The voice of Bella sets out on a new venture
by Echo Reporter
Friday 19 April 2002

SHE'S the voice of Bella from the Tweenies, Peggy Patch from Playdays and Bits from Bits And Bobs.

Now Sally Presig, above, has set up her own production company, Mimics Productions, and is looking forward to producing her own children's television programmes.

Millions of children have Sally to thank for bringing the Tweenies to life in their trademark colourful clothes.

The mother of two spent nine days at home sewing the full-size costumes for Bella, Milo, Jake, Fizz, Max, Judy and Sid - the loveable Tweenie who never got to join his friends on screen.

She made the original miniature prototype characters which were re-scaled to form the TV gang.

Putting on funny voices is something that comes naturally to Sally. She was a puppeteer on The Muppet Christmas Carol film and perfected the voices of many of the Fun Song Factory characters.

Now three of her latest creations, Dogsby, Mukka and Tigs can be seen on the new BBC's Saturday morning The Shiny Show.

She made the puppets in her own workshop and is the voice of Dogsby - a hopelessly lovable dog.

Sally, 36, said: "It's a funny profession. People who see me with my shopping and two children have no idea I'm the voice of Bella.

"I've always likes sewing and as a farmer's daughter I was very good at entertaining myself and making things.

"I did a performing arts degree course at Middlesex Polytechnic and while I loved performing I hated being seen on stage."

After completing her course Sally stayed behind the scenes working as the stage manager for Trestle Theatre Company designing sets and making props.

She then moved to the children's programme the Wild Bunch as a prop maker where she ended up being a dead arm for one of the puppets.

That's when Sally's love of puppetry started - perfectly combining her love of performing without being seen.

Now Sally who lives in Cliff Road with her husband and two children Sam, 4, and five-month-old baby Eddie, has set up her own production company entitled Mimics Productions and is looking forward to producing her own children's television programmes.