Julia Donaldson and the BBC have a long festive association with hits including The Gruffalo, Zog and last year’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding
The Baddies is picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler(Image: Axel Scheffler)
Children’s Author Julia Donaldson and the BBC have announced which of her stories they will be turning into an animation for Christmas 2026.
A half hour special of The Baddies is being made by production company Magic Light Pictures. It will feature all-star voice cast, with returning favourite Rob Brydon voicing Ghost, Alison Steadman as Witch, Hammed Animashaun as Troll, Robyn Cara as Girl, Francesca Mills as Mouse alongside Sheridan Smith as the Narrator.
Author Dame Julia Donaldson said: “The Baddies was enormous fun to write because I loved inventing these gloriously wicked characters and then thinking about what might happen when they finally meet someone brave enough to outwit them. Magic Light has done a brilliant job bringing the story to life and the cast have captured all the humour, silliness and spookiness perfectly.”
The Baddies is about the worst Baddies in the world – a troll and a ghost and a witch, who love nothing more than being bad and boasting about it. When a girl with a blue spotty hanky moves into a cottage nearby, the Baddies quarrel about all the nasty tricks they want to play on her.
Then a mouse sets a challenge for the Baddies to see who can steal the hanky. Soon they learn that they may have met their match in the little girl. The story is described as being “packed with mischief, humour and heart”, and is a celebration of courage, kindness and the power of standing up to bullies.
Narrator Sheridan Smith said: “I’ve always loved Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s stories, so it was such a joy to be part of bringing The Baddies to life. The film is funny, spooky and full of heart, and the animation is absolutely beautiful. I think families are going to have enormous fun watching these wonderful characters causing chaos this Christmas.”
The Baddies is adapted from the hugely successful picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
Previous adaptations include The Gruffalo, Zog and last year’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding which pulled in 8.7 million viewers across the festive period
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: “It’s with a mix of excitement and trepidation that we welcome The Baddies to BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas. I’d like to assure everyone at home that we’ll be working very closely with Julia, Axel and the team at Magic Light to keep viewers safe from Ghost, Witch and Troll’s dastardly deeds.”
The aniamation will go out and Christmas Day on BBC1. Previous adaptions of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s works are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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