Warrington joins Saffron Cherry as exec producer

Saffron Cherry Productions, creator of The Madame Blanc Mysteries (C5/Acorn TV), co-produced with Clapperboard Studios, has announced Trinidadian-born British actor Don Warrington MBE, as its new executive producer.

Warrington plays the title role in Saffron Cherry production The World According to Grandpa. He will officially join the team with the focus of developing a slate of established and emerging ethnically diverse writers and a vision of telling new, important stories.

Warrington currently stars as Inspector Patterson in the long running Death in Paradise (BBC) produced by Red Planet. He is also well known for playing Philip in Rising Damp (BBC Television).

Saffron Cherry is a multi-genre production company based in Manchester committed to all types of diversity and representation in the television industry, in front of and behind the camera. Founded and led by managing director Caroline Roberts-Cherry, with writer, producer and actor Sally Lindsay as creative director, the team sees Warrington as the perfect fit for the company as it moves forwards on its mission.

Don Warrington says: “Ethnic diversity in television is getting better, but it will only be where it should be when I’m not surprised to see a person of colour on screen. How to improve things depends on whether you think art and culture should lead society or vice versa; I believe that art and culture should always lead so the more diversity within the industry, on every level, the better.

“I was asked to join the team at Saffron Cherry by Caroline with whom I have a great working relationship. I saw it as a fantastic opportunity to work more closely with her and the team to develop new projects for television and film. I have always had a passion for new writing, and for ensuring that there are spaces and opportunities for Global Majority writers to develop their craft. I think authentic, original stories, told by British Global Majority writers are, to some extent, still missing from our screens. I’m excited to help fill that gap, alongside Caroline, Sally and the team at Saffron Cherry.

“It is always a pleasure to be involved at the very beginning of a creative process that brings inventive, new voices to as wide an audience as possible. This country is a hive of incredible cultural talent, and it is important that we continue to provide ways in which that talent can be cultivated and celebrated here. All I can say is watch this space…”

Saffron Cherry’s creative director Sally Lindsay says: “We are delighted that Don is joining us as part of our creative team. He is already working on an adaptation of Edson Burton’s Deacon drama series (Radio 4) and with him on board we are excited by the different stories we can now tell.”