Bridgerton star Andoh to voice Old Bear stories

The Old Bear children's series by author and illustrator Jane Hissey will be released as audiobooks voiced by actor, director and "Bridgerton" star Adjoa Andoh.

Hissey's catalogue will be released on the Cloudaloud audiobook app in early 2022, with two Christmas titles — new story Little Bear and the Silver Star and bestseller Jolly Snow — publishing in December 2021. 

Cloudaloud has acquired the English language audio rights from the Salariya Book Company, Hissey's publisher, which holds world rights to her titles. 

The books, which were originally published in 1986, were also serialised as "Old Bear and Friends", a Bafta-winning TV series. According to Nielsen BookScan Total Consumer Market data, Hissey has sold 350,939 books for £1.5m, with Jolly Snow being her bestseller.

"I was delighted that Adjoa Andoh would be reading my books," said Hissey. "I think she has such a warm and reassuring voice and she is fun to listen to! I think she will enjoy reading the stories and that is what any writer wants."

Andoh stars as Lady Danbury in worldwide Netflix hit series "Bridgerton" and is currently filming the second series for the show. Her film and TV credits include "Invictus", "Fractured", "Doctor Who", "Liar", "Line of Duty", "Death in Paradise", "Law and Order UK",  "EastEnders" and "Broadchurch" among many others.

Her theatre work has included playing the lead role in "Richard II" at The Globe in 2019 which she also directed. The play featured the first company of women of colour in a Shakespeare play on a major UK stage. She has also recorded a range of audiobooks, including the entire No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith.