Brian Herring

Television

In 1992 having had no previous experience, Brian joined ITV’s huge satirical hit Spitting Image as an apprentice puppeteer.  This lead on to work for Children’s BBC (later known as CBBC and CeeBeeBeeies).

Having worked as an assistant on Cartoon Critters for CBBC and Roger and the Rotten Trolls for CITV and the Children’s Company  Brian began winning roles as a performer in his own right.

Work on The Magic House, The Big Garage (on which he was also a puppet coordinator) and Wizadora followed and in 1998 by The Animal Magic Show for CBBC once more.  Co-presented with Dominic Wood,  Brian wrote many episodes of the programme which received a BAFTA nomination in 2000.

It was around this time Brian joined the Jim Henson Company for Mopatop’s Shop.  A Muppet-based show for pre-schoolers written and produced by Jocelyn Stevenson.  Throughout  it’s four series Brian played Father Mouse and any number of guest customers, which challenged his vocal range and collection of character voices!

Construction Site followed the adventure of a group of construction vehicles in a world where no humans were ever seen.  Jim Henson’s Creature Shop designed and built  the animatronic stars.  Using state of the art radio control systems these machines were performed live on a scaled down set.   Brian played Diggs the somewhat over enthusiastic hero of the  show, providing the voice and facial performance.  It also ran for four series.

The Hoobs was commissioned by Channel 4 in 1999 to run between 6 and 7am every weekday.  Brian joined the show after it’s first year taking over the role of  Hubba Hubba as well as providing lip sync and movement for Twang the Motorette.  He later assumed the role of Groove for the final block of the shows run. The Hoobs won a BAFTA in 2000.

Another BAFTA nominated show was CITV’s Barking. The adventures of a young girl and her somewhat opinionated talking dog.  Brian performed Georgie the dog, built by Neil Scanlan Studios and voiced by Will Mellor.

One of the trio of rock and roll rats ‘The Jingles’ in CeeBeeBees 2007 show Space Pirates provided Brian the opportunity to sing and drum in a rock band!  This show earned another BAFTA nomination and it’s theme tune rose to the top of the iTunes children’s download chart!

In 2008 Brian joined the cast of What’s Your News? The first TV show to employ motion-capture, live voice performance, simultaneous digital puppetry and video streaming.  This led onto work on ITV’s Headcases. For more on both of these productions, please go to the Digital page of the site.

2010 saw Brian joining the cast of the multi award winning pre-school literacy show Bookaboo .  Brian played new character Paws (center), the excitable keyboard player.

Brian kicked off 2011 by playing Jimmy the Penguin in CITV’s Annabel’s Kitchen.  This fun cookery show stars renown children’s nutritionist and author Annabel Karmel O.B.E and features Rebecca Negan as Pearl the Penguin.  The show currently runs twice daily on Mini CITV and ITV1.

‘What’s Your News?’ also returned in 2011.  As well as playing Anthony and Peek Brian took on the role of roving reporter Gi Ant.  This involved overlaying mo-cap performaces onto pre-recorded footage.

WYN will air in Canada on the CBC.