Lu & the Bally Bunch

**Lu & the Bally Bunch** is an Irish-Canadian-American-British animated preschool series created by Nicky Phelan. It follows the daily life of Lu, a little ladybird who has just started pre-school with her new friends. The series made its international debut in New Zealand on March 17th, 2023 via the TVNZ app.

## Plot

**I:** Lu is a little ladybird who has just started preschool with her new friends. Together they explore their brand new social lives though play, music, big feelings and even bigger fun.

**II:** Lu is a little ladybird who has just started preschool with her new friends, and is embarking on a brand new social life. This animated dramedy for preschoolers takes place in Ballybug, a small village home to a community of bugs. Lu's teacher Shella is a snail, and Lu goes to preschool in the shell housed on her back. Lu and her new friends Barnaby, Biba, Declan, Elodie and Gus are forming their first friendships and still learning the social skills to handle them! This slice of life series explores the fun, drama and messiness that ensues. Filled with music, humour and heart, Lu & the Bally Bunch is a celebration of friendship for preschoolers.

## Episodes

*see List of Lu & the Bally Bunch episodes*

## Main Cast and Characters

* Freya McLaughlin as Lu
* Marcus Power as Declan
* Joy Tu Clarke as Biba
* Leo Tobin as Barnaby
* Alice Helenport as Elodie
* Kolby Mcdonald as Gus
* Aileen Mynith as Shella
* Amy Conroy as Barnaby's Mam
* Elliot Stacey as Aidan and Lola
* Erin Noonan as Grace
* Charlie Duffy as Dermot
* Ryan Keogh as Dara
* Sarah Rabaud as Elodie's Mam
* Paul O'Bryan as Elodie's Dad
* Ranae von Meding as Barnaby's Mam
* Donncha O'Dea as Lu's Dad
* Amy de Bhrun as Lu's Mam
* Aisha Ali as Biba's Mama
* Mehmet Ali Sayan as Biba's Dad
* Gerry Cannon as Gus' Granddad
* Jade Jordan as Gus' Mam
* Ciaran McCabe as Declan's Dad
* Arlo Buchanan as Barry
* Alieen O' Connor as Gus' Granny
* Jonathan Delaney Tynan as Lorcan
* Nathan Helenport as Etienne
* River Thomas Bronigan as Luka
* Don King Rongavilla as Bert
* Zara Tabarsi as Margo
* Steve Kendall as Margo's Dad
* Alex McKenna as Margot
* Aidan & Lola Moran-Tyrrell as Bo

## Production

In 2017, a pilot for the show title was commissioned, which would later go on the become the show's premiere episode.

The series was first officially announced to the public on February 17, 2021 with the working title "Ladybird Lu", along with some footage from the show's second pilot, which would later go on to become the episode.

On January 30th, 2023, Shella's voice actor confirmed that recording for the first season had finished. A month later, on February 4th, World Screen confirmed that the series had been renamed to "Lu & the Bally Bunch."

## Broadcast

* New Zealand: TVNZ
* Canada: CBC
* Ireland: RTE
* Hong Kong: PCCW
* Finland: YLE
* Sweden: SVT
* United Kingdom: Cartoonito and CBeebies
* United States of America: Cartoonito
* Australia: ABC Kids
* Latin America (LATAM): Max and Cartoonito
* Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA): Max and Cartoonito

## Trivia

* Nicky Phelan, the creator of the show, is best known for his work on The Octonauts & Bing. This is his second show to premiere on Cartooninto after the latter.
* This show is the first and so far only animated dramedy for preschoolers being produced in Canada.

1. ↑ https://worldscreen.com/tvkids/cbeebies-slates-new-returning-programs/
2. ↑ https://www.c21media.net/news/cbeebies-meets-lu-the-bally-bunch/