Nick Park reveals the late Queen urged him to keep Peter Sallis as Wallace when Hollywood wanted a younger star

DreamWorks executives doubted an actor in his 80s could appeal to children and suggested a rethink. Nick Park found himself seated next to Queen Elizabeth II at her 80th birthday lunch and raised the problem. 'She was a fan,' he said. 'It was like chatting with my mum.' Her advice was blunt: 'You ought to hang on to him!' Sallis kept the role.

Park first booked the Last of the Summer Wine star for just £50.

Sallis voiced Wallace until 2010, then retired due to ill health.

On Thursday Gromit 'speaks' at last, in a new autobiography 'As Told to Nick Park'.