Comedy Writer & Actor | Laurence Rickard

Larry is a BAFTA-winning comedy writer and actor, best known for the hit BBC1 sitcom Ghosts and the critically lauded sketch show Horrible Histories.

Larry has worked in comedy for more than 20 years with credits which encompass both mainstream comedy (Tracey Ullman’s Show, Armstrong & Miller, Murder in Successville) and high profile family shows (Jim Henson, Disney, Aardman). He was a principle writer and star of the historical sketch show Horrible Histories, which won more than 20 major awards, including two National Comedy Awards, four successive Children's BAFTAs (a Guinness World Record) and the Prix Jeunesse for the best children's show of the last 50 years.

Following this, he continued to work with his Horrible Histories co-stars, creating the critically acclaimed fantasy sitcom Yonderland, which ran for three series on Sky 1 with Larry as showrunner.

His move into features began by co-writing and starring in the movie BILL, a comic take on Shakespeare's missing years, described as “the funniest movie this year” (The Sun) and “a crowd pleasing treat” (Mark Kermode, The Observer). This led to work on such films as PADDINGTON 2 and Aardman’s SHAUN THE SHEEP and CHICKEN RUN sequels.

In 2019 the sitcom Ghosts was launched on BBC1, with Larry as co-creator, writer and star. It received a glowing critical reception, quickly becoming the most watched comedy on UK television, and earning three BAFTA nominations. The American remake on CBS has become a huge hit stateside and is now in its fourth series, with further remakes in production in France, Germany and Australia.

Larry has written commissioned feature scripts for companies including Aardman Pictures and BBC Films, and on TV projects for Channel 4, BBC, HBO and Showtime.

He is a born-and-bred Brightonian, who likes cats & dogs, films, classic VW's and (on the whole) people.

Ghosts

Ghosts is the smash hit BBC1, created, written by and starring Larry and his cohorts from Yonderland and Horrible Histories. The series centres around Alison and Mike – a young couple struggling to get on the urban property ladder – whose prayers appear answered when a distant relative bequeaths them a sprawling country estate. The catch? The old house is both falling apart and teeming with the ghosts of its former inhabitants.

Bill

Released in 2015, to critical acclaim, Bill is a comic take on Shakespeare's missing years, which sees the young bard become embroiled in a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth. The film stars the core cast of Horrible Histories and Yonderland, who play more than forty roles between them, alongside Helen McCrory and Damien Lewis. From a script by Larry and Ben Willbond, the film was described as “the funniest movie this year” (The Sun) and “a crowd pleasing treat” (Mark Kermode, The Observer).

Yonderland

Devised by Larry and his Horrible Histories co-stars, Yonderland tells the story of a bored Birmingham housewife, who becomes the saviour of the mystical world in her kitchen cupboard. The show, produced by Working Title for Sky 1, is described by The Times as “solidly brilliant telly”, while the The Independent proclaims it “a family television classic”. As well as co-writing and starring, Larry is also the showrunner.

Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories is the hysterical historical sketch show, based on the best-selling books by Terry Deary. The original show, co-written by and starring Larry, ran for five series, and achieved unprecedented success. As well as winning two British Comedy Awards and a record-breaking four successive childrens BAFTAs, it was awarded a Prix Jeunesse Special Prize for Best Childrens' Show of the Last 50 Years.

Tracey Breaks The News

This satirical comedy series, starring Tracey Ullman, was co-written by Larry, and saw him star in numerous roles, most notably as Philip May alongside Tracey's beleaguered Theresa. Following a one-off special to mark the first anniversary of the Brexit vote, two further series were commissioned for BBC1.

Laurence Rickard