ABOUT
Escape to Northwich
Escape to Northwich is a feature-length documentary with Rupert Holmes, the Northwich born songwriter behind “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)”, filmed when he returned to his hometown in summer 2026. In an exclusive interview, Rupert looks back on his career and shares his memories of Northwich and his family.
Why this story matters
Some stories only happen once.
Rupert Holmes was born in Northwich. He went on to write songs heard around the world, including “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)”. More than 45 years later, a dedicated team in his hometown has built a festival around that song.
This summer, he came home to see it for himself.
At its heart, this film is about a man returning to the place where he began, and looking back on a remarkable career from the town that shaped him. It’s about the connection between Rupert and Northwich, and what it means to be welcomed home.
We couldn’t let that moment pass undocumented. There was no commission and no budget, just a feeling that if nobody filmed it, the story would go untold.
We’ve already invested our own time and some of our own money in filming, and we have a real vision for this film. It won’t be going on YouTube. It’s being made for Northwich, to be shared at screenings with the people who made it happen.
We believe it will cement the positive story of Northwich, its community and the Piña Colada Festival.
That’s why we took the risk, and why we want to finish it properly.
Who are we?
Escape to Northwich is co-directed by Carys Kaiser and Colin Dallibar, two experienced programme makers with long careers across BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and beyond. It’s produced by Kaiser Media.
Carys Kaiser – Co-director and producer
Carys is a freelance TV producer / Director and Film maker with over 20 years of programme-making experience across the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky and STV.
Her credits include BBC Children in Need, BBC Radio 2 in the Park, BBC Morning Live, BBC Breakfast, The Next Jamie Vardy (Sky One), The Yorkshire Vet, Summer on the Farm and Antiques Road Trip. As a camera operator and drone pilot she has worked on Grayson Perry’s Full English, The One Show, Channel 4 Dispatches, Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back, The Trials of Heather Mills and a Pope Francis documentary for BBC Studios.
She takes programmes from idea to screen: directing, filming, edit producing and scripting. She shoots for the edit, capturing what the story needs while giving editors real options. Her brand work includes Nike and The FA, filming with the Lionesses and the England national teams. She won a Bronze Lovie Award for her BBC Body Positive films.
She is also a Canon Pro Ambassador and a CAA-qualified drone pilot, and co-founded Dark Peak Photo CIC in Glossop. Community stories are at the heart of what she does.
Colin Dallibar – Co-director and Producer
Colin is a senior producer with over 25 years of experience across BBC radio, television and digital, specialising in factual and education content for young people and families.
His radio credits include BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 2 and the BBC World Service. In television, he has produced and directed for CBBC and CBeebies, including CBeebies House, CBBC HQ, Swashbuckle and Blue Peter development. He has written scripts for Mr Tumble’s Something Special, and was commissioning producer on BBC Education’s award-winning Tiny Happy People and the Bitesize Guide to AI.
He works from first idea to final edit: development, scripting, directing and edit producing. He has produced and directed Elton John, Eddie Redmayne and Justin Fletcher, and brings a radio producer’s ear for a good interview and a story well told.
What happens next?
Raising the funds. The filming is done. Now we need to raise the money to finish the film properly, covering the edit, music licensing, archive and the final sound and picture finish.
The edit. Once funding is in place, we’ll shape the footage into the finished film. It’s built around Rupert’s own storytelling: his career, his music, and his memories of growing up in Northwich.
The premiere. We’re aiming to premiere Escape to Northwich in Northwich in February 2027, around Rupert’s 80th birthday. Community screenings will follow, and ticket proceeds will go back into the Piña Colada Festival.
Beyond Northwich. We plan to submit the film to documentary festivals, so the story can reach a wider audience. We’re also exploring a radio documentary version built around Rupert’s exclusive interview.
How can you support us?
We’ll be launching a crowdfunder soon. Every contribution goes towards finishing the film and bringing it to the screen in Northwich.
Watch the trailer, share this page, and sign up to hear the moment the crowdfunder goes live.
