Thats right, hes not a real pig.
Ridings is a beautifully well-judged performance; just one of a number on his varied resume.
Probably not as much as you think.
Were on series five now so, I suppose, maybe 60 hours…?
Thats over a period of time since 2006.
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The first series was a hoot.
What a hoot, all those years ago.
How well do you remember that day?
Can you recall any of the initial guidance they were giving you?
It was mostly to do with keeping it very simple and clean.
Everything is very placed.
Indeed, the scripts are written like that.
That was the major note, if I remember, all those years ago.
Has your approach developed at all?
Years and years have passed by and yet, to a viewer, it all seems very cogent still.
I would call it a formula but that does it a disservice really.
A wonderful mixture that makes up a five minute Peppa story and theyve kept to it.
Theyve got a wonderful sense of humour, Mark and Neville who write them and oversee their other writers.
Why tamper with something that isnt broken?
Its gone beyond everyones favourite dreams, in terms of reach as well.
They got a lot of things right and they stuck with them.
Other than the clarity and crispness, what else do you bring to Daddy Pig?
Whats your sense of who he is?
I cant imagine Im being so pretentious about it.
[Both laugh]
When you read the scripts, you get the character right away.
Hes a warm and supportive daddy who will have a go at most things.
Theres something reassuring about this big comfortable sofa of a presence, and kindly.
In an age where, maybe, that isnt always to the fore too much.
Classic comedy, that.
I know what Im doing, then falling over on a banana skin.
A quintessentially British bang out, I think.
Weve had so many of those.
My dad passed away last year too, actually.
You would not believe how popular they were with the nurses and care staff.
It hammered home how much of an impactPeppa Pighas made.
I sometimes forget, then I run into somebody who has young children and they go nuts.
I suppose its a brand, isnt it?
Well, then theres really no limit to it.
A little pig thats genuinely crossing boundaries.
We all come from families and we all have a go at get along.
I was discussing this and we were wondering what the attention span of the target audience actually is.
I wonder if theyd even get away with something longer.
I think theyre right to keep it within the five minute format.
I think a continuing theme is okay, but I think theyre quite right to keep the format.
I dont think theres any worry about attention span.
I trust those chaps [the showmakers] with their instincts; theyve been very on-the-money before.
Ben And Hollyis a slightly longer format, which allows for a slightly longer story.
And I was thinkingThe Big Knightsis longer again.
You knowThe Big Knights?
I think its fabulous.
I dont think theyve ever made something that isnt wonderful.
WhenThe Big Knightsplayed in some London cinemas a year or two ago it didnt really make any waves.
They seem to have just caught lightning in a bottle withPeppa Pig.
As good as all of these shows are, something somehow just pushedPeppaover the line.
All of the Astley Baker Davies characters are very appealing, very graphic, all very communicative.
I wonder if its because Peppa is an identification character?
I wonder if its not that?
Yes, Im sure thats a huge part of it.
I love creating characters on mic, but youre right, its efficient.
I did some great work with Andy Serkis, with the motion capture stuff.
I got paid a lovely compliment by Nick Butterworth, the childrens author.
We were doingQ-Pootle 5and he said I love watching you in the booth.
Its like watching a great blues player and I thought Whoah!
He said Youre always trying to find the right tone for the moment.
And Im lucky that Ive got this deep, resonant voice.
You have been blessed.
Its beautiful,Q-Pootle 5.
Its almost too good for TV, that wonderful rendering by Blue Zoo.
Almost like a feature film.
So, what happens next with you and Peppa?
Do you have a date to go back in?
Watch this space, as they say, but I dont have bookings on the calendar.
like they did before series five, then all of a sudden, series five came along.
I love doing them.
I love being in there, and Im very sad Im not in there recording them more.
That would have confused her too much.
Do you ever get recognised for that?
Its amazing what I get recognised for.
People do have amazing memories.
And I love talking to people about things I have done.
Im lucky to have done things I really like, so I never mind talking about them.
Did you ever see a show calledCommon As Muck?
Im very aware of it but never saw it.
Oh, the people who come up and talk about that one.
The reaction to that show is great.
A brilliant bit of writing from William Ivory.
Was it like that?
I was far removed from it if it was, but I think there were a few tensions.
I cant imagine those two guys seeing eye to eye.
Thats really all I can remember.
Gilliam is my favourite, I wont lie to you.
Get the demons out, get the demons out!
Put them back in!
[Both laugh again]
Richard, thank you once again.
Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience is in UK cinemas from today.
