Fylde teenager picked to supply voice of character in new Bob the Builder

William Haresceugh, 13, from Lytham, has been cast as the voice of JJ in the rebooted version of the hit children’s series, which made its debut on Channel 5 this week.

AKS student William has been regularly travelling to studios in London with his mum Cathy as his chaperone to record his parts for the show, which features Lancashire-born actor Lee Ingleby in the title role.

William, a former pupil of Lytham Hall Park School, is at AKS on a music and sports scholarship.

He was first talent spotted at Scream Theatre School in Blackpool by the agency, Scream Management and has gone onto work in various roles including playing the lead role, Jimmy in That Day We Sang alongside Victoria Wood at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre.

The Bob The Builder opportunity for William started as long as two years ago when producers Hit Entertainment circulated an appeal for young voice-over artists.

At the time, the new project was un-named and at the initial auditions, it remained so, but by the time William was successful, it was clear that Bob the Builder, which was previously on TV screens in the 90s with Neil Morrissey in the title role, was set for a revamp.

William said: “I love voice over work because I find it so free and relaxing.

“I’ve been a fan of Bob The Builder from a very young age and I even took my favourite Bob The Builder top with me to the audition.

“I was pretty stunned when I received the call to say I had got the job as the audition process took two years!

“I absolutely love it. It’s amazing.”

Mum Cathy, who has accompanied William on recording trips along with his dad Mark and 12-year-old sister Rebecca, added: “William was absolutely thrilled when he got the role. He loved the original version of Bob The Builder and it is a dream come true for him to be involved in the new version.

“We have been travelling to London every six to eight weeks and he has recorded about 50 episodes and we understand there are more to come.”

Jessica Bell, agent at Scream Management, said: “William is a very talented voice over artist and young actor and we were absolutely delighted when we received the call that he had been offered the role of JJ.”

Bob The Builder is on Channel 5’s Milkshake on weekdays at 7.20am.