BBC & Aardman Launch ‘Shaun the Sheep’ S7 Amid 30th Anniversary Baa-nanza

The BBC celebrates Shaun the Sheep’s 30th anniversary year with the launch of a brand new season of the hit show on Saturday,  May 24 on CBBC, BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Produced by multi-award-winning independent studio Aardman (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run), the woolly hero is back for more madcap stop-motion adventures with the flock.

Shaun the Sheep follows the exploits of Shaun, the long-suffering, loyal sheepdog Bitzer and the flock at Mossy Bottom Farm. It features classic Shaun the Sheep scenarios — relatable, everyday situations with a rural twist — spun into comedy gold by the flock.

Vocal effects are by CBeebies star Justin Fletcher (Shaun the Sheep, Timmy, the Pigs and Mowermouth) and comedian and actor John Sparkes (Farmer, Bitzer and Bitzer’s Dad), with a theme tune sung by Vic Reeves.

“It’s a real joy to be marking Shaun the Sheep’s 30th anniversary with brand-new episodes on the BBC — our longtime creative partner,” said Sarah Cox, Chief Creative Director at Aardman. “This new series continues to celebrate Shaun and the flock’s unique blend of warm and witty mischief through visual storytelling that aims to entertain all ages.”

Season 7 launches with a double episode, “Shirleyverse,” on CBBC and BBC One at 3:30 p.m. — a heartwarming tale about learning to value a friend. Everything Shaun knows and loves comes into question, when he impulsively wishes away his pal Bitzer the dog.

In celebration of the anniversary and as part of the special TV event, BBC One and CBBC will warm up for the S7 debut with Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave, Aardman’s Academy Award-winning short which first introduced the character Shaun the Sheep to audiences in 1995 (3 p.m., May 24).

The season premiere will be follows on BBC One by the most recent Wallace & Gromit film, Vengeance Most Fowl (3:45 p.m.), which became the most-watched program in the U.K. over Christmas. On CBBC, the double-episode launch will be followed by Shaun the Sheep back-to-back episodes (3:45 p.m.) and Shaun the Sheep Movie (5:00 p.m.)

“We’re so proud of our longstanding relationship with Aardman, supporting British animation and bringing families more Shaun the Sheep adventures,” said Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s & Education. “As you would expect, the new episodes are brilliantly characterized and full of British humor, as we celebrate this very special anniversary year by bringing audiences together to be entertained by Shaun and his pals.”

The new season of Shaun the Sheep launches the same day as the broadcast premiere on BBC iPlayer, May 24. Additional episodes will debut 7 a.m. weekdays from Monday, May 26 on CBBC.

Shaun the Sheep Season 7 was commissioned by Director of BBC Children’s & Education Patricia Hidalgo and Sarah Muller, Senior Head of Commissioning and Acquisitions 7+. Lucy Pryke is the Commissioning Executive for BBC Children’s. WDR Germany is co-producer of the series.

The show, which was originally created by Richard Starzak, is directed by Seamus Malone (Lloyd of the Flies) and produced by Danny Gallagher (Robin Robin) with Jacqueline White as senior producer/executive producer, and Carla Shelley and Sarah Cox as studio executive producers.

Launched on BBC in 2007, Shaun the Sheep is currently broadcast in 170 territories around the world and boasts a flock of 6 million fans on social media. In 2015 the first Shaun the Sheep Movie with feature film partner Studiocanal was released around the world to critical acclaim and the first half hour TV special aired as part of many broadcasters’ festive season. The feature film sequel Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon was released in October 2019 and nominated for an Academy Award.  The festive special Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas was released in December 2021.