Tinker Bell new voice of speaking clock

At the third stroke, the voice of the speaking clock is going to sound like someone who is away with the fairies. Tinker Bell, once Peter Pan's famously speechless accomplice from Never Never Land, will be marking time for millions of people over the next three months.

From the moment summer time ends early on Sunday morning, the sound of a 72-year-old British institution will change dramatically. The rushed high-pitched tones of Mae Whitman, the young American actor who provides the less-than-ethereal voice for a cartoon version of the fairy, will announce: "Hi! It's Tinker Bell. At the third bell, the time will be ..."

After Sunday, the traditional time pips will be replaced with a jaunty bell noise and there will be no calm British voice telling us what particular moment we are living in. The makers of Tinker Bell - an animated film set before the Peter Pan story - deny this is a transatlantic intrusion.

Brad Raymond, the director of the film, said: "Tinker Bell's voice has warmth, clarity and friendliness so we're delighted that she is being given this magical opportunity to be heard by millions. She is a natural choice for such an important job, given her very British heritage."

In the film she will be seen flying past Big Ben, which in real life is set by the speaking clock.