After travelling the world as an acclaimed documentarian and member of the legendary comedy troupe Monty Python, Michael Palin has set his course to space as the narrator of the upcoming, contemporary version of the iconic British kids series Clangers.

Though Palin already has a children’s book series under his belt, the 52 x 11-minute stop-motion series marks the entertainer’s first foray into children’s animation.

He takes over narration duties from the late Oliver Postgate, the series’ original narrator who co-created Clangers with Peter Firmin 45 years ago.

Set to debut in the UK in spring 2015, the revitalized series is a BBC, Coolabi Group, Smallfilms and Sprout co-production, with Firmin and Daniel Postgate (the son of Oliver) attached as executive producers.

Production on the US$8.1 million series is currently underway with stop-motion experts Factory Transmedia (Strange Hill High, Raa Raa the Noisy Lion) and puppet makers and producers Mackinnon and Saunders (Postman Pat, Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, Chicken Run).

Clangers follows the interstellar adventures of a family of pink, long-nosed, inventive and loveable mouse-shaped creatures who live on a small blue planet and communicate with distinctive whistles.

Licensees already signed on to the revamped IP include Character Options (master toy); Penguin (publishing); Immediate Media (magazines ); C&M Licensing (apparel); MV Sports & Leisure (wheeled toys); Gemma International (greeting cards, gift wrap); Trade Mark Collections (children’s bags) and Rainbow Productions (costumes).