When Emma Weaver won through a gruelling audition process to voice one of the Tweenies, little did she know that her character, Bella, and her oversized pals Fizz, Milo and Jake would become such a phenomenon.

“Tweenies completely changed my life,” says weaver. “I went from being a jobbing actress to selling records and appearing on Top of the Pops. It was the break I needed.”

The show started on Children’s BBC in 1999 and continues to go from strength to strength with its tenth anniversary being celebrated with a stage show, Top of the Tots, that is heading to Richmond Theatre next week.

Weaver, 34, went through seven auditions before claiming the part of Bella and believes her experience of performing in other children’s shows stood her in good stead.

“I had been touring in Playdays, playing the part of Peggy Patch,” she says. “One of the Playdays producers suggested I apply for the role of Bella, “When I got the part, it was like winning the lottery. The Playdays tour had finished and I had been unemployed for about three weeks and had been working at London Zoo doing children’s face painting.

“I think that helped because I knew about pre-school children as I had been working with them. Basically, they are young adults and you shouldn’t patronise them.”

Did she have any idea at that time that Tweenies would become such a success?

“I thought it might become big because, after I got the role of Bella, they immediately started talking about recording an album,” says Weaver.

“The first time we went to the studio, the producer had just finished recording with Jennifer Lopez, and George Michael was recording in the studio next door. I used to walk his dog at lunch-time.”

Weaver believes the personalities of the Tweenies are a key factor in their appeal.

“Each character is so definite,” she adds. “I have had people say to me: ‘I have a little Bella at home.’ “Some children come to the live shows dressed as Tweenies. You see girls with their faces painted blue and with blonde hair just like Bella.”

Is there a bit of Bella in Weaver, by any chance?

“I think the bossiness!”

The Tweenies, Top of the Tots, Richmond Theatre, August 6-9, see ambassador theatre.com/richmond-theatre for more information.