Pick Up Pictures Ltd.

Extraordinary Stories, Captivating Visuals

At Pick Up Pictures Limited, we bring new narratives to life through our unique storytelling approach, blending extraordinary visuals with the everyday experiences of ordinary people. Our first series, COME DANCE WITH ME, chronicles the struggles and triumphs of the Hauxwell family during challenging times. Join us on this journey as we explore the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

"Challenging preconceptions one story at a time."

Dancers: Steph Elstob and Sam Archer.

Choreographer: Richard Marcel. Set: Will Simpson

PICK UP PICTURES LIMITED is a new independent Television production company creating ambitious, emotionally charged drama for television. We tell stories rooted in community with depth, and a strong visual identity — working in partnership with leading creatives and emerging talent.

We are currently developing COME DANCE WITH ME into a 6 part series for Television with 5 other series mapped out.

This six part original TV drama series combines a dramatic British story, with elements of La La Land and Pennies from Heaven with a touch of Strictly Come Dancing and a nod to the classic Hollywood films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. This epic tale of ambition and dreams, based on real life events, which is also universal in its themes.

It is a 6 part sweeping, character-driven drama. At its heart are two working-class sisters — Lillian, who dreams of dancing, and Joy, who longs for independence and a string of shops— forced into survival mode by the onset of war, the acquired disability of their Mother Vi, and the loss of a beloved family member. We follow the travails of their charismatic passionate Father Harry, their feisty Mother Vi, the falling out of the sisters, Lillian and Joy, their dreams put on enforced hold, and their collective journey from the drabness of everyday survival to the Technicolor dreams of success, dance, and escape. But not everybody gets what they want …

Our Services

Pick Up Pictures Ltd.

We are aiming to establish the regions as a creative hub with our new writing that creates original storytelling that marries stunning visuals with strong drama.
In the long term, PUP aims to expand its slate of original scripted content beyond Come Dance With Me, with additional projects such as A Question of Errol Flynn, and other outlined projects, to establish itself as a leading independent production company in the UK, forming strategic broadcaster partnerships and international co-productions.
The series are designed with continuing storylines and strong audience appeal, setting the stage for multi-season returns.
Our first production COME DANCE WITH ME is a six part series, based on a true family story, that chronicles the lives of the Hauxwell family, working class people in Darlington, who try to survive lack of employment, and very challenging losses, plus the Second World War. There is also disablity and death with which to contend.
Each member of the Family has a dream and we see these dreams as Hollywood dance sequences like a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie. The two main protagonists Lillian and Joy have directly opposing visions. One would like to be a professional dancer, and teacher like her Mum, while her sister wants shops and money.
Epic TV

We are working in association with award winning Epic TV to create a sizzle reel.
Their cinematographers and special effects geniuses have worked for most of the major film and TV companies and employ innovative techniques to create stunning visuals that enhance our storytelling.
Epic have the old Anglia TV studios plus three studios at what was RAF Coltishall. Jon Davenport is Executive Director there and oversees production and will direct our Sizzle Reel to provide proof of concept. AJ Thursby is DoP.
We believe that every frame should evoke emotion and draw viewers into the narrative.
We’d love to see a future association - creating a strong regional base for independent film and TV production — with national reach and local roots.
Television Production

We specialise in producing high-quality High End television series that tell compelling stories about ordinary people. Our unique visual style brings these narratives to life, engaging audiences in unexpected ways.
Graham and Karen are highly visual and high concept storytellers seeking to entertain but also challenge preconceptions with each story.
COME DANCE WITH ME flips between the world of dreams and the gritty reality which our characters survive with dark humour.
"I urge you to support Come Dance With Me. It shows how a working-class kid has to battle to make it in the world of Ballroom. This story could have been my story – and it’s the story of anyone who struggles against disadvantage to find their success in the world.”
The Late Len Goodman - Patron

About Pick Up Pictures Ltd.

Founded by actress, singer, writer, producer Karen Lynne, and producer, writer, director Graham Howes PICK UP PICTURES brings together their decades of experience in telling stories that matter. We are passionate about making innovative television that’s authentically rooted in real communities, rich with character, and visually distinctive.

We champion bold ideas and overlooked voices. Our productions are socially conscious, artistically ambitious, and rooted in regional identity.

We believe in meaningful collaboration with broadcasters, investors, and the communities whose stories we tell.

Two ballet dancers performing on stage with a cityscape and full moon projection in the background.

Set & Picture: Will Simpson (from the 2019 stage production)

Dancers: Steph Elstob & Sam Archer

A young girl in a coat and dress joyfully running on a foggy cobblestone street, with brick buildings and laundry hanging on a line in the background.

Sepia-toned vintage photo of six people standing outdoors, three of whom are holding bicycles. The group includes four men in cycling gear and two women dressed in dark clothing, standing against a brick building.

A black-and-white wedding photo of a bride and groom with a bridesmaid and possibly a groomsman standing beside them inside a room.

A typed script page from a play or screenplay with dialogue between characters Harry, Lillian, and a mention of George, Joy, and Nellie, discussing topics like riding bikes, language, and self-esteem.

Come Dancing Peggy Spencer Formation Team

Meet the Creative Team

Karen Lynne

Producer Writer
Karen is an experienced Producer, actor, singer, dancer, and a published playwright and screenwriter.
Karen’s extensive writing credits include a play about Vera Brittain in which she starred, called NEVER GOODBYE, SING AS WE GO, which was critically acclaimed for the play and Karen Lynne’s performance, co-written with Graham in which she brought to life Gracie Fields and she told her family story in the hit play COME DANCE WITH ME, a story where ballroom meets a gritty, humorous and yet dark story of a family surviving against the odds.
Her most recent play A QUESTION OF ERROL FLYNN, distills her lifelong expert knowledge of Errol Flynn, to pen a study in addiction. The play is a clear eyed view of Flynn with dark humour, physical fist fights, sword fights, and verbal jousting. It got rave reviews.
Karen’s acting credits include working with Topol on the anniversary tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. She also played Catherine Cookson in TOM AND CATH, a musical by John Miles. Phylliss Monkman in THE GOLDEN YEARS OF JACK BUCHANAN. Flo Manero on the National tour of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.
Graham Howes

Producer Writer
Graham is a Producer, writer and co writer for many shows – he is a veteran of the industry working for forty years as an actor, screen and theatre writer, and a theatre director of complex and large scale projects.
Acting Career highlights include Opera North as Senator Lyons in the two shows OF THEE I SING and LET ‘EM EAT CAKE. Scheinkopf in FAME in the West End. Claudius in HAMLET for ESC. Warbucks in ANNIE. Noakes in ARCADIA. Both Henchard in MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE and Dr Frankenstein/Walton the explorer in FRANKENSTEIN.
Film credits include: LOVE’S KITCHEN TV: DRAUGHTSMAN'S CONTRACT, EVIL NEVER DIES. TV: Clumsy Roger for BBC’s MODEL MILLIE kids series, John Scarlett, Head of the JIC in WHY WE WENT TO WAR – award winning trilogy of drama documentary plays for PANORAMA on the Gulf War.
DIRECTED: SWEENEY TODD, KISS ME KATE, GULF ARABIAN NIGHTS 1 & 2, two plays, which he wrote, cross fertilising Arabian Nights with the story of an Aunt with a westernised niece sheltering from allied bombing in Iraq. And a commedia version of PINOCCHIO which he wrote and directed, plus many more!
Richard Marcel

Creative Director and Choreographer
Richard Marcel is our Creative Director and choreographer. He's one of the industries most sought after talents.
His expert knowledge of a diverse range of dance styles, have led him to work with artists such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue, The Spice Girls, Diana Ross, George Michael, Liza Minelli, Tom Jones, Mark Ronson, Sienna Miller and Olivia Coleman.
As a specialist movement choreographer, Richard has worked on numerous TV commercials for top Brands
Richard has provided full concepts for television shows such as Lip Sync Battle UK, Strictly Come Dancing, X-Factor, So You Think You Can Dance, The Royal Variety Show, Comic Relief, Children In Need and many other primetime television shows.
Feature film credits include Kick-Ass2, Cuban Fury and The Wedding Video.
Theatre credits include choreography for Godspell (West End), Burn The Floor, Riverdance: Heartbeat Of Home and he directed the stage show Conga in Monaco.

Transforming ordinary lives into extraordinary stories.

Investment Opportunity

Join us on this remarkable journey! We are looking for investors and have applied for the SEIS scheme which could bring significant tax relief of up to 50% and a share in helping create a uniquely English story of a Working Class family surviving against the odds ... and then there is Ballroom, Drama and the allure of the Hollywood of Astaire and Rogers.

This is initiating a long term development plan to make commercially viable, culturally resonant stories with strong potential for broadcast, streaming, international sales, and long-term growth.

Contact us for a pitch deck outlining this significant opportunity.

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