Stephen Mangan says being Postman Pat is cooler than being James Bond.

The 41-year-old actor - who has sons Harry, six, and Frank, three, with wife Louise Delamere - voices the children's favourite in a new animated movie and he feels the part is more prestigious than that of the famous spy, because so few actors have played the loveable postman.

He said: ''You grow up thinking you might be James Bond one day and you turn out to be Postman Pat. There has only been three Postman Pats - two guys on the telly did it and me - so there are fewer Postman Pats than James Bonds out there.''

Stephen decided to voice the iconic character because it's a show that his sons can enjoy.

He explained to BANG Showbiz: ''It never occurs to you that you might be asked to be Postman Pat, but as soon as I was asked I said yes. Partly because it is something like the children can watch - I've got a three and a six year old, and most of the stuff I do is pretty adult - pretty filthy, actually - so they won't watch that until they are 30, let alone 18 or 21.

''So it is really nice to do something that I can take them along to. It is a bit confusing when they ask, 'What do you do for living daddy, what's your job?' ''

'Postman Pat' is released on May 23.