---
name: "Simon Farnaby"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/simon-farnaby"
fi1m_id: "simon-farnaby"
imdb_id: "nm1375030"
tmdb_id: 114253
wikidata_id: "Q7518724"
roles: ["Writer","Actor","Producer"]
born: "2 April 1973"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 0
updated: "2026-10-22T04:05:05.473676+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Simon Farnaby

## Identity

Simon Farnaby

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/simon-farnaby
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** simon-farnaby
- **IMDb ID:** nm1375030
- **TMDB ID:** 114253
- **Wikidata ID:** Q7518724
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Farnaby, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7518724, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1375030/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/114253

Writer and actor. Born 2 April 1973 in Yorkshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer, Actor, Producer
- **Born:** 2 April 1973, Yorkshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 2004–present
- **Also known as:** 사이먼 파너비
- **Frequently works with:** [Ben Willbond](https://film.one/person/ben-willbond.md), [David Heyman](https://film.one/person/david-heyman.md), [Jim Howick](https://film.one/person/jim-howick.md), [Laurence Rickard](https://film.one/person/laurence-rickard.md), [Martha Howe-Douglas](https://film.one/person/martha-howe-douglas.md), [Mathew Baynton](https://film.one/person/mathew-baynton.md), [Paul King](https://film.one/person/paul-king.md), [Simon Hynd](https://film.one/person/simon-hynd.md)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 80 (1), 2010s 80 (7), 2020s 65 (3)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Farnaby, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7518724, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1375030/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/114253

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Ghosts*](https://film.one/tv/ghosts.md) (80), [*Wonka*](https://film.one/film/wonka.md) (68)
- **HBO Max:** [*Paddington 2*](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md) (91)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Simon Farnaby

> Farnaby writes kindness for a living, and in *Paddington 2* and *Ghosts* he proves it can be funny and well built. Without a plot or a villain to push against, as in *Wonka* and *The Magic Faraway Tree*, the sweetness runs on unchecked.

In *Ghosts*, Simon Farnaby plays Julian in shirt and tie and nothing below, and Lucy Williams's costume tells us who he is before he opens his mouth. He likes parts like that: small, pompous authority figures undercut for laughs, and he gives himself one in *Paddington 2* as Barry the security guard, a man taking his job more seriously than the job deserves. Asked about the name, he has said only, "I just thought it was a funny name."

He began in comedy acting and writing on *The Mighty Boosh*, then joined the Them There collective on *Horrible Histories* (2009–2013) and stayed with them for *Yonderland* (2013–2016) and *Ghosts* (2019–2023). His film work started with acting roles and co-writing *Mindhorn* (2016) with Julian Barratt, then he became Paul King's writing partner on *Paddington 2* (2017) and *Wonka* (2023). *The Phantom of the Open* (2021) sits between them, and *The Magic Faraway Tree* (2026) is a screenplay written alone.

The two best things he has had a hand in share a quality the others lack, and it is not kindness. *Paddington 2* understands how much comedy there is in taking courtesy seriously, and Ben Whishaw's bear can be that polite because there is a stolen book, a prison and a man who wants something for him to be polite about. *Ghosts* keeps a nine-strong cast legible in a half-hour, with Jim Howick's Pat in his scoutmaster's uniform and Ben Willbond's Captain in battledress that has not creased in eighty years, and the ensemble have been making each other laugh for so long that the hotel plot can go nowhere and it hardly matters. In both, Farnaby is writing against something: a villain, or five other writers with their own jokes.

Without that, the sweetness has nothing to push on. By the hour mark of *Wonka* we were longing for one sour note, and none came, because King and Farnaby had decided Wonka was a nice young man who wanted everyone to have a bit of chocolate, and Dahl's bite is nowhere to be found. *The Magic Faraway Tree* has the same problem and has it worse. Blyton's books have almost no plot, children climb a tree and come home for tea, and Farnaby's answer, an ordinary modern Thompson family with phones, is sensible and leaves 110 minutes with nothing pressing on anyone. He knows how this is done; *Paddington 2* proves it. Here he chose not to do it, or the books would not let him.

So the pattern is plain. Give him a stolen book and a man who wants it, or a room full of people he has been trading lines with since 2009, and he is at his best. Give him a tree with a new land at the top and he will climb it, look round, and bring everyone home for tea.

## Biography

Simon Farnaby (born 2 April 1973) is an English actor, comedian and screenwriter. He is known for his work with the Them There collective on television series including *Horrible Histories*, *Yonderland* and *Ghosts*.

Farnaby co-wrote the screenplays for *Paddington 2* (2017) and *Wonka* (2023). He also appears in the *Paddington* films as Barry and has acting roles in *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* (2016), *Christopher Robin* (2018) and *Paddington in Peru* (2024). He wrote the screenplay for and appears as the farmer in *The Magic Faraway Tree* (2026).

Farnaby received BAFTA nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best British Film for *Paddington 2*. He won the 2023 Television BAFTA for memorable TV moment.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (11)

- *The Magic Faraway Tree* (2026), Fi1m 64, as Farmer Brian — [page](https://film.one/film/the-magic-faraway-tree.md)
- *Paddington in Peru* (2024), Fi1m 64, as Barry the Air Steward — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-in-peru.md)
- *Wonka* (2023), Fi1m 68, as Basil, Zoo Security Guard — [page](https://film.one/film/wonka.md)
- *Ghosts* (2019), Fi1m 80, as Julian Fawcett — [page](https://film.one/tv/ghosts.md)
- *Christopher Robin* (2018), Fi1m 62, as Taxi Driver — [page](https://film.one/film/christopher-robin.md)
- *Paddington 2* (2017), Fi1m 91, as Barry — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md)
- *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* (2016), Fi1m 70, as Blue Five — [page](https://film.one/film/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story.md)
- *Detectorists* (2014), Fi1m 87, as Art — [page](https://film.one/tv/detectorists.md)
- *Paddington* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Barry — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington.md)
- *Utopia* (2013), Fi1m 83, as Marcus — [page](https://film.one/tv/utopia.md)
- *The Mighty Boosh* (2004), Fi1m 80, as Hamilton Cork / Simon McFarnaby — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mighty-boosh.md)

## Complete filmography (45)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Ghosts: The Possession of Button House* (2026), as Julian Fawcett · Writer, Executive Producer — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/ghosts-the-possession-of-button-house.md)
- *The Magic Faraway Tree* (2026), as Farmer Brian · Writer — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-magic-faraway-tree.md)
- *Paddington in Peru* (2024), as Barry the Air Steward · Screenstory — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-in-peru.md)
- *The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin* (2024), series, as Lord Saltley
- *Wonka* (2023), as Basil, Zoo Security Guard · Screenplay — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/wonka.md)
- *Paddington Meets The Queen* (2022), as Butler
- *The Phantom of the Open* (2022), as Laurent Lambert · Writer, Executive Producer, Screenplay, Book
- *Ghosts* (2021), series, Executive Producer
- *Ghosts* (2019), series, as Julian Fawcett · Executive Producer, Writer, Creator — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/ghosts.md)
- *Christopher Robin* (2018), as Taxi Driver — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/christopher-robin.md)
- *Paddington 2* (2017), as Barry · Screenplay — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md)
- *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* (2016), as Blue Five — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story.md)
- *Mindhorn* (2016), as Clive Parnevik · Screenplay, Associate Producer, Idea
- *Bill* (2015), as Earl of Croydon / Juan Domingo / Sausage / Dmitri Alexandrovitch / Fur Seller
- *Paddington* (2014), as Barry — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington.md)
- *Detectorists* (2014), series, as Art — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/detectorists.md)
- *Crackanory* (2013), series, as Various
- *Yonderland* (2013), series, as Various · Writer, Creator
- *All Stars* (2013), as Foreman
- *Utopia* (2013), series, as Marcus — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/utopia.md)
- *The Last Summer on Earth* (2013), as Brad
- *Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy* (2012), series, as George Orwell
- *Horrible Histories’ Big Prom Party* (2011), Actor
- *Your Highness* (2011), as Manious the Bold
- *Behind the Scenes - Bunny and the Bull* (2011), Actor
- *Burke & Hare* (2010), as William Wordsworth
- *The Persuasionists* (2010), series, as Keaton
- *Bunny and the Bull* (2009), as Bunny
- *Horrible Histories* (2009), series, as Various
- *Angelo's* (2007), series, as Kris
- *The Yellow House* (2007), as Henri
- *M.I. High* (2007), series, as James Blonde
- *The Golf War* (2007), as Stuart Ogilvy
- *Jam and Jerusalem* (2006), series, as Samuel 'Spike' Pike
- *Blunder* (2006), series, Actor
- *Not Going Out* (2006), series, as Scott Perry
- *Spoons* (2005), series, Actor
- *Fat Slags* (2004), as Ventriloquist
- *Blake's Junction 7* (2004), as Terry The Chef
- *The Mighty Boosh* (2004), series, as Marcus Hoffman, Harold Boom, Hamilton Cork / Simon McFarnaby — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mighty-boosh.md)
- *Trafalgar Square* (2004), as Kris
- *The House of Windsor* (1994), series, as Sean Sutcliffe
- *Coronation Street* (1960), series, as Greg Bamfield — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/coronation-street.md)
- *Wonka 2*, Writer
- *Prince Charming*, Writer

## Gallery

- ![Simon Farnaby](https://film.one/media/person/323/gallery-50f9f8161e7d.png) Simon Farnaby — Army & Air Force Exchange Service, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Simon_Farnaby_%28January_2018%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of the starring cast of Horrible Histories: (l-r) Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Jim Howick (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/323/gallery-a384394b6890.jpg) Photo of the starring cast of Horrible Histories: (l-r) Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Jim Howick (2011) — Suzi Gwen, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/The_starring_cast_of_TV_series_Horrible_Histories_arrives_at_the_Children%27s_BAFTAs%2C_27_November_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Simon Farnaby](https://film.one/media/person/323/gallery-119dc7422cbf.jpg) Simon Farnaby — Image via TMDB
- ![Simon Farnaby](https://film.one/media/person/323/gallery-9ecdb45d57b8.jpg) Simon Farnaby — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/simon-farnaby