Danger Mouse. Copyright: FremantleMedia
Danger Mouse

Danger Mouse

  • TV sitcom
  • CBBC
  • 2015 - 2019
  • 97 episodes (2 series)

Reboot of the classic cartoon series, with Alexander Armstrong as the voice of Danger Mouse and Kevin Eldon as Penfold. Also features Dave Lamb, Stephen Fry, Shauna MacDonald, Ed Gaughan, Marc Silk and Morwenna Banks

Kevin Eldon interview

Danger Mouse. Copyright: FremantleMedia
Danger Mouse. Penfold. Copyright: FremantleMedia

Kevin Eldon is Penfold in the new series of Danger Mouse...

How would you describe your character?

I would describe Penfold as a hamster character, who is a hamster. He is a lovely little fellow, who veers towards the cute. Unfortunately though for him, being a secret agent and a sidekick to a superhero, he is a bit of a scaredy-cat. He's a bit of a nervous Nelly, but he's incredibly loyal and faithful to Danger Mouse. He's always protected by Danger Mouse and he does what he can to help out Danger Mouse. Although he can be a bit of a liability sometimes, he quite often saves the day, albeit inadvertently.

What's the relationship like between Penfold and Danger Mouse?

The relationship between the two is a bit like big brother and little brother. Penfold is very much the little brother and brings out the protective side of Danger Mouse but also has the ability to be really irritating and to make Danger Mouse really frustrated. Hence the catchphrase of Danger Mouse, 'shush, Penfold'. A sibling with a younger sibling has no doubt told the other sibling to 'shhhh, keep it down'. There's a very warm relationship between them and they basically love each other... without it getting mawkish.

What was your reaction when you heard you'd got the part of Penfold?

I was absolutely delighted, I really was because I liked the original and I think that it has stayed true to the original. It has kept its anarchic, slightly surreal, very inventive flavour. It was nice to see something so well written and it was nice to be a part of something that is a bit of an institution.

There's a whole generation of people in their 30s and even 40s who watched the originals and really liked it, so there a lot of people who are going to love seeing this come back. I think it's also going to bring in a whole new generation of people who are going to see this for the first time and are going to like it. I hope they will anyway!

Did you watch Danger Mouse when you were younger?

I did, but I wasn't a kid when I watched it. I was probably in my 20s but I did watch it because it didn't seem to be just a kids' show. It had some quite wacky ideas and I enjoyed its silliness and unpredictability.

How did you arrive on the voice of Penfold?

When I was auditioning for it, the brief was, 'you needn't go along the lines of Terry Scott who played the original Penfold'. I tried a few voices at home and the neighbours think I'm insane. But I just kept on going back to what Terry Scott did, and nothing in the lower register works because he's a little guy and he's nervous. I thought that Terry Scott had it right. I guess - if anything -because Terry put a bit of a poshness into Penfold's voice. But yes, it's up in the upper register and I have to have plenty of honey before I do the job and after. Obviously it has to have a nice contrast with Danger Mouse's voice as well.

Danger Mouse. Image shows from L to R: Penfold, Danger Mouse. Copyright: FremantleMedia

What's the best thing about being Penfold?

Being Penfold is fun to do. It's great trying to fill the shoes of someone who has done a really great job. That's a challenge which is always fun. It's great being involved in such mad adventures which take you all over the world, under the world, out of the world, and it's an adventure every time you record one of the adventures.

Can you tell us about some of the adventures that Penfold and Danger Mouse get embroiled in?

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but there is an episode where we find out one of Danger Mouse's very rare fears. I won't give anything away, but it's a particular creature and a giant example of this creature starts taking over the world so Danger Mouse has to face his own fear. That was a good one. There is another one where the toilets of the world rise up against humanity and an episode where Penfold is replaced by a robot, another one where there's an evil Penfold. There are so many because we're recorded over 50 episodes - it's hard to pick a favourite. They're all so different. We record weeks apart and sometimes do three or four episodes a day and before you've got time to think about what you've done, you've got the next lot to think about. We probably won't be able to fully appreciate what we've done until we see it finished.

Do you get animated in the recording studio?

I've noticed we all get very animated when we're recording the lines and I think that's because you get swept up in what's happening, as you read it. You imagine what's happening. And also, to make the voice sound like it's in those situations which are often physically quite dramatic, you have to twist your body around and get that sense of effort to make it sound as if you're not just standing there reading in a box in Soho.

Do you find yourself in Penfold-type poses as you're delivering your lines?

No, I don't think I do. I find myself in 'tortured artist' pose, trying to deliver the truth.

Is there a favourite line or moment from your character?

Yes, 'crumbs'! If he had to have one catchphrase, I think that would be it...or 'crikey'! Both are exclamations of surprise and or horror, which sum up Penfold - he's usually surprised, horrified or very happy.

Published: Sunday 6th September 2015

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