Saffron Cherry’s Award Winning ‘The World According To Grandpa’ Returns To Channel 5’s Milkshake
Skwigly
The World According to Grandpa, the multi-award winning children’s series by Manchester’s Saffron Cherry Productions and Grandpa Productions, starring Don Warrington and Sally Lindsay, is set to return to Channel 5’s Milkshake! on 15th October with a brand new 20 x 11’ series.
The first series, which is still available here on My5, won the Broadcast award for best pre-school programme earlier this year, plus the Voice of the Listeners and Viewers Award for best children’s programme, and it has just been nominated for best Live Action Kids’ programme for the Content Innovation Awards 2022 and best pre-school programme at the RTS North West awards
The World According to Grandpa is also being developed into a touring theatre show in partnership with CI Rights, DLAP and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse. The creative team includes Chris Heath (Book), Kate Golledge (Dramaturg Consultant) and Tayo Akinbode (Music), with more to be announced.
Adam Paulden, CEO of Creative Rights International, comments: “We are delighted to be developing the stage adaptation of The World According to Grandpa. Script work is underway and we will be hosting a range of readings and workshops next year in the run up to the world premiere, which is anticipated to take place in the UK Q4 of 2023, Q1 2024.”
Made in Manchester, the mixed media series, written by Chris Heath, features live action stars in a 2D animated world, as well as music by North West composer Tayo Akinbode, is filmed at Vectar Studios Stockport and illustrated and animated by Flix Facilities at MediaCityUK. ‘The World According to Grandpa’ is a truly inclusive show featuring a diverse team both in front and behind the camera.
The show is made with the support of the BFI’s Young Audience Content Fund. S4C have also re-commissioned Byd Tad-cu, the Welsh language version of the show starring Danny Grehan and made in co-production with partners Boom Cymru.
Created and written by Chris Heath, this stunning live action and animation show stars esteemed actor Don Warrington as the Grandpa who answers real questions from children with nonsensical stories. It also features the voice talents of beloved actor Sally Lindsay as Halifax the puppet rabbit who sets the story straight.
The World According to Grandpa has been filming in Manchester, with a Northern crew and features four ‘grandchildren’ Tayo, Lily, Poppy and Louie all from the North. We’ve also welcomed two new grandchildren into the fold. Jake Ademola joins us as Tayo, Mattea Cooper as Lily, with Sebastien Tensel returning as Louie andMahli Perry rejoining us for another series as Poppy.
Team Grandpa is proud to have director Debbie Howard at the helm this series. She said of the experience “Grandpa is one of the most enjoyable productions I’ve ever worked on. As soon as I read the wonderful scripts by Chris Heath I was in love with the show. The cast and crew were a total joy to work with and it was such a collaborative process, being involved from the early stages, right through the shoot, the animation and post production. It has been my pleasure to direct such a fun, valuable show.”
“We are delighted to bring Grandpa back to entertain and educate for another twenty episodes. Engaging young audiences with silly stories and then sowing the seeds for them to learn the real answers to their questions is a privilege and a pleasure’ said executive producer, and MD of Saffron Cherry, Caroline Roberts Cherry.
“It‘s a fantastic, innovative show which has proven to be a massive hit with both preschoolers and families,” said Louise Bucknole, General Manager/Vice President, Kids & Family UK & Ireland at Paramount Global.Series two will build on this success that has creatively engaged a generation of grandparents and grandchildren with its incredibly funny storytelling and takeaway facts, winning multiple awards in the process. We look forward to entertaining our young audience with a second helping of Grandpa’s outlandish tales and Halifax being on hand to tell them the truth!”
Don Warrington who plays Grandpa said of filming series two “It was a joy to be with such inquisitive and hopeful young minds”.
Sally Lindsay, Creative Director at Saffron Cherry and the voice of Halifax said “I just love this show! We’re so proud of it as a company and I wish it all the success in the world. I love being part of Grandpa’s world and playing the joyous Halifax.”
The production has been supported by the BFI Young Audiences Production Content Fund (YACF).
“Grandpa is a show that YACF was delighted to support for both series one & two, which brings much needed, relevant and relatable live-action entertainment to the youngest audiences in the UK – in both English and Welsh!” added Jackie Edwards, Head of the BFI’s Young Audiences Content Fund.
Chris Heath, who has written twenty brand new stories for this series said “It’s an enormous and true privilege to be given an excuse to be this gloriously silly for a living, so I’ve really made sure to dial up the nonsense in series two… Full steam ahead!”
With Series two due out on Channel 5 Milkshake! 15th October at 09:25, viewers young and old are in for another “guilt free viewing” pleasure as described by The Guardian.
Catch the all new series of ‘The World According to Grandpa’ on Channel 5’s Milkshake! from 15th October.