The BBC and Magic Light Pictures officially unveiled a first look at The Baddies on October 8, 2026. The half-hour Christmas animation, scheduled to air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer, is based on the popular picture book written by Dame Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
The fairytale comedy follows a trio of boastful villains-consisting of a Troll, a Witch, and a Ghost-who claim to be the baddest characters around and delight in tormenting everyone they meet. However, when they are challenged to steal a girl’s blue spotty hanky, they quickly discover they may have finally met their match in a brave young girl and a clever mouse.
Star-Studded Voice Cast and Production Details
The production marks Magic Light Pictures’ 14th animated adaptation of a Donaldson and Scheffler work. The voice cast features several notable actors, including multiple alumni from the hit television series Gavin & Stacey.
- Sheridan Smith as Narrator
- Alison Steadman as Witch
- Hammed Animashaun as Troll
- Robyn Cara as Girl
- Francesca Mills as Mouse
- Rob Brydon as Ghost
Rob Brydon’s return continues his unbroken streak of lending his voice to all 14 of Magic Light’s Donaldson and Scheffler adaptations. Meanwhile, Hammed Animashaun joins the ensemble as the Troll, rounding out the mischievous headline trio.
Cast and Creator Reactions
Sheridan Smith shared her enthusiasm for the project, stating: “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 added: “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.”
Building on Festive Success
The upcoming special follows the massive success of last year’s festive adaptation, The Scarecrows’ Wedding, which drew 8.7 million viewers across a 28-day BARB window. That broadcast became Christmas week’s most-watched program in the UK, securing Magic Light’s highest-ever audience share at 48.2 percent.
The Baddies is directed by Andy Martin and Sarah-Jane Knox, and produced by Barney Goodland and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures. The project is overseen for the BBC by Nawfal Faizullah, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor, with animation services provided by Triggerfish Animation.
While the BBC has confirmed that The Baddies will premiere this Christmas, an exact broadcast date and time have not yet been announced. Previous collaborations between Magic Light Pictures and the BBC remain available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
