Zog voice actor Samson Kayo on keeping his identity for new series and whether he’ll return for season 2

by

Julia Donaldson’s stories, like ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘The Highway Rat’, are beloved by children and adults alike for their imaginative and playful nature. There’s a story to capture the hearts of everyone!

One character who’s become particularly memorable is Zog, along with his companions Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout – together they’re known as The Flying Doctors.

CBeebies is getting ready to premiere a new series of 52 episodes featuring Zog and his exciting adventures. The beloved dragon will be voiced by Samson Kayo, known for his role in ‘Bloods,’ while Patsy Ferran (‘Miss Austen’) will voice Princess Pearl, and Will Merrick (‘Skins’) will play Sir Gadabout.

TopMob caught up with Kayo ahead of the new series, which flies on to screens on Monday 18 May.

I’ve always admired the beautiful language Donaldson uses in her stories. I was initially surprised when I was asked to audition for ‘Zog,’ as Kayo explained. But after meeting the team at Magic Light Pictures, I felt confident they believed I could do the story justice. It’s a huge opportunity, and I take it very seriously! I was worried about how I’d approach the role, but now, after 52 episodes, here we are.

Kayo felt it was crucial to maintain some of his own personality while voicing the animated character, all while honoring the original vision of the creator, Donaldson – and he believes the series has successfully achieved this balance.

Growing up as a Black man in South London, the chance to work with stories like Zog felt incredibly special – almost destined. I want to honor the wonderful world created by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, while also bringing my own unique background and culture to the character. What I love about Zog is that when I perform it, you hear both a charming dragon and a piece of who I am.

Voice acting is surprisingly challenging, even though it’s enjoyable. As any voice artist can tell you, relying solely on your voice to create a performance is physically tiring. Kayo, currently working on his second voice acting project after appearing in Puss in Boots, knows this firsthand.

I still approach the work with a student’s mindset, and I really enjoy that – it helps keep Zog feeling fresh and innocent! A lot of people don’t realize how much fun it is. When I’m working on the character, I like to create a playful environment – I even turn up the air conditioning because I think comedy works best when it’s unexpected. While Puss in Boots had a more defined structure, Zog felt much more open and free, and that’s all thanks to the creative world Magic Light Studio built.

Want to see this content?

This page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA. Before it loads, we need your permission because it might use cookies. If you want to see the content, click ‘Accept and continue’ to enable reCAPTCHA.

Zog is a delightful and gently educational show for kids, helping them learn important social and academic skills with a playful approach. Kayo particularly liked how the show uses unusual teaching methods.

Zog is a lovely animated film with memorable characters. As someone who loves animation, cartoons, and anime, I always connect with the characters I see on screen. I think young viewers will easily find themselves in the story, and adults will recognize themes that resonate with their own lives. It’s a film that both children and parents can enjoy and learn from – a wonderful blend of generations, and I’m very proud to have been a part of it.

If asked to return for another 52 episodes, he enthusiastically replied, “I’d get right to work – I’m Zog, and I’ll make sure I’m heard!”

The Zog series starts on CBeebies on Monday 18 May.

Authors

Helen DalyDeputy Digital Editor

Helen Daly is TopMob’s Deputy Digital Editor, where she leads new projects and business ventures. Before joining TopMob, she worked as a Deputy TV Editor for a national magazine. She holds a BA in English Literature and a Master’s degree in Media & Journalism from Newcastle University.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-05-17 10:36