The voice behind Peppa’s Daddy Pig reveals how he keeps magic alive

THE British actor behind the world’s favourite TV pig family reveals why he likes to stay anonymous and the ‘magic’ behind his Daddy Pig character.

MEET DADDY PIG!

British actor Richard Ridings voices the part of Daddy Pig in Peppa Pig, one of the world’s most popular television series. But in real life, the only people who recognise him — are those under the age of five. And the occasional call centre worker.

“I was in the supermarket, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw this lovely little girl tugging on her mummy’s dress, saying, ‘Mummy, Mummy!” the actor explains. “About a minute later, the Mum said, ‘I don’t mean to be rude, but my daughter seems to think you might be Daddy Pig!’ And I had to confess.”

Ridings admits he does not like to do TV interviews or appearances — or even own up to being the voice behind the iconic character — for fear of ruining the fun for his small fans.

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Daddy Pig, with piglets Peppa and George. Picture: Supplied.

“[My publicist] keeps asking me if I will do a TV interview for ABC [in Australia]. But I don’t like to do visual interviews. Because I like to keep the magic alive. No one wants to see a hairy fifty year-old man — They want to see Daddy Pig!” he says.

Peppa Pig is big business. The show has been translated into over 40 languages, and airs in 170 countries worldwide.

British actor Richard Ridings voices the part of Daddy Pig in Peppa Pig. Picture: Supplied

In 2015 the brand was estimated to be worth close to £1 billion, with the three creators, Mark Baker, Neville Astley and Phil Davies earning a staggering £47 million each when they sold a 70 per cent share of the business that same year.

Although he hasn’t yet been approached, Ridings says he is sure there are more series in the works, despite the fact it’s been a year since he recorded the last one.

Peppa Pig and family, ABC. Picture: Supplied.

“I thought the fifth series was going to be the last one, but already they are talking about doing more,” he says. “The last thing I heard was, I think, that in China, it’s gone big. And apparently Russia is next on the horizon.”

So what is it that audiences connect with? After all, isn’t it just a simple animation about a family of pigs?

“I think it’s popular for a number of reasons,” Ridings explains. “I always remember what my Mum used to say — because she used to love watching it in her eighties and nineties, before she passed on — she said, ‘I have to have half an hour of Peppa every day, because it calms me down.’

“And that’s what they have managed to achieve — something that is calming in this modern world we are living in, which can feel quite brutal at times.

“And I think that is one of Daddy Pig’s strengths as well — he has a very reassuring quality to him.”