London (CNN) The actress who has been delighting toddlers as the voice of Peppa Pig for more than a decade is hanging up her puddle-jumping boots and stepping down from the role.

Harley Bird, 18, has played television's bossiest piglet in the children's cartoon for 13 years. In 2011, she won a BAFTA award for her work on the show.

Bird will be replaced by 9-year-old Amelie Bea Smith, who will appear in English-speaking episodes of the show from February, studio Entertainment One confirmed in a statement on Friday.

"We're delighted to welcome Amelie to the Peppa Pig voice cast and confident that she will continue the strong legacy of the previous Peppa voice actors," co-creators Neville Astley and Mark Baker said in a statement.

Smith's agent, Mark Jermin, said the 9-year-old was "thrilled" to be taking over the role.

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