Pain of Wallace and Gromit creators – from ‘devastating’ blaze to death of iconic actor

The perfect comfort watch at any time of year, the cosy stop-motion world of Wallace and Gromit holds a particularly special place in the nation’s heart during the festive period, but there’s plenty of sadness mixed in with the joy

For many, Wallace and Gromit is inextricably tied to the festive season(PA)

There are few more iconic duos than Wallace and Gromit, with the quirky inventor and his resourceful beagle companion having brought generations of viewers laughter, adventure, and, of course, cravings for a nice slice of Wensleydale.

It hasn’t all been joy and witty puns behind the scenes, however, and the creative geniuses behind the beloved film series have had to contend with a fair bit of sorrow over the years. This sadly includes a devastating factory fire that obliterated much of the show’s history, as well as the sad loss of a truly irreplaceable voice actor.

As families up and down the country curl up in front of Nick Park’s Wigan-set animation this festive season, whether that be the classic A Grand Day Out (1989) or the more recent A Matter Of Loaf and Death (2008), we take a look at some of the upsetting moments creators have had to contend with over the series’ 35-year history.

The animation studio’s history ‘disappeared in a couple of hours'(SWNS) Disastrous fire

In 2005, disaster struck when a fire ripped through a storage facility owned by the Oscar-winning Aardman Animations, destroying many of the iconic figures, props, and carefully crafted sets created by the geniuses behind Wallace and Gromit. Peter Lord, one of the founders of Aardman, told The Guardian: “The sets for the Wallace and Gromit films are pieces of art, even when they are not animated because they are so beautifully made. It’s very sad to think that they are destroyed.”

The ferocious blaze, which reached heights of 100ft, erupted just as the team was preparing to celebrate the incredible success of The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, which had just reached the top of the US box office chart. One of the greatest losses was reportedly a complete exhibition of the three Wallace and Gromit short films which had recently returned to the UK after a tour of Japan. Thankfully, the films themselves had been stored elsewhere.

Company spokesman Arthur Sheriff said: “It couldn’t have come on a worse day – we were supposed to be celebrating, but instead our history has disappeared in a couple of hours. Everything has gone, from as far back as Morph and through to Chicken Run, including Wallace and Gromit, and Creature Comforts, it’s all there. Everyone is devastated.”

Voice actor Peter Sallis was said to be a ‘delight’ to work with(PA Archive/PA Images) Death of voice actor legend

On June 2, 2017, Wallace and Gromit fans said a fond farewell to Peter Sallis, who had provided the voice for loveable Wallace for nearly 30 years. Twickenham-born Peter, who was also known for playing Norman ‘Cleggy’ Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine, passed away at the age of 96, with his family by his side.

Peter enjoyed a long career in TV and theatre before the life-changing role of Wallace made him a household name of critical acclaim. Although fans were sad to lose a figure who had brought so much joy to so many, they took comfort in knowing how much the part meant to Peter, who once said: “It is pleasing knowing millions are going to see your work and enjoy it. To still be involved in a project like this at my age is heartwarming. To have a legacy like this is very comforting. I am very lucky to have been involved.”

Paying tribute to Peter’s ‘unique character’, Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park made an emotional statement, telling the public: “I’m so sad, but feel so grateful and privileged to have known and worked with Peter over so many years. He was always my first and only choice for Wallace. Working with him was always a delight and I will miss his wry, unpredictable humour and silliness – that started the moment he greeted you at the door, and didn’t stop when the mic was switched off.”

You can catch Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit on Saturday, December 30 at 12.25 pm on ITV

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