Simon Farnaby (born 2 April 1973) is an English actor, comedian, writer and singer. He is best known for his work with the Them There collective where he has written and starred in productions including the sketch show Horrible Histories, Yonderland, and Ghosts, as well as writing for film.
Farnaby earned BAFTA nominations for his writing of Paddington 2, both for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best British Film, and was the winner of the 2023 Television BAFTA for memorable TV moment. In 2023, he co-wrote and appeared in Wonka, a film which serves as a prequel to the Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, exploring Willy Wonka's origins.
Early life Farnaby was born on 2 April 1973 in Darlington, County Durham and attended Richmond School, North Yorkshire.
Career Television work Farnaby was a long-time member of The Mighty Boosh supporting cast, having had roles both in their series and co-starring in the quasi-spinoff film Bunny and the Bull.
Other notable television work includes recurring roles in the sitcoms Jam & Jerusalem, The Midnight Beast and Detectorists. He previously had a very brief role in one episode of Coronation Street in the 1990s.
Farnaby has presented a number of factual programmes including Richard III: The King in the Car Park in 2013, tracing the discovery and identification of the remains of the last Plantagenet king, the 2014 Channel 4 documentary series entitled Man Vs Weird, in which he travelled the world investigating people who claim superhuman abilities, and as narrator of the Channel 5 docu-series called On the Yorkshire Buses, following East Yorkshire Motor Services.
Farnaby accepted a TV BAFTA in 2023 for memorable TV moment, for a short film broadcast as part of the Platinum Party at the Palace for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022, in which Farnaby played a butler.
Them There
Farnaby has worked extensively with the Them There collective of six writers and actors, who started as principal members of the cast of the CBBC live-action series Horrible Histories, where he played offbeat characters including Caligula and Death.
Farnaby, along with the five other collective members, co-created, wrote and starred in Yonderland (20132016), which was broadcast on Sky One for three series.
Farnaby had his first major involvement with the creation of a film with the troupe, on the 2015 historical comedy film Bill, based loosely around the early life of William Shakespeare.
The same collective then went on to create the BBC show Ghosts, which ran for five seasons before the team decided to retire it. Farnaby played the fictitious Conservative politician ghost, Julian Fawcett, who always appeared without trousers.
Books Along with journalist Scott Murray, in 2011 Farnaby co-wrote The Phantom of the Open, a biography of Maurice Flitcroft, a would-be professional golfer whose unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the Open Championship led to his being described as "the world's worst golfer".
His first children's novel, The Wizard In My Shed, was published in 2020, and this was followed by a sequel titled Warrior in my Wardrobe: More Misadventures with Merdyn the Wild, which was released in 2021.
Farnaby was also a co-author of Ghosts: The Button House Archives, a companion book to the Them There television series for the BBC, Ghosts which he co-wrote and starred in.
Films Having previously appeared in The Mighty Boosh, Farnaby was in a starring role for the related film Bunny and the Bull in 2009, where he played the eponymous Bunny.
In 2016, Farnaby co-wrote and had a small acting part in Mindhorn with Julian Barratt, a comedy about Richard Thorncroft (Barratt), a faded television actor drawn into negotiations with a criminal who believes his character Detective Mindhorn is real.
He co-wrote the book The Phantom of the Open about golfer Maurice Flitcroft in 2011, and then started work on a film script of the story in 2017, which led to the release of The Phantom of the Open in 2021, starring Mark Rylance.
Also in 2016, Farnaby had a small on-screen role in Rogue One, as an X-Wing pilot.
The biggest film success of Farnaby's career came with the Paddington film franchise. Following on from appearing as an actor in the first film, he went on to co-write Paddington 2 with Paul King, for which he was nominated for two film BAFTAs for best adapted screenplay and Outstanding British Film. He was also the winner of the International Online Cinema Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the Hollywood Critics Association award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2018. Farnaby subsequently appeared alongside Paddington Bear and Queen Elizabeth II in a short film broadcast as a part of the Platinum Party at the Palace for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022, which won the 2023 BAFTA for memorable TV moment, which Farnaby accepted.
Farnaby is the co-writer of 2023 Christmas release Wonka, along with Paul King, which is a prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Alongside Ghosts co-star Charlotte Ritchie, Farnaby also has a small on-screen role, with his Them There collaborator Mathew Baynton in one of the leading roles, and starring Timothée Chalamet.
Farnaby wrote the screenplay for The Magic Faraway Tree. An adaptation of Enid Blyton's book series of the same name. The film released theatrically in the UK on 27 March 2026.
Personal life Farnaby is married to actress Claire Keelan (his second wife) with whom he has a daughter, born in 2014.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Fat Slags A ventriloquist Blake's Junction 7 Terry Short film 2009 Bunny and the Bull Bunny 2010 Burke & Hare 2011 Your Highness Manious the Bold 2013 All Stars 2014 Paddington Barry 2015 Bill Juan Domingo 2016 Mindhorn Clive Parnevik Also writer Rogue One Member of Blue Squadron 2017 Paddington 2 Barry Also writer 2018 Christopher Robin Taxi Driver 2021 The Phantom of the Open Laurent Lambert Also writer 2023 Wonka Zoo security guard 2024 Paddington in Peru Barry 2026 The Magic Faraway Tree Farmer
Television Year Title Role Notes 1994 The House of Windsor Sean Sutcliffe 1 episode 1996 Coronation Street Greg Bamfield 2004–2007 The Mighty Boosh Various characters 3 episodes 2005 The Lenny Henry Show Twyford 1 episode Spoons Various Characters 6 episodes 2006 Blunder 2006–2009 Jam & Jerusalem Samuel "Spike" Pike 12 episodes 2007 Comedy Cuts Werewolf 1 episode The Yellow House Henri TV movie Strutter Various 2 episodes 2008 M.I. High James Blond 1 episode The Golf War Stuart Ogilvy Failed pilot Angelo's Kris 6 episodes LifeSpam: My Child is French Various Failed pilot 2009–2013Horrible Histories Various characters 65 episodes 2010 The Persuasionists Keaton 6 episodes Comedy Lab Old Man 1 episode 2011 Dick and Dom's Funny Business Various characters Horrible Histories' Big Prom Party Various characters One-off special 2012 Dave Shakespeare Dave Shakespeare Failed pilot 2012–2014 The Midnight Beast Sloman 10 episodes 2013 Utopia Marcus 1 episode Not Going Out Scott Richard III: The King in the Car Park Presenter Documentary Richard III: The Unseen Story Narrator Crackanory Robert Pickle 1 episode 2013–2016 Yonderland Various characters 25 episodes 2014 Man Vs Weird Himself 3 episodes On the Yorkshire Buses Narrator 8 episodes Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy George Orwell 1 episode 2014–2022 Detectorists Phil 12 episodes 2015 House of Fools Health Inspector 1 episode Horrible Histories Various characters 12 episodes Top Coppers Dr Schäfer 2 episodes 2017 Quacks Dr Flowers 1 episode 2019–2021 This Time with Alan Partridge Sam Chatwin 3 episodes 2019–2023 Ghosts Julian Fawcett MP Also co-creator 2021–present Britbox advert Narrator 2 adverts 2022 Platinum Party at the Palace Footman Paddington Bear sketch. Also writerTesco Christmas advert Narrator1 advert2024Here We Go Boyd 2 episodes
References
External links
Simon Farnaby on The Spotlight