Long term Chiswick resident, Richard Briers, has had a long and distinguished career playing numerous diverse roles including Shakespeare’s Hamlet and is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the champion of self-sufficiency, Tom Good in The Good Life. Now, thanks to the revival of the 1970’s cult show Roobarb & Custard, Briers, or at least Brier’s voice, returns to our small screens in the guise of the wacky green mongrel and his sarcastic pink sidekick.

Initially created thirty years ago by Grange Calveley, the somewhat surreal cartoon with its distinctive ‘wobbly’ animation style will feature all the old characters and some new ones.

From its first broadcast on BBC1 in October 1974, the mismatched duo proved an instant hit with viewers, and the series was regularly repeated by the BBC up until the end of April 1989. Produced and directed by Oscar and BAFTA winning animator Bob Godfrey, Briers provided all the character’s voices.

One new character’s voice, that of a Welsh mole, proved a little difficult until Briers he does quite a decent impression of Richard Burton, and so the mole’s voice was born.

In an interview with GMTV, Briers, now 71, said "I am delighted to have been asked to narrate this wonderful new series of Roobarb and Custard 30 years on. Roobarb always has held a special place in my heart, and I hope a new generation of children will be captivated by the wacky little dog's charm and wit."

Despite his illustrious career, Richard Briers always remained grounded. He has lived in the same house in Chiswick for more than 40 years, and his marriage to actress Ann Davies has been similarly enduring. Well known around Chiswick for his support of local events and charities

Roobarb and Custard Too on Milkshake will begin on Channel Five from Monday, August 8th with Roobarb attempting to build a home computer.

August 4, 2005