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 new 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.
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, Emma Reeves, Keith Brumpton, Tanya Samuel, Emma Kennedy, Karen Bayley, Yennis Cheung, Shin Fei Chen, Aeddan Sussex, Emmanuel Sonubi, Mark Strong, Tayo Akinbode, Ria Munshi, David Waldman and the puppet-makers, Talk to the Hand.
We are thrilled that both our Kids titles made in lockdown have been nominated for Royal Television Society North-West Awards. The World According to Grandpa that we make for Milkshake! is nominated for best pre-school age show and The Wonton Warrior that we made for CBBC Sparks is nominated for best school age show.
Well done Team Grandpa and Team Wonton.
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.
Aspiring now to bigger budgets our sitcoms are set in a Chinese takeaway, a Digital marketing agency, a Recruitment agency and on Segways.
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 works 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.
Kay Benbow
About Kay
All at Saffron Cherry Productions wish to pay our respects to our lovely colleague and friend Kay Benbow, the former Controller of CBeebies who has just passed away.
She was a brilliant beacon within the Children’s sector and will be sorely missed by everyone who had the good fortune to know and work with her. We were lucky enough to work with her for over five years on The World According to Grandpa (Milkshake!) as she was the story editor and steadfast champion of and mentor to the creator and writer Chris Heath. She was a brilliant, loyal friend with passion, intelligence and integrity and she was also incredibly kind. We offer our sincere condolences to Kay’s family and a hug to the industry.
Caroline Roberts-Cherry, Founder and MD
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
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