Mellie Buse

Mellie is a children’s/family TV content creator, producer, script writer, voice director, script editor and consultant.
Together with her partner, Jan Page, they set up Adastra Creative, an independent production company, which has produced five series of top rated BAFTA winning CBeebies show GRANDPA IN MY POCKET. In addition, she co-created, wrote and produced HA HA HAIRIES, another mixed content show launched on Cartoon Network EMEA and has had three Bafta nominations and a win.

Mellie script edited Tiger Aspect’s award-winning animation adaptation of Lauren Child’s CHARLIE & LOLA books for the BBC and Disney channel. She was Co- Creator, Head Writer and Showrunner on Jim Henson’s BAFTA winning pre-school series THE HOOBS, and has written extensively over the years for all the leading kid’s brands including Fireman Sam, Angelina Ballerina, Guess with Jess and Pop Paper City. She was recently head writer and voice director on WISSPER Series 2 for Ch5/Milkshake.

Mellie now runs two new companies with Producer/Director Martin Franks. The first, Adastra Development Ltd, is developing IP for traditional TV platforms as well as offering creative consultancy and writing services for clients. The second, Magic2 Media hosts a pre-school channel and creates digital content.
Most recently Mellie has created and produced a pre-school mixed content show commissioned by Ch5/Milkshake, MIMI’S WORLD. It has won the coveted Pulcinella Prize at Cartoons on the Bay for Best Live Action or Hybrid show.

She has developed a TV adaptation of the successful book series THE BOY WHO GREW DRAGONS and is currently seeking finance partners for a BBC commission. She has also developed three original animated shows – BIBI, BONES AND BLOOPER with Alt Animation, MARLEY’S MOON with Taunt Studios and ESME WONDERWIG with Flipbook and has treatment for a Christmas Movie called “All About Alan.”

She is currently working on some picture books and Chapter Book ideas along with a middle grade novel.
Mellie is a regular speaker at the London Screenwriters’ Festival and The Children’s Media Conference and runs writing workshops and training courses.

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Credits

SCRIPTWRITING AND PRODUCTION
Production
Company
Notes
Production
ADORCABLE
Company
Red Monk Studio
Notes
Commissioned to develop and adapt a book series - Bible and 2 x scripts commissioned
Production
UNTITLED
Company
Komixx/BBC Studios
Notes
Commissioned to write a 7min development script
Production
SHEILA
Company
King Bert Productions
Notes
Development of a pre-school animated show inspired by David Walliams’ picture books
Production
MIMI'S WORLD
Company
Adastra/Channel 5 Milkshake
Notes
Creation, development and production of original Adastra IP, currently airing on Channel 5/Milkshake
Production
BIBI, BONES AND BLOOPER
Company
Alt Animation
Notes
Created and developed original animated show
Production
POP PAPER CITY
Company
Lovelove Productions/Aardman
Notes
Writer on 1 x 11 minute episode
Production
THE BOY WHO GREW DRAGONS
Company
Adastra/Lime Pictures
Notes
Development of a mixed content show based on books by best selling author Andy Shepherd
Production
MARLEY'S MOON
Company
Adastra/Taunt Studios
Notes
Creation and development of original animated show.
Production
ALUNA AND THE GO-AWAY BIRD
Company
Adastra/GAPC Entertainment
Notes
Creation and development of original animation and theatrical puppetry
Production
ESME WONDERWIG
Company
Adastra Development / FLIPBOOK
Notes
Creation and development an original animated show – philosophy for pre-schoolers
Production
UNTITLED
Company
SVOD Client
Notes
Voice director for English dub of animated series
Production
WISSPER Series 2
Company
Channel 5/Milkshake
Notes
Head writer and Voice Director on 52 x 7’ preschool series
Production
ANGELINA BALLERINA
Company
Brown Bag Films/9Story
Notes
Re-development of this heritage brand for new CGI series.
Production
GRANDPA IN MY POCKET
Company
Adastra Creative/CBeebies
Notes
Original mixed content pre-school comedy. Mellie Buse and Jan Page wrote and produced the series through their own production company, Adastra Creative www.adastracreative.com. Five series have now been produced and aired making 118 episodes all told. The show has sold to 104 countries worldwide and was the highest rating show in the UK and Australia for its target demographic.
*Nominated for Best Pre-school Live Action programme at the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014 Children’s BAFTA Awards
*Nominated for Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series in the Pre-school category at the 2010 inaugural KidScreen Awards
*Winner of Welsh BAFTA 2009 – Best Children’s Programme
Production
GRANDPA IN MY POCKET STAGE SHOW
Company
Nottingham Playhouse
Notes
Mellie Buse and Jan Page co-wrote the stage production of “Grandpa in my Pocket” which premiered at Nottingham in the Summer of 2012 and toured the UK in 2013.
Production
THE HA HA HARIES
Company
Turner Europe
Notes
Created, written and Produced by Mellie Buse and Jan Page, the series began airing across Europe, Middle East and Africa from May 2012. It is Turner Broadcasting’s first EMEA pre-school commission and after only a month on air it is rating at number 1 in Italy, 2 in Sweden and 4 in the UK on Cartoon Network channels. *Nominated for 2012nand 2013 BAFTA in the Pre-School Live Action category.
*Winner of the Welsh Bafta for Visual Effects.
Production
CHARLIE AND LOLA
Company
BBC/Playhouse Disney/Tiger Aspect
Notes
Script editor/Head Writer and pre-school consultant on 78 x 12 minute episodes of this multi award-winning series.
Production
THE HOOBS
Company
Jim Henson/Channel 4
Notes
Head writer and series producer on 250 x 30 minute pre-school series. 12 scripts and lyrics for over 400 songs.
*Winner of the 2002 BAFTA for Best Pre-School Live Action.
Production
ANGELINA BALLERINA
Company
HiT Entertainment
Notes
Scripts and an hour-long Christmas special for this animated series adapted from the best-selling books for BBC.
*Nominated for 2002 BAFTA Best Animated Programme
*The Christmas Special – Winner of British Animation Award 2004
Production
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
Company
Adastra Development Ltd
Notes
Scripts and Production for two factual series for The Royal Ballet and Royal Opera for kids aged 8 – 11 Schools’ Outreach Project.
Production
TAP ON THE ROOF
Company
CBBC
Notes
Creator and writer of development bible and pilot script for new comedy series
Production
MICK THE MINI CHEF
Company
France Television/Studio Redfrog
Notes
Development of mixed content Kids Cooking brand and pilot scripts
Production
MYRO
Company
Channel 5
Notes
Development and head writing of pilot eps of new pre-school brand
Production
THE TROUBLE WITH MUM
Company
Spider Eye Animation
Notes
Development and pilot script from this well known Babette Cole picture book
Production
HAPPY GO HOPSCOTCH
Company
Meta Media Entertainment Ltd/Adastra Development
Notes
Development and Consultation on new pre-school animated show.
Production
BITZIBOOS
Company
Magic 2 Media/Adastra Development
Notes
Development, scripts and production of mixed content stop frame/live action pre-school brand for digital platforms.
Production
MY MAGIC THEATRE
Company
Magic 2 Media/Adastra Development
Notes
Creator, writer, producer of digital puppetry brand for digital platforms.
Production
SHLOPPY TV
Company
Magic 2 Media/Adastra Development
Notes
Co Creator, writer and producer of new digital edutainment puppet brand for kids aged 7 -11.
Production
BLOB IN A BOX
Company
Magic 2 Media/Adastra Development
Notes
Co-Creator, writer and producer of new pre-school brand with character designs by Tom McLaughlin.
Production
ZIT AND ROCKET
Company
Adastra Development
Notes
Development and Scripts for new digital animation series for 7 – 11 yr olds.
Production
WEIRD
Company
Adastra Development
Notes
Development and Script Editor for short form digital drama series for 8 – 12 yr olds.
Production
CHESTER TUFFNUT
Company
Adastra Development
Notes
Digital re-imagining of Gomito Productions Stage Show for pre-schoolers. Writer, producer.
Production
THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE
Company
Adastra Development
Notes
Development for television for the Roald Dahl Estate.
Production
FIVE MINUTES MORE
Company
ABC Australia
Notes
Children’s special television project. An original pre-school puppet show - developed, scripted and consulted on all 65 episodes.
Production
BAMBALOO
Company
Jim Henson/Channel 7 Australia
Notes
Development of 65 x 30 minute live action series. Storylines and Head Writer for all 65 episodes and Co-executive producer for the series.
Production
MOPATOP'S SHOP
Company
Jim Henson/CITV
Notes
Series 1 & 2 - 40 x 10 minute scripts for the pre-school puppet show
*Series nominated for a Children’s BAFTA
Production
ENTERTAINMENT RIGHTS – GUESS WITH JESS
Company
CBeebies
Notes
Series Development and Head writing - 52 episodes.
Production
THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT
Company
Silver Fox Films
Notes
Scripts for the recent remake of this series.
Production
FIREMAN SAM
Company
HiT Entertainment
Notes
Scripted on the new CGI series.
Production
WHAT'S YOUR NEWS
Company
TT Animation/Nick Jr
Notes
Scripted on new series.
Production
POPPYCAT
Company
Coolabi/Nick Jr
Notes
Development for an animated series
Production
TOBY'S TRAVELLING CIRCUS
Company
Komixx Entertainment/Milkshake
Notes
Development of pre-school series.
Production
LIVE ACTION SERIES
Company
Chapman Entertainment
Notes
Creative consultancy and development of new pre-school live action series from the creator of BOB THE BUILDER.
Production
THE (NOT SO SCARY) MONSTERS
Company
The Monster Factory
Notes
Origination of pre-school animated magazine show.
Production
TALES OF THE RIVERBANK
Company
Celador International
Notes
Developed scripted and produced new pre-school puppet series loosely based on the original show.
Production
SAM SAM
Company
Baynard Jeunesse
Notes
CGI pre-school French animation series. Casting/voice direction and consultancy.
Production
WHERE'S MY DINNER?
Company
Arthur Cox
Notes
Script development for comedy adventure series for 6-10 year olds.
Production
PEPPER'S PATROL
Company
Coolabi
Notes
Development producer for this stop-frame animated series for 4-6 year olds.
Production
NEW ANIMATED PRESCHOOL SHOW
Company
HiT/Lupus Fulms
Notes
Developed and Scripted.
Production
INITIAL KIDS
Company
Notes
Originated and developed pre-school live action entertainment series.
Production
JESS THE BORDER COLLIE
Company
IWC/BBC Scotland
Notes
Storyliner, scriptwriter, and script consultant. Involved in the development of the project.
Production
PLANET COOK
Company
Platinum Films/BBC
Notes
Head writer/script producer on 104 x 20 minute episodes of this light entertainment 'Cooking Adventure'.
Production
LITTLE ROBOTS
Company
Create TV
Notes
Scripts for this animated pre-school series.
Production
BORN AND BRED
Company
BBC Drama
Notes
Storyline commission
Production
WATCH BARNABY BEAR
Company
BBC Education
Notes
Scripts for live action Key Stage One Geography programmes.
Production
FLIPPITT
Company
HiT Entertainment
Notes
Development work including bible and several scripts for this science based animation series.
Production
THE 3RD DABBLER
Company
BBC Radio Wales
Notes
BBC Radio play.
Production
THE MAGIC KEY
Company
BBC/HiT Entertainment
Notes
6 x 13 minute scripts for animated series based on The Oxford Reading Tree Scheme.
Production
DON'T EAT THE NEIGHBOURS
Company
Granada
Notes
Storyline and 22 minute script for puppet show series.
Production
WATCH: FAITH STORUES
Company
BBC Education
Notes
4 x 7 minute scripts.
Production
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN PUGWASH
Company
Britt Allcroft Ltd for ITV
Notes
One of only two writers on Series one and two of the newly animated series.
Production
OFF THE RAILS & NOT IN MY BACK YARD
Company
Notes
Development of scripts with James Bolam for this situation comedy and comedy drama series.
Production
PLAYAWAY & THE SQUARE TOMATO SHOW
Company
BBC
Notes
Scripts and sketches.
AUDIO
Production
Company
Notes
Production
ROALD DAHL ADAPTATIONS
Company
Penguin Audio Books
Notes
Dramatisations of the following titles for cassette/CD launched in August 1998 (also full studio production and post production):
FANTASTIC MR FOX, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, MATILDA, DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, GEORGE'S MARVELLOUS MEDICINE, THE WITCHES, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, CHARLIE AND THE GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR, THE BFG.
Production
AUDIO ADAPTATIONS
Company
Penguin Audio Books
Notes
Audio adaptati and full studio production of the following titles:
NURSERY RHYMES AND TALES (*Winner of best pre-school title at Talkies Awards), THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, PETER PAN, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.
STAGE
Production
Company
Notes
Production
COME IN NUMBER THREE
Company
Hawth Theatre, Crawley
Notes
Winning entry of short plays staged at the Hawth Theatre and subsequent tour.
MICELLANEOUS
Production
Company
Notes
Production
EUREKA: FUN AND FIRECRACKERS
Company
Eos Films for Channel 4 Schools
Notes
Script editing and consultancy work for a 4-part programme.
Production
COME FOLLOW ME
Company
Save The Children Fund
Notes
Wrote lyrics and music for a Christmas Pop Opera for young voices. World Premier - November 1998 at Apollo Theatre, Oxford. Also lyrics and Music for An Easter Cantata in the same style.
SCRIPTWRITING AND PRODUCTION
Production Company Notes
ADORCABLE Red Monk Studio Commissioned to develop and adapt a book series - Bible and 2 x scripts commissioned
UNTITLED Komixx/BBC Studios Commissioned to write a 7min development script
SHEILA King Bert Productions Development of a pre-school animated show inspired by David Walliams’ picture books
MIMI'S WORLD Adastra/Channel 5 Milkshake Creation, development and production of original Adastra IP, currently airing on Channel 5/Milkshake
BIBI, BONES AND BLOOPER Alt Animation Created and developed original animated show
POP PAPER CITY Lovelove Productions/Aardman Writer on 1 x 11 minute episode
THE BOY WHO GREW DRAGONS Adastra/Lime Pictures Development of a mixed content show based on books by best selling author Andy Shepherd
MARLEY'S MOON Adastra/Taunt Studios Creation and development of original animated show.
ALUNA AND THE GO-AWAY BIRD Adastra/GAPC Entertainment Creation and development of original animation and theatrical puppetry
ESME WONDERWIG Adastra Development / FLIPBOOK Creation and development an original animated show – philosophy for pre-schoolers
UNTITLED SVOD Client Voice director for English dub of animated series
WISSPER Series 2 Channel 5/Milkshake Head writer and Voice Director on 52 x 7’ preschool series
ANGELINA BALLERINA Brown Bag Films/9Story Re-development of this heritage brand for new CGI series.
GRANDPA IN MY POCKET Adastra Creative/CBeebies Original mixed content pre-school comedy. Mellie Buse and Jan Page wrote and produced the series through their own production company, Adastra Creative www.adastracreative.com. Five series have now been produced and aired making 118 episodes all told. The show has sold to 104 countries worldwide and was the highest rating show in the UK and Australia for its target demographic.
*Nominated for Best Pre-school Live Action programme at the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014 Children’s BAFTA Awards
*Nominated for Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series in the Pre-school category at the 2010 inaugural KidScreen Awards
*Winner of Welsh BAFTA 2009 – Best Children’s Programme
GRANDPA IN MY POCKET STAGE SHOW Nottingham Playhouse Mellie Buse and Jan Page co-wrote the stage production of “Grandpa in my Pocket” which premiered at Nottingham in the Summer of 2012 and toured the UK in 2013.
THE HA HA HARIES Turner Europe Created, written and Produced by Mellie Buse and Jan Page, the series began airing across Europe, Middle East and Africa from May 2012. It is Turner Broadcasting’s first EMEA pre-school commission and after only a month on air it is rating at number 1 in Italy, 2 in Sweden and 4 in the UK on Cartoon Network channels. *Nominated for 2012nand 2013 BAFTA in the Pre-School Live Action category.
*Winner of the Welsh Bafta for Visual Effects.
CHARLIE AND LOLA BBC/Playhouse Disney/Tiger Aspect Script editor/Head Writer and pre-school consultant on 78 x 12 minute episodes of this multi award-winning series.
THE HOOBS Jim Henson/Channel 4 Head writer and series producer on 250 x 30 minute pre-school series. 12 scripts and lyrics for over 400 songs.
*Winner of the 2002 BAFTA for Best Pre-School Live Action.
ANGELINA BALLERINA HiT Entertainment Scripts and an hour-long Christmas special for this animated series adapted from the best-selling books for BBC.
*Nominated for 2002 BAFTA Best Animated Programme
*The Christmas Special – Winner of British Animation Award 2004
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE Adastra Development Ltd Scripts and Production for two factual series for The Royal Ballet and Royal Opera for kids aged 8 – 11 Schools’ Outreach Project.
TAP ON THE ROOF CBBC Creator and writer of development bible and pilot script for new comedy series
MICK THE MINI CHEF France Television/Studio Redfrog Development of mixed content Kids Cooking brand and pilot scripts
MYRO Channel 5 Development and head writing of pilot eps of new pre-school brand
THE TROUBLE WITH MUM Spider Eye Animation Development and pilot script from this well known Babette Cole picture book
HAPPY GO HOPSCOTCH Meta Media Entertainment Ltd/Adastra Development Development and Consultation on new pre-school animated show.
BITZIBOOS Magic 2 Media/Adastra Development Development, scripts and production of mixed content stop frame/live action pre-school brand for digital platforms.
MY MAGIC THEATRE Magic 2 Media/Adastra Development Creator, writer, producer of digital puppetry brand for digital platforms.
SHLOPPY TV Magic 2 Media/Adastra Development Co Creator, writer and producer of new digital edutainment puppet brand for kids aged 7 -11.
BLOB IN A BOX Magic 2 Media/Adastra Development Co-Creator, writer and producer of new pre-school brand with character designs by Tom McLaughlin.
ZIT AND ROCKET Adastra Development Development and Scripts for new digital animation series for 7 – 11 yr olds.
WEIRD Adastra Development Development and Script Editor for short form digital drama series for 8 – 12 yr olds.
CHESTER TUFFNUT Adastra Development Digital re-imagining of Gomito Productions Stage Show for pre-schoolers. Writer, producer.
THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE Adastra Development Development for television for the Roald Dahl Estate.
FIVE MINUTES MORE ABC Australia Children’s special television project. An original pre-school puppet show - developed, scripted and consulted on all 65 episodes.
BAMBALOO Jim Henson/Channel 7 Australia Development of 65 x 30 minute live action series. Storylines and Head Writer for all 65 episodes and Co-executive producer for the series.
MOPATOP'S SHOP Jim Henson/CITV Series 1 & 2 - 40 x 10 minute scripts for the pre-school puppet show
*Series nominated for a Children’s BAFTA
ENTERTAINMENT RIGHTS – GUESS WITH JESS CBeebies Series Development and Head writing - 52 episodes.
THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT Silver Fox Films Scripts for the recent remake of this series.
FIREMAN SAM HiT Entertainment Scripted on the new CGI series.
WHAT'S YOUR NEWS TT Animation/Nick Jr Scripted on new series.
POPPYCAT Coolabi/Nick Jr Development for an animated series
TOBY'S TRAVELLING CIRCUS Komixx Entertainment/Milkshake Development of pre-school series.
LIVE ACTION SERIES Chapman Entertainment Creative consultancy and development of new pre-school live action series from the creator of BOB THE BUILDER.
THE (NOT SO SCARY) MONSTERS The Monster Factory Origination of pre-school animated magazine show.
TALES OF THE RIVERBANK Celador International Developed scripted and produced new pre-school puppet series loosely based on the original show.
SAM SAM Baynard Jeunesse CGI pre-school French animation series. Casting/voice direction and consultancy.
WHERE'S MY DINNER? Arthur Cox Script development for comedy adventure series for 6-10 year olds.
PEPPER'S PATROL Coolabi Development producer for this stop-frame animated series for 4-6 year olds.
NEW ANIMATED PRESCHOOL SHOW HiT/Lupus Fulms Developed and Scripted.
INITIAL KIDS Originated and developed pre-school live action entertainment series.
JESS THE BORDER COLLIE IWC/BBC Scotland Storyliner, scriptwriter, and script consultant. Involved in the development of the project.
PLANET COOK Platinum Films/BBC Head writer/script producer on 104 x 20 minute episodes of this light entertainment 'Cooking Adventure'.
LITTLE ROBOTS Create TV Scripts for this animated pre-school series.
BORN AND BRED BBC Drama Storyline commission
WATCH BARNABY BEAR BBC Education Scripts for live action Key Stage One Geography programmes.
FLIPPITT HiT Entertainment Development work including bible and several scripts for this science based animation series.
THE 3RD DABBLER BBC Radio Wales BBC Radio play.
THE MAGIC KEY BBC/HiT Entertainment 6 x 13 minute scripts for animated series based on The Oxford Reading Tree Scheme.
DON'T EAT THE NEIGHBOURS Granada Storyline and 22 minute script for puppet show series.
WATCH: FAITH STORUES BBC Education 4 x 7 minute scripts.
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN PUGWASH Britt Allcroft Ltd for ITV One of only two writers on Series one and two of the newly animated series.
OFF THE RAILS & NOT IN MY BACK YARD Development of scripts with James Bolam for this situation comedy and comedy drama series.
PLAYAWAY & THE SQUARE TOMATO SHOW BBC Scripts and sketches.
AUDIO
Production Company Notes
ROALD DAHL ADAPTATIONS Penguin Audio Books Dramatisations of the following titles for cassette/CD launched in August 1998 (also full studio production and post production):
FANTASTIC MR FOX, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, MATILDA, DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, GEORGE'S MARVELLOUS MEDICINE, THE WITCHES, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, CHARLIE AND THE GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR, THE BFG.
AUDIO ADAPTATIONS Penguin Audio Books Audio adaptati and full studio production of the following titles:
NURSERY RHYMES AND TALES (*Winner of best pre-school title at Talkies Awards), THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, PETER PAN, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.
STAGE
Production Company Notes
COME IN NUMBER THREE Hawth Theatre, Crawley Winning entry of short plays staged at the Hawth Theatre and subsequent tour.
MICELLANEOUS
Production Company Notes
EUREKA: FUN AND FIRECRACKERS Eos Films for Channel 4 Schools Script editing and consultancy work for a 4-part programme.
COME FOLLOW ME Save The Children Fund Wrote lyrics and music for a Christmas Pop Opera for young voices. World Premier - November 1998 at Apollo Theatre, Oxford. Also lyrics and Music for An Easter Cantata in the same style.