The Rubbish World of Dave Spud
My Role
Creator. Writer. Series Director (inc voice direction, script feedback). Music Editor
The Rubbish World of Dave Spud is my original IP - commissioned by CITV and launched in 2019. It's a 5-11s comedy adventure series about finding the magic and adventures in the ordinary.
Across 3 series and 102 episodes, I led the creative direction through the pilot process, pitch then into production through to delivery. shaping the tone through working with the editor and art director on animatics and design , working across all the scripts, casting and voice direction, through to a music edit role for all the original music for the series from wonderful Basement Jaxx .
The series was ratings hit in the UK, leading quickly to further season commissions - and has since sold internationally to Australia, Sweden, Russia, Spain (Basque), plus Welsh and Gaelic versions.
About the Show
An 'ordinary family, extraordinary chaos' comedy. Dave Spud (voiced by Johnny Vegas), is a well-meaning, accident magnet. Dave united with his staunch (my favourite word after watching the marvellous Grey Gardens documentary) family, and friends including a cheeky and vocal Starfish called Gareth, a small scruffy dog with one good eye, and some slightly more 'human' friends, albeit Katie is a zombie, the Spuds must deal with it, whatever 'it' is and 'DO IT WITH GUSTO'(and be back in time for dinner preferably)
I'm very proud of the show - it's messy, heartfelt and inclusive. Proudly leaning into working class roots - finding the epic in the everyday. The brief was simple: make us laugh, but make us care.
I protected that core - emotionally honest storytelling under surreal imagination - while pushing the funny - the impact and the music - within the tight 11-minute timeframe (also within production schedule and budget)
Voice cast was a big part of the success story for me - including the talents of Philip Glenister, Arthur Smith, Lisa Hammond, Jane Horrocks, Akiya Henry, Inel Tomlinson, David Holt, Gina Yashere, and Johnny Vegas. Brit Awards-winning electronic music duo Basement Jaxx (Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe) have done a fantastic job creating new original library of music that I then select and edit to picture to become the soundtrack to the series.
I wanted the show do its own thing and yet remain true to its Anna Spud and Pensioner Penny family tree roots (my prev animated shorts that can be found on the 'odds n sods' page)
The series won:
Royal Television Award (RTS) Best Children's programme
British Animation Awards (BAAS) Best Children's Series
Watch in the UK
All the series and episodes are on ITVX. Also available on Amazon Prime. Various clips on youtube. Official accounts: @DaveSpudWorld also on Twitter, Facebook and Insta.
Merch: online store, plus 'Official Guide books' published by Sweet Cherry publishing
