Saffron Cherry and Grandpa Productions are pleased to announce that The World According to Grandpa, Channel 5 Milkshake!’s hit children’s show has been recommissioned for a second series for transmission weekends at 09:25 from Saturday 15th October on Channel 5 Milkshake! The first series, which is still available here on My5, won the Broadcast award for best pre-school programme earlier this year, as well as the Voice of the Listeners and Viewers Award for best children’s programme, it has just been nominated for best Live Action Kids’ programme for the Content Innovation Awards 2022 and Best Pre-School Children’s Programme for the RTS North West Awards 2022.
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 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.
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 and Mahli 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.” North-western composer Tayo Akinbode returns for the second series, once again providing a soundtrack full of charm and wonderment.
“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, 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 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 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 9:25, viewers young and old are in for another “guilt free viewing” pleasure as described by The Guardian.
