Aamir Tai will star as Mali, an ordinary boy who has just moved on to an extraordinary inner city estate, where he meets his new best friend Sam, played by Miranda Sarfo Peprah, the daughter of the estate’s caretaker. Together with their friend Bella, played by 7 year old Summer Jenkins, they solve daily problems and overcome childhood dilemmas - all within the safety net of their loving families and the inspirational Apple Tree community that surrounds them.
As well as the two main children the audience will be introduced to a wealth of diverse and supportive characters, including Mali’s grandma Zainab (Shaheen Khan) and Sam’s father Kobi (William Vanderpuye), plus a host of other family members, friends and neighbours, all with very different backgrounds who help Mali and Sam on their adventures around the estate.
As well as the two main children the audience will be introduced to a wealth of diverse and supportive characters, including Mali’s grandma Zainab (Shaheen Khan) and Sam’s father Kobi (William Vanderpuye), plus a host of other family members, friends and neighbours, all with very different backgrounds who help Mali and Sam on their adventures around the estate.
Kay Benbow, Controller of CBeebies, said of the new series: “Apple Tree House embodies all that CBeebies stands for - a sense of fun, curiosity and adventure, as well as sharing valuable life lessons in responsibility, kindness and being a good friend.”
Apple Tree House has been developed for television by award-winning Rastamouse producers Eugenio Perez and Gregory Boardman and has been created by William Vanderpuye (one of the key vocal talents behind the Rastamouse series), Maria Timotheou and Akindele Akinsiku. The series will also feature original songs and a soundtrack from Andrew Kingslow, the composer behind the Rastamouse music.
The 30 x 15 minute series goes in production in early July and will be filmed at Three Mills Studio and on location in East London. It will be broadcast on CBeebies next year.