Laurence Rickard (born 1975) is an English actor, writer, and comedian best known as a member of the Them There collective, with whom he both wrote and starred in productions including Horrible Histories, Yonderland, and Ghosts. In 2022, along with fellow Them There member Ben Willbond, he co-wrote the feature length television comedy We Are Not Alone.
Laurence Rickard | |
|---|---|
 Rickard in 2023 | |
| Born | Laurence Rickard 14 June 1975 Brighton, England |
| Other names | Larry Rickard |
| Education | Brunel University London[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, writer, comedian |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Notable credit(s) | Horrible Histories, Bill, Yonderland, Tracey Ullman's Show, Ghosts, We Are Not Alone |
| Website | laurencerickard |
He is also one half of the comedy writing/performance duo "Larry and George" with George Sawyer.
Career
editRickard has written for UK comedy shows including The Armstrong and Miller Show, The Charlotte Church Show and The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson, as well as children's programme Me and My Monsters.
He is a principal cast member, lyricist and writer for the award-winning CBBC programme Horrible Histories, in particular creating and performing the character of 'Special Correspondent' Bob Hale (a parody of presenter Peter Snow).[2] He has also appeared regularly on the spin-off game show Horrible Histories: Gory Games[3] and in the Horrible Histories BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.[4]
Along with the five other members of the Horrible Histories starring cast, Rickard is also the co-creator, writer, and star of Yonderland, a family/fantasy/comedy series that premiered on Sky One on 10 November 2013. A second series was released in 2015 and a third has since been commissioned and began filming in early 2016.[5] In addition he is the co-writer of Bill, a BBC-produced comedy film which is based loosely around the early life of William Shakespeare and involves the same starring troupe.[6] Filming took place in 2014, and the film had a nationwide UK release in September 2015.[7]
As a performer, Rickard has also appeared in the Channel Four Comedy Lab 'Private Lives' as well as the TV series Balls of Steel. He is also a writer and performer on Tracey Ullman's Show[8] and Tracey Breaks the News. While he has played numerous roles on the shows, his most recent[as of?] recurring role is that of Philip May, the husband of former British Prime Minister Theresa May.[citation needed]
Rickard co-created, wrote, and starred in the 2019-2023 BBC sitcom Ghosts.[1]
In 2024, Rickard was awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities from Brunel University London for his services to television and education.[1]
Awards
edit| Year | Project | Award | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Horrible Histories | Best TV Sketch Show | British Comedy Awards | |
| Best Writing | BAFTA (Children's) | |||
| Best Comedy | ||||
| Best Children's Show (non-fiction) | Prix Jeunesse | |||
| 2011 | Best Acting | Kidscreen Awards | Entire cast | |
| Best British Comedy | British Comedy Guide Awards | |||
| Best TV Sketch Show | ||||
| Best TV Sketch Show | British Comedy Awards | |||
| Best Children's Programme | Broadcast Awards | |||
| Best Comedy | BAFTA (Children's) | |||
| Best Children's Programme | RTS Awards | |||
| 2012 | Best Comedy | BAFTA (Children's) | ||
| Best TV Sketch Show | British Comedy Guide Awards | |||
| Best Children's Programme | Rose d'Or | |||
| Best Acting | Kidscreen Awards | Entire cast | ||
| 2013 | Best Comedy | BAFTA (Children's) | ||
| Best TV Sketch Show | British Comedy Guide Awards | |||
| 2014 | Special Prize: Best Children's Non-Fiction of the Last 50 Years [9] | Prix Jeunesse |
References
edit- ^ a b c Buchanunn, Joe (19 July 2024). "Five famous faces receive honorary awards at Summer Graduation". Brunel University. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ "Lion Television . Horrible Histories". Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
- ^ "Lion Television . HH: Gory Games". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- ^ "Laurence Rickard". Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ "Sky1 to visit Yonderland". Sky1 website. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Stars of Horrible Histories to make Shakespeare film". BBC Media Centre. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Bill: production details". British Comedy Guide. comedy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
- ^ "BBC One - Tracey Ullman's Show, Series 1, Episode 1".
- ^ "2014". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
