‘Replacing the legendary Peter Sallis in Wallace and Gromit was very daunting’
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Wallace and Gromit are back this Christmas with their first film in 1t years. The cheese-obsessed inventor and his sidekick return to the BBC in Vengeance Most Fowl, which marks the first full length project without the late Peter Sallis. The veteran actor, who died aged 96 in 2017, voiced first voiced the character in 1989’s A Grand Day Out, reprising the role in 1993’s The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave two years later.
![[Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock (716480s) Peter Sallis Investiture at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain - 28 Nov 2007]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234126918-8aaf.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
He was at the helm for Wallace and Gromit’s feature length debut (2005’s Curse of the Were-Rabbit) and 2008’s A Matter of Loaf and Death, but by 2010 he stepped down as his eyesight began to fail. He retired from acting two years later with Ben Whitehead, 47, stepping into the role, himself an Aardman veteran who was also part of the Were-Rabbit cast.
‘Very daunting, I’d say,’ Ben exclusively told Metro about his first Wallace and Gromit film in the title role. ‘But I didn’t show it so much, because I was turning up so excited for every single recording session.’. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video.
![[**IMAGE OUTSIDE OF SUBSCRIPTION DEAL, FEES APPLY, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT MANAGER** Mandatory Credit: Photo by Joanne Davidson/REX/Shutterstock (7548527m) Uk Premiere of 'Wallace and Gromit the Curse of the Were Rabbit' at the Odeon Leicester Square Peter Sallis Who Plays the Voice of Wallace with Wallace and Gromit Uk Premiere of 'Wallace and Gromit' the Curse of the Were Rabbit' at the Odeon Leicester Square - 02 Oct 2005]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234126905-f107.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Up Next. The actor pointed out that ‘self doubt’ exists for everyone at some point, but as a performer ‘you just sort of get on with it’. Despite working alongside Sallis and being close to the Last of the Summer Wine actor before his death, Ben didn’t ask for advice on playing Wallace once he started taking over the part.
![[TELEVISION PROGRAMME...WALLACE & GROMIT: A GRAND DAY OUT... Picture Shows: Wallace TX: Friday, 13 April, BBC ONE. The first of Nick Park's award-winning animated Wallace & Gromit adventures sees our heroes so short of cheese that a trip to the moon is called for! WARNING: This copyright image may be used only to publicise current BBC programmes or other BBC output. Any other use whatsoever without specific prior approval from the BBC may result in legal action. ...BBC ONE Unmanipulated picture Friday, 13 April]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IP_1314247-1f8d.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
