Inside Balamory’s return as Miss Hoolie icon Julie Wilson Nimmo reveals “really emotional” moment of revival series

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Julie Wilson Nimmo remembers the very first thing she filmed for the children’s show Balamory. It was a simple wave to the camera in front of Miss Hoolie’s green cottage in Tobermory, the colourful Scottish town where the series was filmed. This scene was used for the opening credits when the show first aired in 2002.

She was 29 years old and a new mother to seven-month-old Benny. She brought him and her parents along on a trip to the Isle of Mull. She recalls seeing them from the corner of her eye – her parents and little boy were just across the road.

Twenty years after originally filming it, Wilson Nimmo was overcome with emotion while recreating the same scene for the new version of Balamory on CBeebies – something she never expected to do.

I used to worry about getting older and feeling my age, but a producer set me straight, reminding me that dwelling on it wasn’t helpful. She was right. It’s wonderful to see myself reflected on screen, and I’ve developed a lot, both as an actor and as a person, during this experience.

Benny, whom Wilson Nimmo shares with her husband, actor Greg Hemphill, is now 24 years old. Their younger son, Chevy, is 20. Wilson was initially concerned that people wouldn’t realize she was Chevy’s mother when the show returned, but it seems he’s enjoying the connection. He’s been telling his university friends about the show’s return, and they all remember it!

Interestingly, Andrew Agnew, who played PC Plum in Balamory, is also the godfather of Chevy. Wilson Nimmo shared that despite his other work, his parents were most proud of his involvement with Balamory, constantly asking about its return. He says the show still brings them joy and holds a special place in his family’s hearts, recalling it as a wonderful period in their lives – a feeling that’s returned now.

Balamory is coming back to television on April 20th, giving a new generation of children the chance to enjoy the show. Two new series, each with 10 episodes, were filmed on location in Tobermory and in a Glasgow studio. Creator Wilson Nimmo hopes the show will find a place in today’s children’s TV lineup, and believes it will be up to kids to decide if it does.

We see a lot of computer-generated imagery and fantastic animation these days. But it would be wonderful if we could also hold children’s attention for a short time – maybe 14 or 15 minutes – with something as simple as people talking and interacting. It’s important to teach them values like kindness and acceptance, and to help them understand that everyone is different, but we can all live together harmoniously.

It’s understandably hard to keep people focused when technology is constantly competing for their attention. As a parent, this is a real concern – kids are glued to their phones. It’s a common struggle, even during family time. For example, one child might be on their phone at dinner while another claims they have an important call, which feels ironic when they’re supposed to be connecting with family and letting them know how they are doing.

Wilson Nimmo is hoping the updated Balamory will also resonate with those who enjoyed the original show. He describes it as a treat for longtime fans, and believes the timing is right, as many people are currently feeling nostalgic.

Now that her children have grown and left home, Wilson Nimmo lives in the charming seaside village of Elie, Scotland, with her husband. She spends her free time teaching yoga and helping people experience the benefits of cold water immersion.

She started her training at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) at age 17. She explains, “I went to drama school to become a respected actor, not to become famous. I just wanted to work steadily as an actor.” But she adds that the show Balamory unexpectedly transformed her career.

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When choosing which character to try out for in Balamory, the actress felt the strongest connection with Miss Hoolie. She really adored the character! She modeled Miss Hoolie after her former English teacher, Miss White, wanting to create someone children felt comfortable talking to and having fun with.

Miss White consistently attended Wilson Nimmo’s school plays. After seeing her perform in the musical Annie, she told Wilson she believed she had the potential for a career on stage. Wilson shared that Miss White’s encouragement was pivotal, as she hadn’t previously considered performing as a job. Miss White also helped Wilson overcome reading difficulties and significantly boosted her confidence. Wilson hopes everyone has a similarly impactful person in their life.

They still keep in touch—Miss White mentioned she plans to send a card letting the teacher know when the show is happening. She also said she felt honored to have inspired the teacher’s work.

Miss Hoolie looks a little different – she’s swapped her skirt for more comfortable clothes like trousers and trainers, and is now wearing her hair in waves instead of curls – but otherwise, it’s like she’s been away for no time at all. Wilson Nimmo apparently didn’t care for her old skirt!

Wilson Nimmo explains that she’s actually been working at the nursery the entire time. He describes her as deeply dedicated to her job, saying the nursery is her passion. He finds this admirable, noting that many women without children pour their energy into their careers, and he works with many successful women who do just that. She truly lives for the nursery and the children she cares for.

On the set of the show, Wilson Nimmo is always called Miss Hoolie – never Jules – to avoid confusing the young children, aged three to five, who appear in the filming and think they’re visiting a real nursery. Because of this, she feels it’s important to stay in character when meeting fans. “It’s simple, really, because that’s the name they recognize me by.”

After Balamory ended in 2005, Wilson Nimmo turned her attention to theatre. She describes herself as very different from her character, Miss Hoolie, explaining she often embraces emotional roles and enjoys crying during performances. For a while, she focused on more serious parts, before landing a role as a deadpan, witty detective in the comedy series Scot Squad.

She always made sure to keep Miss Hoolie separate from herself. Though people often asked her to appear as the character at events, she always refused, explaining that she didn’t become Miss Hoolie. She noticed people were disappointed when she said she couldn’t dress up as her, and they’d just say, ‘Oh, okay.’ She did a few book readings where event organizers mistakenly advertised her as Miss Hoolie, forcing her to clarify, ‘My name is Jules.’

She stopped for a moment and then said something that really struck me. She was happy that people still thought of her as Miss Hoolie, because that meant she’d done a good job! She’s so grateful to the show, Hoolie really opened up so many opportunities for her. While Wilson Nimmo is the actress, no one else could be Miss Hoolie, and I’m thrilled a whole new group of kids will get to love her, and those of us who grew up with Balamory can enjoy seeing her back on our screens.

Miss Hoolie’s nursery has been completely revamped for the new series! It’s now filmed in a bigger studio in Glasgow, and the set is designed to change with each episode. Julie Wilson Nimmo, who plays Miss Hoolie, has also become a keen gardener, so the set now includes an outdoor garden space. Fans might even spot a familiar item – her original green striped cardigan is displayed in a clear cupboard as a charming reminder of her past.

You realize you’re on a TV set when you glance up and see the massive lights. The child actors often notice them too, and Wilson Nimmo would usually give simple answers to their curious questions like, “Do people actually live here?”, “Why aren’t we going back to Balamory?”, and “Who do those belongings belong to?”

Andrew Agnew, Kim Tserkezie, and Juliet Cadzow are all back as PC Plum, Penny Pocket, and Edie McCredie, respectively. The original actors have stayed in touch through a WhatsApp group since the show first aired. Penny Pocket now owns and runs the village shop and café – it’s called Penny’s, but used to be known as Pocket and Sweet – and she’s sporting a new red color scheme.

She admits she wasn’t upset to move on from her turquoise velour tracksuit and visor. She feels red is a beautiful way to honor Suzie Sweet and the late Mary Riggans, both of whom they miss dearly. Penny has gained a lot of business knowledge from Suzie, so it’s a natural and positive progression that she’s taking over.

At the police station in Balamory, I grab a copy of the colorful Balamory Times and look at PC Plum’s neatly organized boxes. They’re labeled with things like “hopes,” “dreams,” “police pencils (every type!),” and “big padlocks.”

Agnew’s old bike, which he’s had for twenty years, was brought out of storage from Glasgow’s Riverside Museum so he could ride it again. “It’s like seeing an old friend,” he said, “It probably needed a quick tune-up after all that time.”

These characters feel like old friends. I was hesitant at first when asked to participate, but now it feels like a perfect fit – both new and comforting.

The show features updated costumes and some new characters. Joining the cast are William Andrews as the Harbour Master, Carl Spencer as vet Dr. Ollie, who lives with his two kids, and Danielle Jam as scientist and inventor Ava Potts. Ava is continuing the work of her father, Archie (played by Miles Jupp)—there’s even a portrait of them in her workshop, a quirky space filled with hanging planets and a large blackboard covered in plans for her latest invention: a biscuit-dunking machine powered by custard!

Jam says it’s wonderful to encourage children – particularly girls – who enjoy science, technology, engineering, and math, and to show them the possibilities these fields offer. Ultimately, she believes it all comes down to creativity – you can build anything you can imagine.

Balamory returns on Monday 20 April on CBeebies and iPlayer.

Authors

Laura Rutkowski

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2026-04-06 19:41