Horrible Histories troupe

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Horrible Histories troupe
The starring cast of TV series Horrible Histories arrives at the Children's BAFTAs, 27 November 2011.jpg
The group at the 2011 Children's BAFTAs:
L-R: Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Jim Howick
Medium
  • Television
  • film
NationalityBritish
Years active2009–present
Genres
Notable works and roles Horrible Histories (2009–15)
Yonderland (2013–16)
Bill (2015)
Ghosts (2019–present)
Members

The Horrible Histories troupe [1] [2] is an unofficial name given to a group of comedy writers and performers, consisting of Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, and Ben Willbond. They are so called due to their initially collaborating for the children's TV show Horrible Histories , but have since worked together on the 2015 film Bill and the comedy series Yonderland and Ghosts .

Contents

Television

Horrible Histories (2009–13)

Horrible Histories was a British sketch comedy and musical television series, based on the children's history books of the same name. The show was produced for CBBC by Lion Television with Citrus Television and ran from 2009 to 2013 for five series of thirteen half-hour episodes, with additional one-off seasonal and Olympic specials. The creative team was largely recruited from the UK comedy scene, including the central troupe alongside a large supporting cast headed by Katy Wix, Lawry Lewin, Alice Lowe and Dominique Moore. As well as carrying over the graphic style and much of the content of the Horrible Histories book series, the approach and humour of the show was inspired by past British historical comedies, including Blackadder and the Monty Python films. [3] [4]

Each episode covered multiple eras in history, named for their respective book titles. The show combined live-action sketches, which often parody other UK media or celebrities, with music videos, animations and quizzes. The series was a critical and ratings success, winning numerous domestic and international awards. In 2011 the show was the subject of a Live Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, where sketches and songs from the series were performed live. The cast left the series in 2014, [5] after which the series was rebooted with a new creative team.

Yonderland (2013–16)

Following the end of Horrible Histories, the troupe reunited for Yonderland, a sitcom that was broadcast on Sky 1 from November 2013 to December 2016. Howe-Douglas starred as 33-year-old Debbie Maddox, who becomes increasingly bored with her life as a suburban stay-at-home mother until an elf (Baynton) appears from a portal in her cupboard, insisting that she's the "chosen one" destined to save the eponymous fantasy world. Reluctantly, Debbie agrees to meet with the Elders of the realm... only to discover that they've lost the scroll that explains what the chosen one is supposed to do. As it turns out, Yonderland is a silly, magical place, threatened by the evil Negatus (Farnaby). It will take all of Debbie's resources to complete each week's quest in time to pick up her children from school.

Ghosts (2019–2023)

Ghosts is the troupe's most recent series, a sitcom which has broadcast on BBC One since 2019. It centres on a group of ghosts from different historical periods haunting a country house they share with its new living occupants (played by Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Charlotte Ritchie) . Along with the core members of the group, performers from the wider Horrible Histories cast appear in the ensemble, including Katy Wix. [6] The series is the first post-watershed comedy by the ensemble, although some television critics noted that the series was suitable for adults and children alike. [7] [8] Reviews of the series have been positive, with critics appreciating the high joke rate, the premise and the strength of the acting ensemble. The series was made by the production company Monumental Pictures, part of ITV Studios. [6] It is filmed on location at West Horsley Place in Surrey. [9] It has so far run for four series and three Christmas specials, [10] The show was remade for an American audience, starring Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar. [11] In March 2023, it was announced that the fifth series would be the last. [12] [13] The fifth series aired on BBC One on the 6 October 2023.

Films

Bill (2015)

The group's first film, Bill , was released on 18 September 2015. Whilst not officially related to the Horrible Histories series, it was produced by the BBC, reunited and starred the original core performers of the series, and shared the comedic approach of its historical content. [14] [15]

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Benjamin Thomas Willbond is an English actor and screenwriter best known as a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe in which he appears in the TV series Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts. He is best known for his numerous roles in the CBBC children's programme Horrible Histories, running from 2009 to 2013. As well as starring as various characters throughout the show's run, he also, along with the other five main actors, wrote numerous episodes. Again alongside the same five actors, he also stars as “Captain” in the 2019 TV series Ghosts. Along with Laurence Rickard, he co-wrote the 2022 feature length television comedy We Are Not Alone.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha Howe-Douglas</span> English actress and writer

Martha Howe-Douglas is an English actress and writer. She is a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe, in which she starred in the TV series Horrible Histories. She also starred in and co-created Yonderland and Ghosts. She also played receptionist Donna Parmar in the BBC One daytime soap Doctors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Farnaby</span> English actor (born 1973)

Simon Farnaby is an English actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for his work on Horrible Histories where he became part of the ensemble which would go on to create Ghosts. Farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2, earning him BAFTA nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best British Film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katy Wix</span> Welsh actress, comedian and author

Katy Victoria J Wix is a Welsh actress, writer, author and artist. Her television roles include Carole in Stath Lets Flats, Mary in Ghosts, Barbara in Ted Lasso, and Jules in Big Boys. She has also appeared as a series contestant on Taskmaster and as a recurring character in the science fiction mini-series Torchwood: Children of Earth in 2009. She has written two series of her own sitcom for BBC Radio 4, Bird Island and a sketch show for Channel 4, Anna & Katy. In 2017 her painting was chosen for the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition. She has written two books of monologues and in 2021 she published her first work of non-fiction, Delicacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mathew Baynton</span> English actor, writer, comedian, singer, and musician

Mathew John Baynton is an English actor, writer, comedian, singer, and musician best known as a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe in which he starred in the TV series Horrible Histories; as well as an actor in Yonderland and Ghosts. He was also the co-creator, writer and star of the sitcom The Wrong Mans. Other major television roles include Deano in Gavin & Stacey, Chris Pitt-Goddard in Spy, Simon in Peep Show, and twin brothers Jamie Winton and Ariel Conroy in You, Me and the Apocalypse.

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Laurence Carl Rickard is an English actor, writer, and comedian best known as a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe, Yonderland and Ghosts. He is also one half of the comedy writing/performance duo "Larry and George" with George Sawyer. Along with Ben Willbond, he co-wrote the 2022 feature length television comedy We Are Not Alone.

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Yonderland is a British sitcom television series that was broadcast on Sky One from November 2013 to December 2016. It was produced by Sioned Wiliam, and was created by, written by and starred the main performers from CBBC's series Horrible Histories.

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Horrible Histories is a British children's live-action historical and musical sketch comedy television series, based on the bestselling book series of the same name by Terry Deary. The show was produced for CBBC by Lion Television with Citrus Television and ran from 2009 to 2014 for five series of thirteen half-hour episodes, with additional one-off seasonal and Olympic specials.

There has been more than one Horrible Histories Prom in the BBC's annual Proms concert series. The Horrible Histories entertainment franchise is aimed at children, and these concerts have introduced children to classical music.

<i>Bill</i> (2015 film) 2015 British film

Bill is a 2015 British family adventure comedy film from the principal performers behind children's TV series Horrible Histories and Yonderland. It was produced by Punk Cinema, Cowboy Films and BBC Films and was released in the UK on 18 September 2015 by Vertigo Films. The film is a fictional take on the young William Shakespeare's search for fame and fortune, as written by Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond and directed by Richard Bracewell who co-produced with Tony Bracewell, Alasdair Flind and Charles Steel. It features the six lead performers playing several different roles each including Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas, Ben Willbond, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick and Laurence Rickard. Bill has received mostly positive reviews from critics and grossed $968,534 worldwide. The film also received nominations for the Evening Standard British Film Award for Award for Comedy and the Into Film Award for Family Film of the Year.

<i>Horrible Histories</i> (2015 TV series) British sketch comedy childrens television series

Horrible Histories is a British sketch comedy children's television series, the second live-action iteration of the book series Horrible Histories written by Terry Deary.

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<i>Ghosts</i> (2019 British TV series) British television series

Ghosts is a British sitcom first broadcast on BBC One in April 2019. The series follows a collection of ghosts from different historical periods haunting a country house while sharing the house with its new living occupants. The series is written and performed by many of the cast members of Horrible Histories and Yonderland. The series also airs on Max in the US and CBC Gem in Canada.

References

  1. "Bill - Film review - Horrible Histories troupe turn Shakespeare's lost years into knockabout farce - Movie Talk - What's on TV". What' s on TV. 20 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  2. Earp, Catherine (19 June 2018). "Horrible Histories team reuniting for new sitcom Ghosts". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  3. West, Naomi (25 May 2010). "How Horrible Histories grew up to be a hit comedy show". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  4. McLean, Gareth (9 April 2012). "Why did the League of Gentlemen choose to reform on Horrible Histories?". Radio Times . Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  5. "Horrible Histories Series 6 in planning". British Comedy Guide. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Ghosts". BBC Media Centre. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  7. Midgley, Carol (16 April 2019). "TV review: Ghosts; A House Through Time". The Times.
  8. Butter, Susannah (15 April 2019). "Ghosts: Things that go bump in the night - a spooktacular house-hunting show". Evening Standard.
  9. Hogan, Michael (15 April 2019). "Ghosts, episode 1, review: a retro house-share sitcom with some wonderfully goofy supernatural guests". Daily Telegraph.
  10. "Ghosts Series 4 air date revealed". British Comedy Guide. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  11. Fienberg, Daniel (7 October 2021). "CBS' 'Ghosts': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter .
  12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/ghosts-series-5-final-series
  13. Richardson, Jay (24 November 2022). "Ghosts returning for a fifth, and final series on BBC One". British Comedy Guide .
  14. "Stars of Horrible Histories to make Shakespeare film". BBC Media Centre. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  15. "Bill: production details". British Comedy Guide. comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2014.