About friday's child

Friday’s Child is a fully independent DRTV production company, based in the heart of Brighton. What started as a quick venture into the DRTV world with a charity we were making documentaries with, has led to a 15-year span in the industry, during which we have been making successful content for some of the biggest (and smallest) charities in the sector, in the UK and abroad. From TV adverts to digital brand films, from infographics to viral digital shorts and from podcasts to radio adverts, our aim is to tell stories that matter, find new ways to tell them and new ways to engage supporters.

We are passionate about creating the best looking and best performing campaigns on the market. From the initial creative, through to production and delivery, Friday’s Child is a one stop DRTV shop. We love going out to shoot fresh new material for clients, both scripted and actuality, but we are equally adept at working with pre-existing client-owned footage. For many years we operated as an arm of Middlechild, an award-winning TV production company, but in 2023 the time felt right to break out into our own entity, allowing us to be more streamlined, charity sector-focused and to have a name and brand that better reflected our work. We work with the best talent the industry has to offer, have numerous off and online full edit suites and boast an extensive range of the latest camera and production kit, all in house. Whilst we retain close ties to our parent company, we are proud to be operating under a new name and look forward to continuing to create cutting-edge content for all our wonderful clients under the name of Friday’s Child.

What we do

Friday’s Child is loving and giving.

Or so goes the well-known poem.

Collaborating

Collaborating with charities to find unique and innovative ways of harnessing their audience’s loving and giving side is at the heart of everything we do.

Forward thinking

We hope, in a small way, that through working with the many brilliant charities that we’re lucky to call our clients, we’re helping to make the world a better place.

To produce, direct & deliver adverts

That make a real difference to people and animals’ lives is something we are extremely proud of.

Our team

David started working with charity clients over 10 years ago via his television and documentary background. A Sky One TV series he was producing introduced him to the work of the RSPCA and established a relationship that is still going strong today. That first client and foray into the world of DRTV acted as a spring board that now sees Friday’s Child (nee Middlechild) as a specialist in the charitable sector and one of the leading agencies in the UK. Friday’s Child is now a one stop production shop from DRTV adverts and animation videos to podcasts and social media content and David couldn’t be prouder of his team and the clients he works with.

Having been a producer and director in factual television for many years, Andrew has worked alongside David since 2014. Initially he led development and helped produce new content, and now as Creative Director, Andrew helps conceive and exec-produce all the company’s output. With a passion for documentary, and experience in producing commercial content for television broadcasters around the world, Andrew has been a big advocate for using these skills to create compelling DRTV campaigns with Friday’s Child. A production team who has made successful, powerful and often sensitive documentary films, are perfectly equipped to tackle important issues on behalf of the charity sector.

Holly began her journey into TV Production at Bournemouth University and went on to follow a production management career path with The Walt Disney Company, BBC and Warner Brothers. She moved back to the South Coast in 2014, and joined Fridays child in 2021 as their Head of Production. Holly oversees the logistical side of programme making and is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work with Friday’s Child and the DRTV team to be able to use her skills for the greater good.

Tom came to Middlechild in 2017 after a two-year stint at the BBC, working in both TV and radio production. After a year or so working in development at Middlechild, an opportunity came up to head up the DRTV department, which was exponentially growing and needed someone to be dedicated to it full time. It has proved to be a perfect fit, as Tom can combine his creative storytelling skills with his strength in client and project management. The ethical, compassionate and international nature of working with the NGO sector are all right up Tom’s street and makes doing his job a daily pleasure and privilege.

Before joining Middlechild Productions as an Assistant Producer, Laura worked as a freelancer across various Film and TV projects, but never quite felt she found her place in the industry. It wasn’t until joining Middlechild’s DRTV department that Laura discovered a bridge between her previous experience in the industry and a passion to use media as a tool for positive development and change. Initially, Laura joined the company part time, whilst she completed her Masters in Media Practice for Development and Social Change. Laura became full time in 2021 and has loved working with an array of fantastic clients within the third sector.

Having studied Television Production at Bournemouth University, Jacob became a Production Assistant at a Corporate Video Production company where he learned many key skills across all aspects of the industry. Jacob started working with Middlechild in April of 2022 to cover another member of staff but was extended after proving to be an invaluable part of the team. Jacob supports our editors with technical support, preparing footage, server management, and setting up projects. He was made full time at Middlechild at the start of 2023 and has loved every minute of working at Middlechild alongside an amazing family.

After studying Music and Sound Design at university, Andy began his career working in post-production sound for film and TV. During 9 years spent at Warner Bros. De Lane Lea studios, his film credits included several Harry Potter, James Bond and Star Wars titles, and TV credits included The Simpsons, The Walking Dead and Dr Who. A desire for more involvement in the commercial side of the business, though, led him to pursue a career in accounting, and he joined Middlechild/Friday’s Child as Production Accountant in 2019. He loves being able to apply his production experience and head for numbers within a business with a strong social conscience.

Allie pursued her studies in Vocal Performance at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford and later transitioned into becoming a vocal teacher. Over the years, she made it a priority to live and work in different countries, including Australia and New Zealand. In 2023, Allie relocated to Brighton and connected with Middlechild through work experience. Enjoying her involvement with Friday’s Child, she joined the team full-time in January.

what our clients say

I’ve been recommending the friendly and clever team at Friday’s Child to anyone working on DRTV

Their success comes from their expertise and their honesty. It usually means you’ll save a lot of time and money by working with them, and nothing seems to be too big or too small for them to take on. They’ll play brilliantly with your in-house team or agency partners, and they just really know their onions (and if you don’t know what you need, they’ll help you with that too).

Pally McAlley

Senior Creative Strategist – British Red Cross

Friday's Child have become a key partner in our successful DRTV programme

Friday's Child have become a key partner in our successful DRTV programme. The creative they have produced for us is generating fantastic response, and they are quick and very easy to work with.

Stephen O'Shea

Global Head of Digital Fundraising, Animals Asia

Friday’s Child’s friendly approach and open and flexible costings helped us deliver thousands of new donors

I have worked with Friday’s Child for many years both for UK based clients and those working in International markets. I engaged Friday’s Child at OXFAM International to work as the hub of our International DRTV efforts between 2016 and 2019 and we produced good results in many markets with creative drawn from existing footage and content. Appeals around Hunger / Water Crisis, Syrian Refugees and the Rohingya crisis. They also produced excellent communication films when requested on everything from Safeguarding policies to digital films for donations. At OXFAM International I found Friday’s Child’s friendly approach and open and flexible costings helped us deliver thousands of new donors in multiple markets at a competitive cost.

OXFAM International

Friday’s Child were essential for Christian Aid beating income targets and returning to growth

At Christian Aid I engaged Friday’s Child and they produced a number of DRTV appeals and digital films that helped us achieve our income goals from Christian Aid Week as well as return the charity to regular giving growth following seven years of decline. Friday’s Child’s ability to produce quickly our COVID appeal with a combination of safe filming of Kate Botley in the UK and content gathered from around the world was particularly impressive. Friday’s Child were essential for Christian Aid beating income targets and returning to growth during the challenges of the Pandemic. Digital films promoting Christian Aid’s Value Exchange products, Children’s Prayer Book were also essential for growth.

Christian Aid

Friday’s Child’s cost efficiency, speed, expertise and flexibility have been essential

Animals Asia International have entered the UK DRTV with great success in 2022 and with Friday’s Child support on creative using pre-shot footage we have built a program with the potential to deliver 5,000 regular donors a year. Friday’s Child’s cost efficiency, speed, expertise and flexibility have been essential to delivering this success.

Animals Asia

I have no hesitation in recommending Friday’s Child..

I have worked with Friday’s Child for many years both for UK based clients and those working in International markets. At OXFAM International I found Friday’s Child’s friendly approach and open and flexible costings helped us deliver thousands of new donors in multiple markets at a competitive cost. At Christian Aid I engaged Friday’s Child and they produced a number of DRTV appeals and digital films that helped us achieve our income goals from Christian Aid Week as well as return the charity to regular giving growth following seven years of decline. I have no hesitation in recommending Friday’s Child for DRTV, Film communications and Digital asset production.

James Allport

International DRTV & Relationship Fundraising specialist

The team are super responsive, incredibly helpful

We have worked with Friday’s Child on several TV ad productions over the past couple of years. The whole process has worked well from beginning to end resulting in some excellent TV ads. The team are super responsive, incredibly helpful, and great to work together with.

Jocelyn Murphy

British Red Cross

The finished film is something incredible..

I recently directed an Age UK campaign through Friday’s Child and they were an absolute pleasure to work with. The script was complex and involved overcoming a number of challenges to deliver the vision. The team at Friday’s Child faced these obstacles head on and I felt supported through the entire process.The finished film is something I'm incredible proud, and believe the client was too. This could not have happened without the continuing support of Friday’s Child production and their ambition to execute to the highest level possible.

Robin Mason

Director

Working with Friday's Child is a most pleasurable experience

Working with Friday's Child is a most pleasurable experience. They are a team of talented individuals whose commitment, knowledge and professionalism, in all facets of filming and post-production, is nothing short of outstanding. Highly recommended.

Richard Andrew-Holliss

Actor

The lovely gang at Friday's Child always make me feel supported and appreciated

I have recorded TV appeals for The British Red Cross for Friday's Child and working with them is a joy. Sessions are relaxed and fun with clear, sensitive direction and the lovely gang at Friday's Child always make me feel supported and appreciated throughout.

Bethan Dixon Bates

VO Artist

Clear focus on creating the best possible work

Friday's Child had a clear focus on creating the best possible work for their client and this clarity in approach and communication made whole project really efficient allowing more time for creativity and execution.

Sean Collins

Managing Director, The Like Minded

About Us