Shaun the Sheep Returns for 30th Anniversary with New Season on BBC
LONDON — Beloved stop-motion character Shaun the Sheep is set to return with a brand-new seventh season on Saturday, May 24, marking the show’s 30th anniversary. The season premieres with a special double episode titled “Shirleyverse,” airing at 3:30 p.m. BST on CBBC and BBC One. It will also be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer the same day (BBC Media Centre, 2025).
Produced by Aardman Animations in collaboration with the BBC, the new season features 20 episodes filled with the delightful antics of Shaun, his loyal sheepdog Bitzer, and the rest of the flock at Mossy Bottom Farm. The premiere episode, “Shirleyverse,” explores themes of friendship and self-discovery as Shaun impulsively wishes away his best friend, leading to unexpected consequences (Aardman, 2025).
The series continues Aardman’s tradition of combining visual storytelling with quintessential British humor. Vocal effects are provided by Justin Fletcher and John Sparkes, while the iconic theme tune is performed by Vic Reeves (BBC Media Centre, 2025).
Celebrating Shaun the Sheep’s Legacy
“We’re so proud of our longstanding relationship with Aardman, supporting British animation and bringing families more Shaun the Sheep adventures,” said Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s & Education. “As you would expect, the new episodes are brilliantly characterised and full of British humour” (BBC Media Centre, 2025).
Sarah Cox, Chief Creative Director at Aardman, added, “It’s a real joy to be marking Shaun the Sheep’s 30th anniversary with brand-new episodes on the BBC — our longtime creative partner. This new series continues to celebrate Shaun and the flock’s unique blend of warm and witty mischief through visual storytelling that aims to entertain all ages” (Aardman, 2025).
To commemorate the anniversary, BBC One and CBBC will air the Academy Award-winning film “Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave” at 3:00 p.m. BST on May 24, the film that introduced Shaun the Sheep to audiences in 1995. Following the premiere of “Shirleyverse,” BBC One will broadcast “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” at 3:45 p.m. BST, while CBBC will feature back-to-back Shaun the Sheep episodes and “Shaun the Sheep Movie” at 5:00 p.m. BST (BBC Media Centre, 2025).
Where and When to Watch
New episodes of Shaun the Sheep will continue to air weekdays at 7:00 a.m. BST on CBBC, starting Monday, May 26 (Aardman, 2025).
Citation Sources:
- BBC Media Centre. (2025, May 14). BBC and Aardman launch new series of Shaun the Sheep as beloved character celebrates 30-year anniversary. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2025/bbc-and-aardman-launch-new-series-of-shaun-the-sheep-30-year-anniversary
- Aardman Animations. (2025, May 13). Aardman and BBC Launch New Series of Shaun the Sheep. Retrieved from https://www.aardman.com/latest-news/2025/may/aardman-and-bbc-launch-new-series-of-shaun-the-sheep/
- Animation World Network. (2025, May 13). Season 7 of ‘Shaun the Sheep’ Launching May 24. Retrieved from https://www.awn.com/news/season-7-shaun-sheep-launching-may-24
Keywords:
Shaun the Sheep Season 7, Shaun the Sheep 30th Anniversary, BBC Shaun the Sheep, Aardman Animations, Wallace & Gromit, Shirleyverse, Mossy Bottom Farm, British Animation, Family Entertainment
