BBC Unveils First Look at The Baddies

Image: BBC / Magic Light Pictures

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has unveiled a first look at The Baddies, a half-hour festive animation based on the picture book by Dame Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Produced by Magic Light Pictures, the special will be available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The story follows a Troll, a Witch and a Ghost who proclaim themselves the baddest of them all. They take pleasure in tormenting everyone they encounter, but their confidence faces a challenge when they are tasked with stealing a girl's blue spotty hanky. The trio may have finally met their match.

Sheridan Smith narrates, with Alison Steadman voicing Witch, Hammed Animashaun as Troll, Robyn Cara as Girl and Francesca Mills as Mouse. Rob Brydon voices the boastful Ghost, returning for his 14th adaptation of a work by Donaldson and Scheffler.

The special marks Magic Light Pictures' 14th animated adaptation of Donaldson and Scheffler's work.

Sheridan Smith, Narrator, says: "Being bad has never been so much fun! The Baddies is deliciously spooky, ridiculously funny, and packed with heart. It’s a riot of a fairytale that celebrates courage, kindness, and outsmarting the big bullies - families are going to love the hilarity and chaos this Christmas."

Alison Steadman, voicing Witch, says: "What I loved about the story is how it flips traditional fairytales on their head. You have these three boastful villains plotting wicked tricks, only to be completely outsmarted by a brave little girl and a mouse. It’s such a satisfying, funny tale about kindness quietly beating big bullies."