Suffolk's Forest Adventures Inspire Hit Children's Show 'The Grimes'

A dad who moved to Suffolk and created an animated children’s show expressed his surprise when it was picked up by a major television network. Eliot Wykes developed The Grimes, a series that follows a rather “hopeless” family that frequently finds themselves in dirty and sticky situations. The idea for the series was inspired by his own family’s adventures and explorations in Tunstall Forest, near Woodbridge, with his two daughters.

From Chaos to Streaming Success

The series has grown to 15 episodes, all now available on ITVX after Mr. Wykes secured a four to five-year deal with the broadcaster. “During the four years we were making The Grimes, the pandemic hit, and we were building a new home, so we lived in caravans on site,” he recalled. “It was chaotic, but also a lot of fun, and the episodes reflected what we were experiencing every day. We spent our days with the kids in the forest and swimming in a pond with frogs and newts, so the stories practically wrote themselves.”

A Family Collaboration

The Grimes, which is partly autobiographical, is written by Mr. Wykes and his partner, Niki. Their two daughters even lend their voices to some of the characters.

The series gained traction after Mr. Wykes founded his own production company, Part Human, and began sharing clips on YouTube, which caught the attention of an American agency and later ITV, reported The BBC.

“We were a bit surprised as I just started making the series because I wanted to learn animation,” said Mr. Wykes, who previously worked in advertising in London. “I feel very lucky that ITV picked it up, and it’s done really well.”

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Future Plans

Mr. Wykes created the animation using a computer and hand-drawing the characters and scenes on a digital display. He mentioned that creating a five-minute animation can take a couple of months, an intensive process that can be accelerated with external help. Looking ahead, he is interested in exploring other stories, characters, and genres, including a “family horror mini-series.” He also wants to combine his new animation skills with his advertising background to help local Suffolk businesses reach larger audiences.

Passion for Suffolk

“We were happy in Muswell Hill, London, but we moved to Suffolk and fell in love with the place,” he added. “We saw the location and bought it before we even entered the house because it was so beautiful. I’ve become very passionate about Suffolk and want to help local companies get more recognition.”