The BBC and Magic Light Pictures have unveiled a first-look image for The Baddies, a half-hour festive animated special coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Adapted from Dame Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s picture book, the fairytale comedy features a star-studded voice cast including Sheridan Smith, Rob Brydon, and Alison Steadman.
Magic Light Pictures’ 14th Animated Donaldson Adaptation
- The Plot: A boastful Troll, Witch, and Ghost proclaim themselves the baddest villains around, only to meet their match when challenged to steal a girl’s blue spotty hanky.
- The Cast: Sheridan Smith narrates, Alison Steadman voices the Witch, Hammed Animashaun plays the Troll, Robyn Cara plays the Girl, Francesca Mills plays the Mouse, and Rob Brydon returns as the Ghost.
- The Broadcast: The special is confirmed for a Christmas release on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, though an exact broadcast date and time remain unannounced.
The All-Star Creative Lineup Behind The Baddies
As Radio Times reported, the voice cast brings together three notable alumni from the hit comedy series Gavin & Stacey, namely Sheridan Smith, Alison Steadman, and Rob Brydon. For Brydon, this production marks his 14th time lending his voice to a screen adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s children’s literature. Meanwhile, The Independent noted that the project follows the release of Gruffalo Granny, a third instalment in the popular children’s series, The Gruffalo.
The half-hour special is directed by Andy Martin and Sarah-Jane Knox, and produced by Barney Goodland and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures, with animation services handled by Triggerfish Animation. Nawfal Faizullah oversees the project for the BBC as Drama Commissioning Editor. Speaking on the project, narrator Sheridan Smith stated that the production “is deliciously spooky, ridiculously funny, and packed with heart,” describing it as a “riot of a fairytale that celebrates courage, kindness, and outsmarting the big bullies.” Echoing those sentiments, Alison Steadman highlighted how the narrative deliberately upends traditional tropes, stating that viewers will witness “three boastful villains plotting wicked tricks, only to be completely outsmarted by a brave little girl and a mouse.”
Audience Expectations Following The Scarecrows’ Wedding
| Production Metric | The Scarecrows’ Wedding (Prior Adaptation) | The Baddies (Upcoming Special) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Animated Festive Special | Half-Hour Fairytale Comedy |
| Source Material | Dame Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler | Dame Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler |
| Production Studio | Magic Light Pictures | Magic Light Pictures |
| Platform | BBC One / BBC iPlayer | BBC One / BBC iPlayer |
| Prior Viewership | 8.7 million (28-day BARB) | Pending Broadcast Release |
While the BBC has confirmed the project is slated for the upcoming holiday season, executives have yet to lock down the exact scheduling grid or linear airtime for Christmas week.
