Real life actor couple Sean Connolly & Bella Hamblin appear in BBC's 'DOCTORS' playing a troubled couple ...

I had the absolute delight of playing opposite my REAL LIFE WIFE - BELLA HAMBLIN in an episode of the BBC's afternoon soap 'DOCTORS' called 'OVER THE WATERS', playing ... yep you've guessed it, a married couple!! So we've played a married couple in the BBC RADIO 4 drama series 'HOME FRONT' and now we've hit your telly box!! We also had the great privilege of working with director DEBBIE HOWARD for the first time and not forgetting the amazing 'Doctors' production team. It was so great to be back working (at all!) in a Covid secure environment ... 'reasons to be cheerful'!!

It's available now to watch on the BBC's iPlayer here https://bbc.in/2QOnKer

How amazing to see our names next to each other in the end credits, first time ever for us ...

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

DOUBLE BBC TELLY TROUBLE for SEAN ...'Doctors' & 'Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators' ...

I've had the great fortune to have appeared in TWO MIDLAND'S MADE BBC telly shows either side of Christmas .. firstly just before Christmas I was delighted to return to 'DOCTORS' and last week I popped up on the hugely popular afternoon crime drama 'SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY - PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS' ...

Firstly and rather belatedly my 'DOCTORS' episode 'HE WATCHES' was a pre-Christmas story, tying up a long storyline but also introducing my good self as Villa fan and pub landlord MARK ELWOOD who appears to be at the centre of a on-line conspiracy theory - here's the direct link to the episode on the BBC's iPLAYER https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000c6nl/doctors-series-21-27-he-watches (it's available for a year!) and few stills from the episode, no spoilers from me, have a watch ... director was NIALL FRASER.

Secondly and rather more recently was my dramatic cameo appearance in the second episode 'SEE THYSELF, DEVIL!' of SEASON 3 of 'SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY - PRIVATE INVESTGATORS' starring JOY JOYNER and MARK BENTON ... I play EARL ALBANY, ex-lead guitarist turned vicar of legendary heavy rock band 'CALIBAN'S CLAW' ... Back in their heyday the members of the band all signed a 'deal' with the devil in blood for success, as the lead singer (played by DAVID SCHOFIELD) plans a comeback it seems that the devil is back to call in that debt!! 

Here again is the direct link to the episode on the BBC's iPLAYER 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000f290/shakespeare-hathaway-private-investigators-series-3-2-see-thyself-devil (once again it's available for the whole of this year!) and a few well chosen 'spoiler-free' stills from the episode ... enjoy!! Director for this episode was JOHN GREENING ...

(OH ... IF YOU READ TO THE END OF THIS BLOGPOST, YOU'LL SEE AN EXCLUSIVE BAND PIC!)

It was great fun on the shoot ... you might recognise my church as The Collegiate Church of St Mary in lovely Warwick ... What a privilege it was to work in such beautiful surroundings. It was also lovely to reaquaint  with JO JOYNER after quite a hiatus ... we'd last worked together on the CHANNEL 4 series 'NO ANGELS' back in 2005(ish!) ...

HERE'S THAT PIC!!! 

CALIBAN'S CLAW at the height of their success, Earl is on the left!!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

A FESTIVE REPEAT for SHAUN THE SHEEP and those Naughty Llamas!!

Voice Actor SEAN CONNOLLY celebrates as Aardman's 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' gets a CHRISTMAS DAY REPEAT ...

Great NEWES! AARDMAN ANIMATION'S 'SHAUN THE SHEEP' Christmas Special 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' is to receive a second outing this Christmas.

Following on from last years smash screening on Boxing Day, I am delighted and more than a bit chuffed to announce that this year the half hour special gets the CHRISTMAS DAY slot on BBC 1 at 1.20PM just before the traditional 'TOP OF THE POPS' .. A wonderful time for all the family to enjoy once again the Lllama Drama centering on (below - from left to right) Fernando, Hector (played by yours truly) and Raul.

There is also another opportunity to see 'THE FARMER'S LLAMA'S' later on CHRISTMAS DAY at 5.40PM on CBBC ...

If you didn't get to see it last year then make sure you tune in on CHRISTMAS DAY. As I said last year ... 

REMEMBER A LLAMA IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS!!

'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' released on DVD 8TH FEBRUARY 2016 ...

Great news ... one of the big television hits over the Christmas period 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' is released on DVD on MONDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2016. So proud to have played Hector (above), I think it's probably the first time that I've been 'on the telly' at Christmas!! It already seems such a long time ago ...

The reviews have been more than positive, here's a flavour:

The Telegraph: "Aardman was back with another riotous and irreverent seasonal one-off – the perfect antidote to the sentimental fudge invariably clogging the schedules this time of year."

"The true stars were Hector, Fernando and Raul, a trio of zany llamas bent on destruction. Honest-to-goodness belly laughs were to be had as the llamas thunked the sheep at football and accidentally toppled a barn on a quad-bike rampage."

The Radio Times: "And as ever the homespun animation by Aardman is top-notch."

"This dialogue-free story is realised through a series of well-realised slapstick set pieces, with great physical comedy throughout and some surprisingly pulse-pounding scenes."

"The Farmer’s Llamas is a lot of fun and kids will love it. Why not take a (sheep) dip?"

The Evening Standard on-line: gave it FOUR GOOD REASONS TO WATCH:

1) It’s brilliantly, stupendously British ...

"Everything about Aardman Animations if undeniably British – the offbeat slapstick humour, the countryside aesthetic, the worn and home made feel, even the use of plasticine as an animation medium."

Forget Downton Abbey, the Farmer’s Llamas is the most British thing on TV over the festive period."

2) The animation is incredible ...

"The quirky joy of Aardman’s stop-motion animation style is a joy to behold – loving and hand-crafted, but full of texture and detail."

3) It’s perfect for all ages ...

"While the classic Wallace and Gromit adventures don’t have a huge amount of speech, Shaun the Sheep is entirely dialogue-free. The humour is all slapstick and visual, too – so it’s perfect for kids both young and old."

4) It’s the only TV special you’ll see about brainwashed llamas ...

"Undeniable, this one. The Farmer’s Llama’s sees Shaun sneak across to a country fair, where he manages to get his farmer to accidentally bid on three troublesome llamas who go out of control when they can’t hear their owner’s placating panpipes.

"However, the Llama’s arrival at the farm soon brings trouble, and it’s up to Shaun to sort it all out."

Some lovely stuff written there about 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS', it's a fab 30 minutes of Mossy Bottom fun!!

Hold on to your Pan Pipes! Aardman's 'Shaun the Sheep' 'LLAMA DRAMA' hits BBC One in about hour!

Voice artist SEAN CONNOLLY provides the voice of Hector the Llama in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' for Aardman Animations - Boxing Day BBC One ...

Just under an hour until 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' hits Boxing Day telly ... 

Tune in to BBC One at 6.10pm for half an hour of Alpaca Anarchy!!

Christmas Radio Times Cover for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' - Boxing Day - BBC ONE at 6.10PM.

Well it's a double whammy of festive news ... not only has the date and time of the thirty minute special 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' been announced, but as you can see we've also made the cover of the legendary Double Issue Christmas Radio Times!

Also great news that 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' has been given a prime time Boxing Day slot of 6.10PM on BBC ONE ... If you happen to miss it on Boxing day then fear not, there is another opportunity to see it on New Years Day, again on BBC ONE at 4.05PM.

It's also worth mentioning that there is an insightful documentary about Aardman again on Boxing Day called 'A GRAND NIGHT IN: THE STORY OF AARDMAN' on BBC ONE at 2.25PM.

If you simply can't wait until Boxing day, here's a little sneak peek of the Llama Drama!

It was great fun recording Hector, 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' is a real treat.

Remember a Llama is not just for Christmas!!

A Christmas Special 'Llama Drama' for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP'.

Voice actor Sean Connolly with Hector the Llama from Aardman's Christmas Special 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS'.

Following on from the release of Aardman Animations world-wide hit 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' earlier this year I am thrilled to announce my involvement in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS', the first ever Shaun the Sheep thirty-minute festive special which will air on BBC One this Christmas. The exact transmission date and time will be announced in the Christmas Radio Times which is out next weekend.

In 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' I voice HECTOR the LLAMA, leader of a troublesome trio of Llamas. 

Here's the Synopsis:  When the Farmer and Bitzer go to a Country Fair, Shaun steals away with them intent on causing mischief. Shaun spies an auction where he sees three exotic and very crafty Llamas going under the hammer. Instantly besotted by their fantastic pranks Shaun cleverly gets the unwitting Farmer to buy them.

Back at Mossy Bottom Farm, Shaun is delighted with his prank and convinces the Flock that the Llamas (Hector, Fernando and Raul) are just what they need to spice up their lives. At first everything’s great fun, but soon their new Llama room-mates get a bit too comfortable in their new home.

When things spiral out of control, Shaun is forced to take action to oust the intruders and save the farm.

The film has been available to stream in America for a few weeks now, before it's UK screening this Christmas, here's the trailer.

  

On Monday 26th October 2015 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry visited a charities forum event hosted by BAFTA & Aardman where the World Premiere of 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' was presented.

Created by RICHARD STARZAK and directed by JAY GRACE, 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' will continue Aardman’s long heritage of festive specials on the BBC following on from the now legendary WALLACE AND GROMIT shorts.