with young audiences in mind and was aired over the Christmas period on BBC One, CBBC, CBeebies and BBC iPlayer. Characters are voiced by: Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, Baby Reindeer actress Jessica Gunning, Blue Peter presenter Shini Muthukrishnan and Starstruck actor Nikesh Patel.
Daya Singh Athwal voices Jai, Jessica voices Jai’s mum, and Nikesh voices Jai’s dad, whilst Ashley voices a boxing coach and Shini a dance teacher. Other characters are voiced by Connie Underhill (Maya), Mykhail Chuian (Ricky), Roman Kovalenko (Tomash), Ruby Cooper (Remi), Sylvie Scott (Ellie) and Blanche Anderson (Susan, Ellie’s Mum).