The BBC has released exclusive behind-the-scenes images of Zog, a friendly orange dragon who stars in a new animated comedy from the creators of The Gruffalo. The series aims to teach young children about empathy, bravery, and managing emotions like grief and anxiety.
First TV Series from Donaldson and Scheffler
Zog marks the first television series from iconic duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, known for their beloved book The Gruffalo. The show encourages children to Be More Zog as they follow the dragon's adventures.
The voice cast includes Patsy Ferran (Miss Austen), Samson Kayo (House of the Dragon), and Will Merrick (Skins), alongside Anthony O'Donnell and Colin McFarlane. The series premieres this weekend and is based on the award-winning films Zog and Zog and the Flying Doctors, which featured voices from Sir Lenny Henry, Kit Harington, and Rob Brydon.
Plot and Themes
The Zog books follow a dragon who works as a flying air ambulance with Doctor Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout the Great, treating patients across a fantastical world. The books have sold 5.5 million copies worldwide, second only to The Gruffalo.
Each episode of the TV series presents a new care challenge, from an ogre sprouting mushrooms to a unicorn with anxiety, a rock monster, naughty gnomes, and a judgmental fish. Ailments range from laughing disease to dance fever.
Patsy Ferran, who voices Princess Pearl, said: “The show’s ambition to create something that is both entertaining and sophisticated with nuanced humour, profound lessons, beautiful animation and aspirational characters is something to be admired. There’s one episode that’s incredibly moving. It encourages compassion and understanding. An acknowledgement that life can sometimes be difficult and that’s okay.”
Samson Kayo, who plays Zog, added: “I have always been a fan of Julia Donaldson books growing up so it was a no brainer when I was asked to be a part of her Multiverse. Zog is not the most polished flying doctor, but he teaches us that anything is possible.”
Will Merrick, who plays Sir Gadabout, said: “The message of the scripts is so clear and positive, to try to be nicer to each other, to realise we all make mistakes. To be kind.”
Production Challenges
The 52-episode CGI series presented unique challenges. Series director Sarah Scrimgeour explained: “The Magic Light Picture specials are beautifully crafted, lovingly made films - and they take a long time to make, for good reason. A 52-part series is a completely different beast. You’re trying to maintain a similar level of quality and charm, but at a pace that is genuinely relentless. It's a constant balancing act, and one you never really stop thinking about. We wanted to create something warm, tactile and almost handmade - like stop-motion, rather than using technology for the sake of it.”
She added: “What's special about Zog is that it deals with very real, sometimes quite complex emotions - anxiety, loneliness, insecurity, even grief - but it does so in a way that's accessible and gentle, without ever losing its sense of fun and adventure. That’s a hard balance to strike. I hope kids come away feeling like they've made new friends. I'm proud of the themes we tackle. This isn't a conventional kids' show that plays it safe.”
Series producer Vici King noted: “I have always felt there was a world beyond the Zog and the Flying Doctors book. These characters and these books/films set up a world ripe for stories with beautiful values about caring for others and being true to yourself. We made the second film during the pandemic which felt very poignant, when healthcare professionals were heroes. When Julia expressed interest after the second film was released, we jumped at the chance to explore what a series could be.”
Zog begins on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 17th May at 12.20pm, and on CBeebies on Monday 18th May at 4.50pm.
