Children's author Julia Donaldson and the BBC have announced which of her stories will be turned into an animation for Christmas 2026. A half-hour special of The Baddies is being produced by Magic Light Pictures, featuring an all-star voice cast. Returning favorite Rob Brydon voices the Ghost, Alison Steadman plays the Witch, Hammed Animashaun portrays the Troll, Robyn Cara is the Girl, Francesca Mills voices the Mouse, and Sheridan Smith serves as the Narrator.
Author's Excitement
Dame Julia Donaldson expressed her enthusiasm: “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.”
Story Overview
The Baddies follows the worst baddies in the world—a troll, a ghost, and a witch—who love being bad and boasting about it. When a girl with a blue spotty handkerchief moves into a nearby cottage, the baddies quarrel over the nasty tricks they want to play on her. A mouse then challenges them to see who can steal the handkerchief, and they soon learn they may have met their match. The story is described as “packed with mischief, humour and heart,” celebrating courage, kindness, and standing up to bullies.
Voice Cast Reactions
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.”
Previous Adaptations
The BBC and Donaldson have a long festive association, with previous adaptations including The Gruffalo, Zog, and last year’s The Scarecrows' Wedding, which drew 8.7 million viewers over the festive period. Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, commented: “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.”
Broadcast Details
The animation will air on Christmas Day on BBC One. Previous adaptations of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s works are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
