Stephen Fry has been signed up for the return of much-loved cartoon character Danger Mouse – playing the voice of pompous veteran spy Colonel K.

The broadcaster and actor will play the secret service boss when the show makes its comeback next year for a new generation of young viewers. Alexander Armstrong is lined up to play the show’s title character, originally voiced by David Jason, will be reunited with his co-star on BBC1 quiz Pointless as Richard Osman has a guest role.

Osman will play boffin Professor Strontium Jellyfishowitz – a faceless jellyfish in a motorised fish tank – who heads the world’s scientists. The programme is to return after an absence of more than 20 years with a series on CBBC.

Fry’s character, originally voiced by Edward Kelsey in the Cosgrove Hall animation that ran between 1981 and 1992, is the boss of Danger Mouse and his sidekick Penfold, to be played by Kevin Eldon. Colonel K, a chinchilla, also has a reputation as the world’s dirtiest croquet player, and chairs the Willesden Green Amateur Flower Arranging and Operatic Society. Also joining the cast are Kayvan Novak – known for Channel 4’s Facejacker – who will play a number of different characters, while Ed Gaughan will play amphibious villain Baron Greenback.

Talking about his new role, Osman said: “As a lifelong fan of the show and a slightly more recent fan of Alexander Armstrong, I could not be more delighted to be playing my own small part in this incredible new version of Danger Mouse.”