Pharrell , Gwen Stefani to guest star in new Sesame Street series

Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani will appear in the new series of Sesame Street, which airs in the UK on Monday.

The long-running, multiple award-winning American series is bringing in two star guests for its big comeback after a five-year absence from British television.

Image Caption:Gwen Stefani and Abby Caddaby on the set of Sesame Street

Stefani, the former No Doubt singer, will join the cast to sing a song called Be A Good Friend - about the joys of friendship and what it means to be a good friend.

Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Williams will join the Cookie Monster and Elmo to share life lessons with the characters through a song called B Is For Book - about the wonders of reading.

Image Caption:Gwen Stefani joins the cast of Sesame Street to sing Be A Good Friend

Sesame Street is the world's longest running children's show, and has won nine Grammy Awards, 159 Emmys and a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Since it was taken off air in 2011, The Street has undergone some changes.

Image Caption:Pharrell has collaborated with some of the world's biggest stars

The new series will feature new opening and closing songs, an updated set, a new Cookie Monster segment and a new cast member called Nina.

Cookie Monster's new show will be called Smart Cookies, and will see the five-fingered biscuit buff and a team of crime-fighting cookie friends use gadgets to outsmart a villain called The Crumb.

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Seth Gorman, Sesame Street's programming director, said he is thrilled to bring the show to Cartoonito next week.

"We're delighted to be driving these engaging and educational messages to our young UK audience in such a fun and entertaining way," he said.

"For over four decades now, Sesame Street has been helping children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder."skynews