Wet Leg, Ezra Collective, and Rivers Cuomo to star in new CBeebies show, Yukee

Star guests and stories include: Wet Leg who appear as a travelling troupe of snails called The Slime Sisters proving that the most important instrument of all is your voice; Ezra Collective, who are cast as travelling jazz musicians Ezy and Ray in an episode all about improvisation and taking inspiration from the music unexpected of places; Maisie Peters who plays a mouse that’s become lost in the garden and needs a musical map to find her way home. The BBC's own Lauren Laverne plays a roving reporter called Roxie Rabbit.

Yukee also features the legendary voice of PP Arnold, playing the first mouse of Soul, none other than Cleo Nibbles; Dame Evelyn Glennie, who plays a percussive woodpecker called TipTop in an episode all about listening skills and rhythm; Rivers Cuomo (Weezer) who crash lands into the garden as a musician pigeon called Feathers (with a guitar called Wheezy) needing the right beat so he can learn to flap his wings again; And the iconoclastic-voiced Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) - who comes into the garden as a rapping fox called Bushy T, teaching old school hip-hop skipping songs. Sam Carter (Architects) plays Hoops Van Badger, the king of rock, in an episode all about loud and quiet music.

Kate Morton, Senior Head of Commissioning for BBC Children’s 0-6, said: “Fusing entertainment and education for preschool children across the UK is a key part of our strategy – and there is no better way to do this than through having fun with music! Yukee’s world isn’t just about music, it’s also about friendships and connecting with the natural world around her giving a strong foundation for lifelong learning and enjoyment. We’re thrilled to have such amazing musical talent on board and to be collaborating with a brilliant production team in Northern Ireland on this project.”

PP Arnold added: "I was delighted to be asked to be a part of the Yukee series that introduces young children to music in such a fun, inspirational way. It was my pleasure to share my love of Soul Music through the character of the darling ‘Cleo Nibbles’ the Soul Mouse. I hope that Cleo Nibbles will be the catalyst to opening the door for the children to discover this genre of music that comes from Gospel music and the Blues, the root of Rock and Roll and Pop music.”