The iconic children's television show Balamory is making a comeback after nearly two decades, rekindling memories for a generation and potentially sparking a tourism boost for the Isle of Mull. The CBeebies show, which aired from 2002 until 2005, was based on a fictional pastel-hued island community and residents such as Miss Hoolie, PC Plum, Josie Jump, Edie McCredie and Archie the inventor. The Bafta-winning series, with its catchy songs, had 15million devotees worldwide and attracted two million viewers a week in Britain. The show's return, announced in 2024, has generated excitement among fans and cast members alike. Julie Wilson Nimmo, who played Miss Hoolie, described it as “the craziest and best news ever.” She added: “I seriously think this is bigger than the Oasis reunion. Everyone I know loves the show and has been missing it.” The new Balamory series is out to tender, but the BBC hopes some of the original cast will be part of it along with some fresh characters. The show is expected to return to its roots, with the action centering on a nursery and its teacher, but filming locations are still being determined. While Tobermory on the Isle of Mull remains a possibility, other Scots islands such as Rothesay are also under consideration. The wholesome series made stars of its cast, including Andrew Agnew, who was the island’s policeman PC Plum. Close friends Andrew and Julie went on to appear in BBC comedy Scot Squad and both would jump at the chance to return to Balamory. The return of Balamory has already sparked hopes for a resurgence in tourism on the Isle of Mull. During the show's original run, the colourful harbour front at Tobermory became a popular destination for Balamory fans. VisitScotland is optimistic that the show's return will lead to a similar boost in visitor numbers. A VisitScotland spokesperson said: “We know from our own research that visitors are inspired to travel to locations after seeing them on the big or small screen. Around one in five visitors to Scotland are motivated by film, tv and literature, with screen tourism being particularly popular with international visitors. When Balamory was first broadcast it drove many visitors to the colourful harbour front of Tobermory to follow in the footsteps of Miss Hoolie and the gang and explore the rest of the Isle of Mull. Its impact continued long after the series finished and was still mentioned by visitors as recently as our 2015 Scotland Visitor Survey. It’s too early to say whether this new series could spark a similar reaction, but we look forward to seeing how it develops.” The two new series will consist of 10 episodes each, and further information and cast details will be announced in due course. It is expected that the new series will be set in the picturesque village of Balamory where pretty, coloured houses nestle around a charming harbour, with stories centred around a nursery school and their teacher. BBC Children’s and Education are interested in ideas from producers where some of the original characters will be included in the series alongside a host of new faces for preschoolers to get to know. The return of Balamory promises to bring a wave of nostalgia for those who grew up watching it and introduces a new generation to the brightly colored world of Balamory. The show's return could be a boon for tourism in the Isle of Mull, as families look to visit the real-life setting that inspired the beloved children's show.