Live on the Ryan O’Connor Breakfast Show, Newnham Highlights Cape Town’s Role in Inspiring the Series and Its Upcoming Animated Adaptation
Cape Town, South Africa — UK author Matt Newnham recently joined Ryan O’Connor on the Smile 90.4FM Breakfast Show, sharing the exciting journey behind his beloved children’s book series, Space Ranger Fred, and how Cape Town played a starring role in both its inspiration and future.
Having lived in the Mother City, Newnham credits Cape Town as the creative spark behind the Space Ranger Fred universe—an imaginative series aimed at encouraging children aged 6 to 10 to fall in love with reading. What began as a local passion project is now set to reach a global audience.
Newnham announced that he is currently working with Lightyears Media, based in Cape Town, to develop an animated adaptation of the books—featuring an all-star voice cast that includes:
- Roger May (Peter Rabbit, Father Brown)
- Penelope Rawlins (Peppa Pig)
- Michael Simkins (The Crown, Eastenders)
“Cape Town is very much on the map for making this whole thing happen,” Newnham shared during the interview. “We’re getting world-class skills that aren’t seen on the world stage.”
The upcoming animation promises to expand the universe of Fred Sanders—the youngest space ranger in the galaxy—and deliver even more fun, learning, and imagination to children everywhere.