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'Fraggle Rock' returns to screens, 35 years later

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (Apple TV+)

Jim Henson's fun-loving, musical Fraggles are back on telly this week, 35 years after the hit children's show Fraggle Rock originally came to an end.

Debuting on Apple TV+ on Friday, 21 January, Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock is a new 13-episode Apple Original series from The Jim Henson Company.

The original series, with its memorable Down At Fraggle Rock theme song, was a hit in the 1980s running for five series from 1983-1987.

The musical fantasy show revolved around four different societies of Muppets and humans — Fraggles, Doozers, Gorgs and Silly Creatures (humans) — and ran for 96 episodes.

American puppeteer and filmmaker Jim Henson (1936 - 1990) with some of the Muppet cast from the children's TV show 'Fraggle Rock', circa 1985. Along with the diminutive Doozers in the foreground are the Fraggle characters (left to right) Boober, Mokey, Gobo, Red and Wembley. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
American puppeteer and filmmaker Jim Henson (1936 - 1990) with some of the Muppet cast from the children's TV show Fraggle Rock, circa 1985. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Fraggles Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, and Wembley all return in the new series — as does Marjory the Trash Heap — alongside new Fraggles and Doozers voiced by special guests stars including Patti LaBelle, Cynthia Erivo, Daveed Diggs, Ed Helms, Kenan Thompson, as well as an appearance by Foo Fighters in Back To The Rock.

"Kick off the new year by embarking on epic, hilarious adventures about the magic that happens when we celebrate and care for our interconnected world," explains the press release.

Read more: Frank Oz reveals Muppets rift

The new full-length series follows the celebrated Apple Original shorts Fraggle Rock: Rock On! which launched in 2020. Shot during lockdown on iPhone, the mini-episodes reunited the Fraggles for a series of star-studded mini adventures.

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (Apple TV+)
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (Apple TV+)

In addition to Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, Apple’s growing partnership with The Jim Henson Company includes Harriet The Spy, the first animated adaptation of the iconic children’s novel; the popular Fraggle Rock: Rock On! shorts; 88 episodes of the original Fraggle Rock series and recently added bonus specials, Down at Fraggle Rock, Doozer Music and Fraggle Songs, all of which are now available to stream on Apple TV+.

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