Jamie Oliver Group chief creates food-focused YouTube series for preschoolers

Gnome Rangers mixes animation and live-action

A preschool entertainment series about the importance of nature and food education created by the co-CEO of The Jamie Oliver Group will launch on YouTube next year.

Gnome Rangers (30×7′) is a mix of animation and live-action and will launch in early 2027 across YouTube, other digital platforms and the Gnome Rangers website.

The show has been created by Louise Holland of The Jamie Oliver Group with the intention of inspiring preschool children to develop a love of fruit, vegetables and the natural world.

Produced by Bose Collins, whose work includes campaigns for National Geographic and other global brands, the series is directed by Pete Dodd (Corpse Bride), with writing from Justin Edwards and Toby Davies (Paddington, Horrible Histories).

Other industry veterans involved in the brand include media, entertainment and brand licensing specialist Jane Smith.

Holland said: “We wanted to create a preschool world that children genuinely want to spend time in while naturally building curiosity about food, nature and where things come from.

“Rather than telling children what they should eat, Gnome Rangers encourages them to discover it through adventure, imagination and play. Every part of the brand has been designed so the stories children watch can continue into classrooms, kitchens and gardens.”

The characters will feature throughout celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s 10 Cooking Skills primary schools programme, introducing thousands of children to the Gnome Rangers world through classroom activities centred around planting, cooking, tasting and food discovery.

The partnership marks the first phase of a broader roll-out for the brand, which also includes licensed consumer products, digital content and the preschool animation series, which is currently in production.

Each episode follows the Gnome Rangers as they protect their magical world where fruit and vegetables grow, taking young audiences on adventures filled with humour, music, discovery and gentle environmental themes.

Alongside the longform series, a programme of shortform digital content will introduce audiences to the characters.

The first Gnome Rangers licensed product is also being launched, in the shape of Gnome Rangers Tomato Ketchup, developed with The Foraging Fox and available through Ocado.