Apple Tree House

Lore & Background

The series was originally proposed as an animated series by Rastamouse producers Eugenio Perez and Gregory Boardman. The live action series was created by William Vanderpuye, Maria Timotheou and Akindele Akinsiku, drawing on their own childhood experiences. The CBeebies commissioner said of the show that 'The urban setting is important for a lot of children. When you’re a child you do read stories and they are a bit idealistic - this will be more real and more authentic.'

Reader's Guide

Apple Tree House represents a deliberate shift in children's programming toward urban, realistic settings, as noted by the CBeebies commissioner. The series was created by a team who drew on their own childhood experiences, aiming to offer authenticity to young viewers. Its first series of 30 episodes began broadcasting on 22 May 2017, and a second series was commissioned that same year. The show was produced by Five Apples Ltd for the BBC and remained available on BBC iPlayer for over a year, extending its reach beyond broadcast. The cast includes William Vanderpuye as Kobi the Caretaker, alongside child actors Aamir Tai, Miranda Sarfo Peprah, Summer Jenkins, Eden Gough, and Sahana Rameswaren-Kangesan, with adult actors Shaheen Khan, Andrea Hall, Alison Lintott, and Rachael Hart.

Did You Know?

• It was filmed in Bromley-by-Bow, London.
• The first of 30 episodes was first broadcast on 22 May 2017.
• A second series was commissioned in 2017.

From Animation to Authenticity

The journey of Apple Tree House from concept to screen reflects a meaningful shift in creative direction. The project was initially pitched as an animated series by Eugenio Perez and Gregory Boardman, the team behind Rastamouse. However, the format evolved into a live-action production, with William Vanderpuye, Maria Timotheou, and Akindele Akinsiku stepping in as creators. These three writers drew directly from their own childhood memories to shape the story, grounding the narrative in lived experience rather than fantasy. The CBeebies commissioner articulated the philosophy behind this choice, noting that while children's stories often lean toward the idealistic, this show would feel more real and authentic to its young audience. The urban setting was deliberately chosen because it mirrors the environments many children actually grow up in. Aimed at viewers aged one to six, the series sought to offer a television drama that reflected the texture of everyday life on a London housing estate, making it a distinctive entry in the preschool and early-years programming landscape.

Production & Setting

Apple Tree House was developed as a drama series for the BBC's CBeebies channel, targeting the youngest television viewers aged one through six. The production was handled by Five Apples Ltd, which served as the production company behind the series for the broadcaster. The story unfolds on the fictitious Apple Tree House estate, a housing development situated in London that serves as the central backdrop for every episode. While the estate itself is a creation of the writers' imagination, the physical filming took place in Bromley-by-Bow, a real London location that provided the authentic urban environment the creators wanted to capture. This combination of a fictional community name with a genuine London filming location allowed the show to feel both specific and relatable. The series was also made available through BBC iPlayer, where it remained accessible to viewers for more than a year, extending its reach beyond scheduled television broadcasts and allowing families to revisit episodes at their own pace.

The Cast & Characters

The heart of Apple Tree House lies in its ensemble of principal characters, each brought to life by a dedicated actor. William Vanderpuye, who co-created the series, takes on the role of Kobi the Caretaker, anchoring the estate with his presence. The younger cast includes Aamir Tai as Mali, Miranda Sarfo Peprah as Sam, Summer Jenkins as Bella, Eden Gough as David, and Sahana Rameswaren-Kangesan as Laila. Rounding out the core group are Shaheen Khan as Zainab, Andrea Hall as Patience, Alison Lintott as Flo, and Rachael Hart as Katie. Together, these ten characters populate the Apple Tree House estate, creating a small community in which the youngest viewers can see reflections of their own social worlds. The range of character names and the London estate setting align with the show's stated goal of feeling more real and authentic to children growing up in urban environments, giving its one-to-six audience a cast that feels grounded in the kind of neighborhood they know from their own daily lives.

Broadcast & Availability

Apple Tree House made its television debut on 22 May 2017, when the first of its thirty episodes aired on CBeebies. A second series was commissioned within the same year, a sign of the broadcaster's continued investment in the format and its young audience. Beyond its scheduled broadcast slots, the series found a second life on BBC iPlayer, where it remained available for streaming for more than a year. This extended digital availability was particularly significant for a show aimed at children aged one to six, as it allowed parents and caregivers to revisit episodes multiple times without being tied to a specific broadcast schedule. The combination of a full thirty-episode first series, a confirmed second series, and sustained online accessibility positioned Apple Tree House as a substantial and enduring entry in early-years television, giving its young audience ample opportunity to grow familiar with the characters and the rhythms of life on the estate.