Topsy and Tim stars look unrecognisable nine years after hit BBC kids show ended
THE faces of CBeebies show Topsy and Tim are all grown up and viewers can’t believe their eyes.
Stars of the children’s TV series Jocelyn Macnab, 19, and Joshua Lester, 18, took on the role of the loveable twins in the first live drama to air on the platform from 2013-2015.
The duo took part in an online video to celebrate its 10-year anniversary hosted by director Jack Jameson and users were amazed at how much they’d changed.
One fan commented: “Is that Topsy? She’s beautiful.”
A second added: “I feel so old!”
A third agreed: “Loved watching this with my kids. Time flies!”
The popular adventure series is based on a 5-year-old twin boy and girl, but suitable siblings weren’t found during the BBC search and the parts went to Jocelyn and Joshua.
Maidstone-born Jocelyn and Joshua, from North London, made their debut in the programme aged just 7 and went onto star alongside on-screen parents, EastEnders star Anna Acton and Fool Me Once actor Chris Hannon.
Jocelyn has also appeared in Hetty Feather, Southcliffe, The Fear, and Not Going Out.
Speaking about their favourite memories from filming, Joshua said: “The first time I did secret Santa was December of 2013 with the Topsy and Tim crew.
“I remember getting Graham the lighting gaffer as my Secret Santa. Eight-year-old Josh thought a light bulb was something he would’ve liked, it was.”
Jocelyn recalled: “My favourite episode to film was Birthday Party, because of all the party food and games, so for an 8-year-old it didn’t really feel like filming, more just like having fun for a day.”
The books were first created by Jean, now 96, and her late husband Gareth Adamson and were first published in 1960.
They were relaunched in 2003 and have sold more than 21 million copies worldwide.
Jean previously explained where her inspiration for the book came from and how she wanted the twins to have ‘an equal’ role.
She said: “We don’t need magic because all the world is magic to children.
“I said: ‘Let’s do something for the modern world with real-life children’.”
“I would do the basic subject research and layout and I would sketch out the bare bones of the plot.
“Gareth would then take over and produce a beautifully crafted storyline. I would then do the illustrations. We made a very good team.”
In other TV news, the BBC has confirmed that beloved kids’ show Balamory is set to make a comeback.
The fictional town of Balamory charmed audiences in the early 2000s.
Now it is set to return to screens for a brand new series on CBeebies, which will start airing in 2026.