A TV SHOW that was inspired by cherished childhood memories of the Thornbury area has been nominated for a prestigious award.
Children’s series Pop Paper City has been shortlisted for The Broadcast Awards for best preschool programme.
Childhood friends Georgina Hurcombe and Emily Davis, who work on the show, both previously attended Castle School and Tortworth Primary.
The show follows a group of friends as they embark on adventures in the world of Pop Paper City - which is made using a blend of 3D adventure and live action.
In each 11-minute episode, the characters use crafting to solve challenges and inspire families to get creative at home.
The series was created by Georgina’s production company LoveLove Films, which she launched when she was 25 and which is now based in Bournemouth.
She ended up reaching out to her friend Emily who designs and creates intricate art pieces especially for the series from her garden shed in Falfield.
“It feels like a dream to be nominated"
Georgina has stated that the show was inspired by her childhood memories in the South Gloucestershire countryside.
She said: “The adventures shown in Pop Paper City draw inspiration from my childhood in the countryside, particularly the woodland escapades.
“These memories seamlessly weave into the storylines, adding a touch of nostalgia to the adventures.
“I loved my childhood and I feel very lucky to have spent it feeling like a famous five character roaming around exploring the beautiful South Gloucestershire landscape.”
She added: “Being nominated for best preschool programme at the Broadcast Awards is an incredible honour.
“It feels like a dream for our small studio to be recognised for creating a series with 52 episodes. It's a testament to our passion for creativity and crafting!
“Knowing Emily's innate craftiness, I reached out to her and proposed the idea of working on the series as my craft expert.
“Emily has exceeded all expectations with her incredible skill sets – from paper engineering to textiles and baking, she's a creative force!
“She runs a small business called Emily's Creative Workshop from her home, offering upholstery, bespoke gifts and baking when she's not crafting paper items for the series.”
"Thornbury is a fantastic place to live"
Asked about advice for young people in the area who want to work in the industry, Georgina said: “Thornbury is a fantastic place to live and you live in a fantastic part of the world for inspiration with studios like Aardman nearby.
“I'd suggest watching animations, taking art and media classes, and participating in workshops offered by Aardman.
“Explore animation courses at colleges and universities or online, and don't hesitate to create your own projects in your spare time. You can make great stop motions using a phone camera!
“With the right mix of passion and dedication, the possibilities are endless.”
The series was first launched in 2022 and has been distributed by Aardman Animations to over 150 territories worldwide.
You can watch the series every weekday at 8.30am on Channel 5 or catch up on My5 or Sky.
The team is currently developing a film, and a second season is hoped to be in the works.
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