Channel 5 Commissions Preschool Series Treehouse

Channel 5 and Serious Kids have inked a commissioning agreement for Treehouse Productions’ preschool series Treehouse.

Narrated by Milkshake! presenter Olivia Birchenough, the series features a mix of actors in costume, puppetry and 2D animation. It centers on Squiggle, a curious young squirrel who lives in a magic treehouse in the heart of the countryside, and his friends Fluff, a mischievous mouse, and Nok Nok, a nosy woodpecker, and serves as a celebration of nature.

Each episode follows Squiggle as he visits his woodland friends via the magical wall of windows. He encounters the energetic owl Magnus, the badger and hedgehog duo Badger and Scratch and the dancing ladybird Dotty, among others. Squiggle learns valuable lessons and new skills with his friends, which he teaches them on his return to the the treehouse.

The series explores themes of kindness, inclusion and empathy as the animal characters navigate the world around them. The narrator guides the characters, prompting the action or communicating the lesson. The characters themselves are non-verbal and communicate physically.

Treehouse is produced at RD Studios, which is powered by zero-carbon energy harnessed from solar panels on the roof where the water for the facility is also harvested. The studio also has biodiverse gardens as a haven for bees, birds and local flora. The sets are built from recyclable cardboard, later pulped and repurposed rather than stored.

The series is created by Ryan Dean and Lowri Williams and written by Williams. It is directed by Jamie Langton (Twirlywoos) and produced by Lilly Pollard. The costumes are created by Tim Simpson of Plunge Creations (The Masked Singer). The live-action sequences are blended with animation and special effects from Beakus (Big Lizard, Yakka Dee).

The series is due to air on Channel 5’s Milkshake! in 2025. Serious Kids represents the worldwide distribution rights.

“We were captivated by Treehouse’s blend of fantastic characters, artful storytelling, play, music and dance, all perfectly capturing the spirit of the Milkshake! brand,” said Louise Bucknole, general manager of kids and family at Paramount UK & Ireland. “With Milkshake! presenter Olivia narrating to bring these wonderful stories to life, we hope that our young audience will enjoy learning about the world around them alongside the Treehouse crew.”

“As the co-creator of Treehouse, I am thrilled to announce the launch of this unique show,” Dean, CEO of Treehouse Productions and RD Studios, commented. “My vision when building RD Studios was always to establish a completely sustainable film studio, capable of producing shows that reflect those values. Treehouse is a testament to that commitment, offering children live-action content that is both educational, entertaining and sustainably produced.”

Genevieve Dexter, CEO of Serious Kids, added, “We are so pleased to conclude this deal with Channel 5’s Milkshake! We are aware of the attraction of live-action character series that engage the audience in a unique way, and we’re delighted to produce a show full of inclusive, fun and engaging stories like Treehouse. We look forward to seeing this wonderful series launching on Milkshake! and introducing it to the international market.”