Balamory reimagined: what would the Scottish kids' TV programme look like in 2021?

Those who were nursery age in the noughties will certainly remember Balamory, the eccentric TV program that appeared across BBC channels for a number of years. Its catchy theme tune was destined to be stuck in your head, probably for the rest of your life.

‘What’s the story in Balamory, wouldn’t you like to know?’ is quite possibly something that still haunts kids (and parents) of the era today and, along with some of the show’s other 17 songs, was the early noughties’ version of ‘Baby Shark’.

The eight Isle of Mull-based characters may be a distant memory now, but we’ve given them a whole new lease of life, reimagining them as if they were of the Millennial generation some 10 years later. So what would the cast of Balamory look like if the programme were made today?

Archie the Inventor

Originally, Archie was a quirky character who lived in a pink castle and made his own creations out of all sorts of household objects including bottles and yoghurt pots.

These days, Archie has founded a Kickstarter platform where he helps small businesses realise their dreams, with recycling and eco-friendly projects being his particular passion. He does his bit for the planet and drives a Tesla, which is branded with his company ‘Achieve With Archie’ logo. He has a man bun and beard, and wears trendy glasses - the weirder the better and quite often the result of successful eBay bidding. Despite #hipster falling out of the buzzword dictionary, he still epitomises what we all think of when we hear the word!

Josie Jump

Originally, Josie Jump was the fitness instructor at the local primary school and made fitness fun for the kids on the island. She was always seen coaching all sorts of sports from gymnastics to dance and inspired young kids to get active.

Now, she has taken the fitness world by storm as an Instagram sensation @justjosiejump. Josie has racked up over a million followers and has since launched a world-class workout app AND a must-have sportswear range getting her a mention on the Forbes ‘30 under 30’ list in 2020. Keep your eyes peeled for her book dropping in 2021, detailing how she went from primary school PE teacher to an absolute icon for those aged 8-80 in just a few short years: #goals.

Miss Hoolie

Miss Hoolie was the nursery school teacher with an iconic hairdo. She was often the person holding the community together; the ‘mum’ of the programme.

In 2021, Miss Hoolie runs her own forest school where people from all over the UK flock to for some outdoor adventure. Her screen-free policy is her USP, she has a wholesome mantra and no two days are ever the same - except for the fact you’ll ALWAYS find her in a quirky pair of Lucy & Yak dungarees. She and Josie Jump are best friends and run kids' camps every summer where they sleep out under the stars, toast marshmallows on the fire and grow veggies at the local allotment.

Eadie McCredie

Eadie McCredie was the lady who drove the school bus and told the kids all sorts of stories on their daily commute to school. She was also the island's motor mechanic.

2021 Eadie McCredie lives and loves the work-from-home van life and is 100% about work/life balance. She is an avid wearer of Dr Marten boots, and embraces island life and the relaxed attitude that comes with it. Think outdoor showers, portable stove and bamboo travel mug! With the help of Archie, she has her own start-up converting old motor vehicles into ultimate glamping experiences including: a fire engine, a double decker bus and a fishing boat. Follow her over at @McCredies_Motorhomes for Pinterest-worthy van life inspo!

Spencer the Painter

Originally Spencer was responsible for painting the coloured houses of Balamory. He was into music and dance, and was the only American to reside in Balamory.

In 2021, Spencer is a stay-at-home dad who is often found sewing a tutu for the girls’ ballet recitals; in fact, they are so good he has a queue of mums and dads wanting the same - watch this space! He is multi-talented with awesome cooking skills and he keeps his passion for music alive by performing a DJ set at the local club once a week as well as regularly uploading dance routines to his TikTok channel. Miss Hoolie also books him for every school disco! He is still the local handyman, repainting the Balamory pastel houses yearly.

PC Plum

Back in 2002, PC Plum was the island's police officer who aspired to be a master detective; he loved everything about rules, regulations and safety!

Now, he has his own true crime podcast ‘Solving Plums’ where tens of thousands tune in weekly to listen to his conspiracy theories and attempts to solve crime mysteries. This is the perfect disguise - he is actually an undercover detective, a modern-day Sherlock Holmes who lives and breathes unravelling mysteries. Can’t find Plum? He will be glued to Netflix crime documentaries, streaming ‘Crime Junkie’ or reading the complete works of Agatha Christie.

Suzie Sweet

Suzie Sweet ran the local village shop with Penny Pocket; she is the island’s much-needed grandmother figure.

Now, Suzie Sweet could be described as a mix of Sandy Toksvig and Prue Leith - she does run the island’s annual baking comp after all! You’ll never see her out of her tartan blazer, and she never has a hair out of place. Whilst she’s still the go-to Granny on the island, her real baby is the village shop and she has set up ‘Sweet Drops’ - her own home delivery service. We heard she is a speedy driver, so keep an eye out for her van! 

Penny Pocket

Originally, Penny Pocket helped Suzie Sweet run the village shop. She used a wheelchair and was known for her talent in mathematics.

Today, Penny has her own vegan cafe ‘Penny’s Place’ - the new hotspot for Instagrammers who come to see her perfectly decorated patisseries. You’ll find her customers snapping arty pics and eating bottomless brunch - her main sell-out being smashed avo on toast! When she isn’t in the cafe, she can be found over on her YouTube channel Pennys_Place (201k followers) uploading videos on everything from vintage fashion and food (obv) to disability issues, LGBT+ topics and history.

We don’t know about you, but we want to jump straight back to being kids and watch Balamory 2021!

Stay in a cottage on a Scottish Island

If you are interested in visiting the Isle of Mull, make sure you browse our collection of Mull cottages which can offer a lovely base for you to go and explore the village of Tobermory yourself. You may even spot our much-loved stars!

Why not explore the other Scottish Islands too? The options for coastal island breaks in Scotland are endless with our range of Scotland holiday cottages, and you will love the island communities and relaxed way of life. 

*New characters were thought up by the team at Cottages and Castles, but were expanded ideas taken from the original Balamory characters.