Sander Lantinga to audition as new voice of Bert in Sesame Street

Radio DJ Sander Lantinga has been invited to audition for the role of Bert in the Dutch version of Sesame Street. This opportunity follows the announcement that Paul Haenen, who provided the voice for the character for fifty years, will be stepping down. This departure follows the passing of Wim T. Schippers, who voiced Ernie, as well as several other iconic characters. Lantinga expressed his gratitude for the offer and noted his preference for Bert due to the depth of the character's personality. While he was challenged to demonstrate his voice acting skills on air, he declined to maintain his professionalism for the official audition.

Voice director Rutger Le Poole indicated that many actors have expressed interest in filling the roles vacated by Haenen and Schippers. The search is focused on finding individuals with genuine acting ability who can convey the warmth and friendship of the characters, rather than mere impressions. Le Poole acknowledged that the public will likely need time to adjust to any new interpretation, as the original performances remain cultural icons in the Netherlands.