Original Bob the Builder voice reveals return after 15 years: ‘Trip down memory lane’

The original star behind Bob the Builder, Neil Morrissey, is donning the (animated) overalls once more after 15 years away (from the building site?)

The actor voiced the beloved children’s character for 14 years, from 1998 to 2011. The theme tune for the show: ‘Bob the Builder! / Can we fix it? / Bob the Builder! / Yes, we can’ remains a lasting earworm for an entire generation.

Now he’s back to solve all our problems, although not with a hammer in hand this time – he’s got far more advanced gadgets nowadays.

In a new campaign with E.ON, E.ON Next, he’s been telling viewers what he’s been up to over the past decade-and-a-half since putting down the toolbox.

He’s been doing some yoga, got into the chicest hobby around, birdwatching, and travelled around Australia seeing some of the biggest sites around.

Now he’s back on home turf and ‘upskilling’ and learning how to install solar panels at the Net Zero Training Academy, with plenty of callbacks to ‘fixing things’ during the advert.

‘The facility provides training in technologies including solar panels, battery storage systems, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and low-carbon heating solutions,’ EON explains.

Reflecting on what it means to reprise this role, Neil told Metro: ‘It’s been an absolute pleasure stepping back into Bob’s boots.

‘There aren’t many characters who are still recognised and remembered years after they first appeared on screen, so it’s been fantastic to revisit a role that means so much to so many people.

‘Bringing Bob back with this E.ON Next campaign has been a real trip down memory lane, and I hope it brings a smile to everyone who grew up watching him.

‘The world has changed a lot since Bob first appeared on our screens, but the need for people to learn new skills and build in a sustainable way is still as important as ever, if not even more so. That’s exactly what Bob is all about.’

As for what’s next for Bob, we’ll have to wait and see. Will he be back to building on our screens?

There was a short-lived revival of the show from 2015-2018, but since then, the childhood character has been notably off-air.

As for why they decided to bring Bob the Builder back, Chief People Officer of EON, Helen Bradbury, said: ‘Bob the Builder has always inspired people to solve problems and build things that matter. Today, those same qualities are needed to help deliver the UK’s transition to clean power.’

She called him a ‘shining example’ of ‘how we can make new energy work for everyone.’