Disney UK today announced that artist Alesha Dixon is to lend her voice to its award-winning preschool series Doc McStuffins. The show follows the adventures of a six-year-old girl called Doc, who communicates with and heals stuffed animals and broken toys out of her backyard playhouse clinic.
Alesha Dixon stars as Winnie, an antique tiger with a love for inflating balloons who has lost her puff in the episode Winded Winnie, which will premiere on Disney Junior early next year.
Alesha follows in the footsteps of the show’s previous high-profile celebrity guest stars, including First Lady Michelle Obama and Downton Abbey stars Joanne Froggatt and Lesley Nicol. In the episode Winded Winnie, Doc realises Winnie (Alesha Dixon) has some dust in her which is making it hard to breathe. Doc helps to calm Winnie down, and removes the dust so Winnie is able to blow up balloons again, and help the toys have a fabulous party.
Starring a little girl named Doc who can talk to toys and stuffed animals, Doc and her friends Stuffy, Lambie, Hallie and Chilly impart helpful tips about self-care and care for others, and help to chase away the worries over visiting the doctor. As well as inspiring children, girls especially identify with Doc McStuffins which models good health, hygiene, compassion and nurturing for young children. The hit preschool series, now in its third season remains a strong performer on Disney Junior in the UK, ranking as the number two most watched show on the channel*, with 4.4 million viewers tuning in to watch the show between July and September 2015.**
Alesha said of her new role: “Doc McStuffins is such a powerful role model for young girls that I jumped at the chance to voice a character. It’s also one of my daughter’s favourite shows! I love that the catchy songs and warm characters from the series are able to teach young children about the importance of self-care, good health and caring for others in such an adorable way. I had a lot of fun in the studio voicing the character and I can’t wait for my little girl to see me on it next year!”
Check out an interview with Alesha below:
Since launch in 2012, the show has proven a hit with children and adults alike, and has twice been nominated for Children’s BAFTA award. Earlier in 2015, the show won the prestigious Peabody Award in the Children/Youth category and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children’s Program. The continuing success of Doc McStuffins is testament to the fantastic storytelling and sensitive approach taken to highlighting what can be a daunting experience for young children when they visit the doctor. Parents and their children watch the show together, which in turn has helped to open up family dialogue about the importance of good health and compassion. The show continues to resonate with younger audiences with Doc McStuffins being the number one toy property in pre-school role play, and the number two licensed property in the pre-school category.***
Created and executive-produced by Humanitas Prize and Emmy Award-winning Chris Nee and directed by Emmy-winning Norton Virgien, Doc McStuffins is a production from Dublin, Ireland’s Brown Bag Films in association with Disney Junior. The Hollywood Health & Society division of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center serves as its health and medical consultants, advising on basic health issues that are relevant to young kids and families. Doc McStuffins airs every day on Disney Junior.
*With Individuals 4+ and kids aged 4-7
**Source: BARB/AdvantEdge, 28 day consolidated data, All Homes, 1 July-30 September 15
***NPD Data May 2015
