How a British secret agent hamster returned to save the world in 2015

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: More than two decades after the original run concluded, the world's greatest secret agent returned to television. This reimagining of the classic series updated the animation style and expanded the cast, quickly becoming the highest-rated show on CBBC. Discover the mechanics behind this successful revival of a beloved British icon.

The 2015 revival of Danger Mouse was a major undertaking, with development beginning in 2013 and involving original co-creator Brian Cosgrove as a creative consultant. Produced by FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment and Boulder Media, the show aimed to modernize the classic 1981 series while maintaining its core spirit. The production team opted for Toon Boom Harmony software, rejecting Flash as too restrictive for their creative vision. The series premiered on September 28, 2015, and within three weeks, it reached 2.4 million viewers, securing its status as the top-rated program on the CBBC channel.

The show features a star-studded voice cast, including Alexander Armstrong as the titular hero and Kevin Eldon as his neurotic hamster sidekick, Penfold. Significant character updates were made, most notably with Professor Squawkencluck, who transitioned from a male German-accented mole in the original series to a female Scottish chicken scientist. The antagonist, Baron Silas von Greenback, remains the primary threat, supported by his dim-witted henchman Stiletto Mafiosa and his deceptively intelligent caterpillar, Nero. The narrator continues the tradition of breaking the fourth wall, often finding himself in peril alongside the protagonists.

Beyond the television screen, the franchise expanded into a vast multimedia ecosystem. This included a mobile game, 'The Danger Games,' released in 2017, and a live stage show titled 'Robo Mop' that toured Butlins holiday parks. The brand also saw extensive merchandising, ranging from monthly magazines published by D.C. Thomson & Co. to a variety of books from Penguin. Ownership of the series shifted in 2018 when Boat Rocker Media acquired FremantleMedia’s kids and family division, ensuring the continued management of the secret agent's legacy across global streaming platforms like Netflix and CBS All Access.

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