Presenters Aaron Roach Bridgeman and puppet co-host Zesty guide children through food-themed activities filmed against the market’s fruit and vegetable rows, fish counters and busy walkways. Producers say the location provides an authentic place for children to meet real traders and see where food comes from.
Dom Sant, founder of Common Story, the Leamington Spa company behind the series, said, "It's important that children see themselves represented in real places with real people." He added the market’s atmosphere, mix of stalls and community feel made it an ideal setting.
Director Jess Matthews described filming as "glorious chaos," noting the crew often followed children’s spontaneous reactions rather than sticking to a rigid script. Alongside Aaron and Zesty, the show features Compost Monster, a regular character created to encourage sustainable food habits and reduce food waste.
Local families took part in filming. Six-year-old Oscar from Bedworth joined other children after his mother, Hannah, applied via social media. Hannah said, "Oscar loves his food and he's very chatty, so when they met him he made a good impression." She added that visiting the market revived childhood memories of Saturday shopping with her parents, saying, "Every time I walk into the market it's nostalgic. I feel like I'm four years old again, holding my dad's hand."
Traders welcomed the production. David Betts said the filming had shone a light on a familiar city landmark, calling it "one of the iconic places in Coventry and people take it for granted." Fishmonger Clive Miller said the show offers children encounters they do not get in supermarkets. "When children go to the supermarket, they don't get to see fish like this," he said. "It's a chance for them to learn about a wider variety of fish and where food comes from."
Common Story began in a garden shed six years ago with a £10,000 budget. The company has since produced more than 100 programmes for CBeebies and currently has a further 30 projects in production. The market filming, organisers say, will bring that local environment to young viewers when the series debuts next spring.
