Wallace & Gromit’s voice star on replacing Peter Sallis and honouring the actor’s legacy

As someone who grew up with Wallace & Gromit being a staple of my childhood entertainment, I must say that stepping into the shoes of the legendary Peter Sallis to voice Wallace is no small feat. Having been part of Aardman Animations since “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” in 2003, and having learned from the master himself, Ben Whitehead has truly earned his place as the new voice of Wallace.

Add Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl to your watchlist

On Christmas Day, prepare yourself for the arrival of “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,” the latest addition to Britain’s beloved stop-motion series. This time around, a new voice actor, Ben Whitehead, will bring Wallace to life, making this film a unique and exciting chapter in the franchise.

Veteran actor Peter Sallis, best recognized for his role in all 295 episodes of Last of the Summer Wine, initially provided the voice for Wallace in the BAFTA-winning short film A Grand Day Out in 1989. He continued to lend his voice to Wallace in various films and video games throughout the ’90s and 2000s until he retired in 2012. Sadly, Peter Sallis passed away on June 2nd, 2017.

After a hiatus since 2008’s “A Matter of Loaf and Death,” Wallace & Gromit are back in action again. Now, Whitehead has taken over as the voice of Wallace, embarking on their new journey titled “Vengeance Most Fowl.” In an interview with RT, he reflects on his beginnings at Aardman Animations and shares some insights about his career.

He’s been collaborating with Aardman Animations since the release of ‘The Curse of the Were-Rabbit’ in 2003. This extended period has not only allowed him to grow as a voice actor but also to refine his portrayal of Wallace, an experience he finds truly wonderful.

Originally, I was standing by to take over for Peter, but I didn’t try out to play Wallace’s role at all. Instead, I went in as a reader for the part. Surprisingly, I found that I could do the character’s voice, so I worked on perfecting it. At first, it was more like an imitation, but over time it evolved into a distinctive voice of its own. I believe this transformation greatly contributed to my success in the role.

Whitehead’s strategy was to maintain respect for the past depiction of Wallace cherished by fans, yet infuse the character with a distinct twist, thereby making it uniquely his own creation.

Nick [Park] and Merlin [Crossingham], the directors, have been incredibly supportive. They advised me not to focus so much on perfectly mimicking the character’s original voice, but rather to concentrate on developing and portraying the character authentically. This was a liberating suggestion that I embraced wholeheartedly.

I often adapt or invent solutions as I go along. However, I’ve been less creative and more focused on this particular project. Instead, my main focus here has been ensuring that the tone accurately reflects their intended message.

As a passionate admirer, I can’t help but notice the unanimous praise for “Vengeance Most Fowl” – even RT themselves have given it a thumbs up! It’s clear that Whitehead and his team didn’t simply hit the mark; they knocked it out of the park with an exceptional production. Now, I can’t help but wonder, what’s their secret to creating such a brilliant masterpiece?

It’s well-known that Wallace prefers Yorkshire Wensleydale as his favorite cheese. But if the creator of clay had a preference for cheese, what would it be?

Whitehead remarks, “That’s an excellent query you’ve made.” He admits to having a preference for robust, aged cheddar cheeses. On the weekend, he found some and it was exceptional. Specifically, it was a delightful Somerset cheddar that hits the spot. One can hardly make a mistake with such a choice.

There you have it. A crackin’ choice indeed.

2024-12-24 18:33

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