'Dora' to explore with new voice cast

NEW YORK, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- For the first time since its debut eight years ago, Nickelodeon says its "Dora the Explorer" U.S. animated kids show is getting a new voice-over cast.

The new voice of Dora will be 12-year-old New Jersey native Caitlin Sanchez, the New York Daily News reported Monday.

"When I first found out I was going to be Dora, I couldn't believe it," Sanchez told the newspaper. "I loved watching 'Dora' when I was younger, and my little sister watches it now. She can't wait to watch the new episodes in September."

Nickelodeon told the Daily News Sanchez will be joined by Regan Mizrahi as Boots, Alexandria Suarez as Backpack, Jean Carlos Celi as Tico, Matthew Gumley as Benny and Lenique Vincent as Isa.

"The motivation (to hire a new cast) was practical more than anything else," Teri Weiss, senior vice president of production and development for Nickelodeon Preschool TV, told the newspaper. "Our cast has just gotten too old for their parts. We feel lucky that the show has been such a success that we had to find new kids."