DAME Helen Mirren will lend her voice to some of Beatrix Potter's most famous characters as she narrates a story rediscovered after 100 years.
The Tale Of Kitty-In-Boots will be Dame Helen's first audiobook recording and introduce fans to "a well-behaved prime black Kitty cat, who leads rather a double life" defeating villains.
The manuscript was discovered two years ago by Jo Hanks, publisher at Penguin Random House Children's, when she stumbled across an out-of-print literary history about Potter, which referenced a letter that Potter had sent her publisher back in 1914 mentioning the new tale.
A trip to the V&A archive found three unedited manuscripts, two in children's school notebooks and one typed, along with a rough sketch of Kitty-in-Boots and villain Mr Tod.
Miss Kitty and her crime-fighting alter-ego have lain unpublished for over 100 years, but Dame Helen will soon be bringing them to life alongside favourites including Mr Tod, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Ribby and even an "older, slower and portlier" Peter Rabbit.
The audiobook will be released on the same day as The Tale Of Kitty-In-Boots And Other Stories, illustrated by Quentin Blake, on September 1.
Narrators for the five other stories are yet to be announced.
This year celebrates Potter's 150th birthday. The book will be published by Frederick Warne & Co., her original publisher.
READ MORE
Cumbria author Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Kitty-In-Boots to be published after 100 years
Dalton's Peter Rabbit makes star appearance on Beatrix Potter TV show
Famous voices to bring Peter Rabbit to life in new family musical
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here