AWARD WINNING
FILMS, TV & CONTENT
Saffron Cherry produces dynamic, award-winning television, cinematic film and digital short-form content, across scripted and non-scripted genres. Championing diversity on and off screen, accessibility and quality storytelling on every platform are our key drivers.
We are Manchester based and actively promote creativity rooted in the North West which has a global appeal. We have strong relationships with talent and distributors globally to reach audiences worldwide. Saffron Cherry develops IP around new and established talent, national institutions, local voices and stories, to which we have exclusive access. Saffron Cherry has a proven track record in developing shows which create strong roles for women and other under-represented groups, in a variety of genres including factual, drama, kids, and animation. We also work collaboratively with other producers and companies on a range of commissions.
DRAMA
We are proud to work with established writers and exciting emerging voices. Our development slate has a strong sense of place, be it period or contemporary and sometimes our factual slate drives drama development. We are especially interested in unique biographical access, diverse storytellers, book adaptations and strong female voices. We are a company where writers know they are cherished, supported and properly rewarded.
We also work with comics, singers, presenters and actors in scripted as we know they are not just, ‘’them off the telly’. Working collaboratively is one of our strengths and we are proud and excited to be working with clapperboard studios on our returning hit drama series The Madame Blanc Mysteries for Channel 5 and Acorn TV. The Madame Blanc Mysteries was created by, and stars, Saffron Cherry’s Creative Director Sally Lindsay who also co-wrote this six-part antiques detective series with Sue Vincent.
We are also partnering with Canadian company Shaftesbury to adapt Gill Paul’s novel,
A Beautiful Rival for the small screen. A Beautiful Rival delves into the business feud between the cosmetic titans Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubenstein.
We have just announced we have secured the TV rights to Celia Imrie’s latest best-seller Meet me as Rainbow Corner, based on the memoirs of Fidelis Morgan’s mother.
KIDS
From pre-school through to family viewing, Saffron Cherry’s
multi-disciplinary offer is the creation of engaging, educational,
entertaining and returnable content for kids’ television.
Whether it’s for an international broadcaster or a streaming
service, we work with everyone from incredible
writers to brilliant animators in order to amplify authentic voices.
We are in creative development with Chris Heath, Nicole Davis,
Tanya Samuel, and Stuart Murphy working with Lupus Films
and Mackinnon and Saunders Studios . We have partnered with
Blue Zoo to develop the number one classical album
by Debbie Wiseman, Jack Frost.
We are thrilled that both our Kids titles made in lockdown were
nominated cumulatively for ten international awards. The World
According to Grandpa was Winner, Best Children’s show at the
Voice of the Listener and Viewers Awards and the winner of
The Best Pre-school show at the Broadcast Awards.
Well done Team Grandpa and Team Wonton Warrior.
FACTUAL
Rooted locally, Saffron Cherry’s factual offer spans historical interest pieces, science, arts and education, alongside contemporary issues to share important and untold stories. Delivering to digital audiences in addition to broadcast channels, we ensure that our presenter-led pieces both inform and engage as well as provide opportunities for diverse talent on and off-screen.
Invented in the North West,(RTS nominated) Dot’s Farm and Emmeline Pankhurst the Making of a Militant (02 Media Award winner) were all filmed in the North-West with female presenters; the scientist Professor Danielle George MBE, farmer and entrepreneur Dot McCarthy and feminist actor and writer Sally Lindsay – and all were produced and directed by BAFTA winner Helen Tither.
Passions; Noel Coward by Julian Clary for Sky Arts was directed by RTS winning Philippa Banyard, where we ventured slightly further afield – from Noel Coward’s birthplace in Twickenham to his grave in Jamaica. This film was nominated for best documentary at the Broadcast Digital Awards and also for the inaugural Diversify TV Awards at MipCom, Cannes
credit: Jonathan Keenan.
FILM
Be it traditional storytelling with a subversive, inspirational twist or a new writer with an unmissable tale, Saffron Cherry ensures our film offering is shared with audiences worldwide. Saffron Cherry supports the passion of under-represented stories in film, regionally and globally.
Saffron Cherry worked in conjunction with the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and Talawa to produce King Lear: The Film starring Don Warrington and directed by multi BAFTA-winning Bridget Caldwell. The film was commissioned by The British Council Shakespeare Lives campaign and Space and was screened free in cinemas as part of Black History Month, it played at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival and transmitted on BBC 4 on Christmas Day 2016. It was RTS North nominated for best use of multi-platform and is now available to buy via Amazon or through The Digital Theatre
DIGITAL
Saffron Cherry has a wealth of experience in developing digital-first content as well as re-configuring linear projects for digital platforms. Our relationships and experience mean we’re pretty blinking good at nurturing young talent, developing new ideas and reaching new audiences all the time.
Commissioned across BBC Education platforms Teach and Bitesize we also support visual artists like Joe Simpson and have created additional content for The Digital Theatre around King Lear. We expanded our original thirty minute Emmeline Pankhurst documentary into a one hour international film and also created four Emmeline curriculum films for Bitesize. We’re also extremely proud that the Mayor of Manchester’s office distributed the Emmeline DVD to all Greater Manchester Secondary Schools.
COMEDY
The very first Saffron Cherry commission was a comedy show for London Live The Charlie Hides TV Show featuring celebrated star of international cabaret and drag circuit Charlie Hides, with a guest appearance from Kylie Minogue. This won an RTS North low budget award or as we proudly know it, the “Frugal Northern Bird’’ award. We are currently working with Tanya Samuel, Stephen Bailey and Julie Bower in sitcom.
QUIZ
Working with our chums at Big Circus we make Sally Lindsay’s TV Quiz Show featuring team captains John Thompson and Shappi Khorsandi. The seventies quiz transmitted in April 2025.
Check back for news on the Sally Lindsay’s 80s Tv quiz soon.
OUR CLIENTS
We’ve had the pleasure of working with major broadcasters in the UK and internationally and are accustomed to delivering to all platforms.
MEET THE TEAM
At the heart and head of Saffron Cherry Productions is its founder Managing-Director Caroline Roberts-Cherry. Our Creative Director is actor, writer and producer Sally Lindsay, and actor Don Warrington MBE joins as Executive Producer.
Their wealth of experience, across Theatre, TV, Audio and Film, plus their commitment to tell brilliant story-telling drives every Saffron Cherry Production. Click on the links below to find out more about our three directors.
The Directors are supported by Debbie Manners, Head of Commercial, Derek Drennan Director of Production and Jane Langford Head of Scripted.
ASSOCIATE CREATIVES
Abby Trotter
About Abby
Abby joined Saffron Cherry as development editor in 2023 after working as a script reader/ scout for several indies including The Forge, Mammoth Screen, Red Planet & Lime.
Abby started her career in production working across shows such as Cold Feet, Bargain Loving Brits, The Jeremy Vine Show and numerous documentaries about The Royal Family
Abby is now the development executive working across Saffron Cherry’s exciting development slate and is passionate about supporting new and existing writing talent and championing unheard voices.
Rima Sen
About Rima
Obsessively watching TV commercials and films in the 80s finally led to Rima’s entry into to the world of TV commercials in the 00s. An accomplished producer, writer and director with 18 years of working in television, commercials, short film, theatre-to-screen adaptations, single and multi-camera pieces for broadcast and online, Rima’s style is dictated by narrative and a focus on people and relationships, be they comedic or dramatic.
An attention to detail and ability to then step back and see the bigger picture are her strengths, as well as getting the best out of the cast and crew. Rima doesn’t do horror films so line producing The World According to Grandpa whilst working with a puppet rabbit really took the edge off the global pandemic! The World According to Grandpa led to producing The Wonton Warrior and she can’t wait to see what Saffron Cherry does next.
Nicci Topping
About Nicci
Nicci is one of the UK’s leading casting directors and has been a professional casting director for over 20 years casting over 50 films and TV shows. Working across film, TV and high end commercials she has worked with many leading directors and is chair of the CSA’s Equity in Entertainment Committee and Festivals and Panels Committee
Fiona McGarva
About Fiona
Saffron Cherry’s Communications and PR is managed by Fiona McGarva
Fiona is a publicist and event director with more than 20 years’ experience specialising in arts, entertainment and culture. She founded Sundae Communications in 2011, following a career taking in some of the UK’s major international broadcasters and independent television producers, including the BBC, Nickelodeon, ITV and Lime Pictures. Sundae is the first Northern consultancy to specialise in entertainment and culture, and the company’s portfolio takes in TV, film, events, festivals, venues, theatre and design, working nationally and internationally, whilst proudly celebrating the North West region.
Fiona also co-founded Design Manchester, the cultural organisation that delivers the city-wide creative DM series of festivals celebrating creativity, now in its 9th year.
Sarah Walters
About Sarah
Sarah is a journalist, senior researcher and assistant producer with almost 20 years in the media as a writer, researcher and editor. After more than a decade as a culture writer at the Manchester Evening News/City Life, she moved into TV in 2017, quickly establishing herself as a specialist in archive research and social history, casting, scripting, and development. Her credits are in documentary, factual entertainment, children’s and education, in both broadcast and online content, for major broadcasters including BBC and Channel 4.
PRIVACY
At Saffron Cherry Productions, we value your trust. This notice explains how we handle your personal information, why we collect it, and the steps we take to protect your privacy.
Who We Are
We’re Saffron Cherry Productions – an independent production company based in the UK. We create television and digital content and, when you contact us through this site, we’re also responsible for looking after any personal information you share with us.
What We Collect
-
Details you share directly with us (for example, your name, email, and message if you get in touch).
-
Basic technical information, like your browser type or IP address, collected via cookies (see our Cookie Policy).
Why We Collect It
We use your information to:
-
Reply to your messages and enquiries
-
Keep our website running smoothly and securely
-
Understand how people use our site so we can improve it
Our Promise
We’ll never sell your personal data. We only share it with trusted partners who help us run our site (like hosting and analytics providers), and they only use it under our instructions.
Your Choices and Rights
You have the right to:
-
Ask what data we hold about you
-
Request corrections if something’s not right
-
Ask us to delete your data when you no longer want us to keep it
-
Withdraw consent for cookies or marketing at any time
-
Raise a concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you’re unhappy with how we handle things
How Long We Keep Data
Only as long as we need it – for example, while we’re dealing with your enquiry, or to meet our legal obligations.
Get in Touch
If you’ve got any questions about how we use your information, or if you’d like to exercise your rights, please drop us a line at: [Insert contact email]
MODERN SLAVERY
We believe creativity should never come at the cost of fairness or dignity. This notice sets out our commitment to preventing modern slavery and promoting ethical working practices in everything we do.
At Saffron Cherry Productions, we believe creativity should be built on respect, fairness and integrity. We are committed to ensuring that modern slavery, human trafficking, and exploitative practices have no place in our business or the work we produce.
Our Business
We are an independent UK-based television and digital production company. Our work is primarily developed and delivered in the UK, though we sometimes collaborate with freelance talent, suppliers, and partners internationally.
Our Commitment
-
We support the principles of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015.
-
We will not work with any supplier, contractor, or partner who is knowingly involved in modern slavery or human trafficking.
-
We expect high ethical standards from all those we work with and ask them to share our commitment to fair and safe working conditions.
Our Practices
-
We conduct our business in a way that minimises the risk of exploitation in our supply chains.
-
We work with trusted partners and, where possible, seek to build long-term relationships that are based on openness and accountability.
-
We are committed to raising awareness within our team about modern slavery and ensuring vigilance when engaging new suppliers or contractors.
Looking Ahead
While our size means we are not legally required to publish a detailed annual statement, we choose to share this notice to reflect our values and to reassure those we work with that we take our responsibilities seriously. We will continue to review our practices regularly and strengthen them where needed.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this statement or our approach, please contact us at: [Insert Saffron Cherry Productions contact email]
