Laurence Rickard
Laurence Rickard | |
|---|---|
 At MCM Comic Com London, 24 October 2025 | |
| Born | Laurence Rickard Brighton, East Sussex, England |
| Other name | Larry Rickard |
| Education | Brunel University London[1] |
| Occupations | 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 |
Laurence Rickard 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.
He is also one half of the comedy writing/performance duo "Larry and George" with George Sawyer.
Career
Rickard 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 was 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. Rickard co-created, wrote, and starred in the BBC sitcom Ghosts (2019-2023)[1] and is co-writer of the BBC sitcom Amandaland (2025-2026).[9]
In 2024, Rickard was awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities from Brunel University London for his services to television and education.[1]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Bill | Sir Francis Walsingham | |
| Lope Lopez | |||
| 2022 | We Are Not Alone | Cirsh | |
| 2025 | Chicken Town | Greebo Mechanic |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2013 | Horrible Histories | Bob Hale | |
| Various | |||
| 2011 | Dick and Dom's Funny Business | The Estate Agent | Episode: "The Estate Agent" |
| Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry | Various | ||
| 2013 | Anna & Katy | Various | 2 episodes |
| 2013–2016 | Yonderland | Ho-Tan | 24 episodes |
| Jeff | 24 episodes | ||
| Wizard Bradley | 4 episodes | ||
| Various | |||
| 2016–2018 | Tracey Ullman's Show | Various | 14 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Tracey Breaks the News | Various | 7 episodes |
| 2019–2023 | Ghosts | Robin | 35 episodes |
| Sir Humphrey Bone | 35 episodes | ||
| 2026 | Amandaland | Mr Hastings | Series 2 |
Awards
| 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 TV of the last 50 Years (Non-Fiction)[10] | Prix Jeunesse International | ||
| 2026 | Amandaland | Best Scripted Comedy | BAFTA[11] |
References
- 1 2 3 Buchanunn, Joe (19 July 2024). "Five famous faces receive honorary awards at Summer Graduation" (Press release). Brunel University London. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "Horrible Histories". Lion Television. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011.
- ↑ "HH: Gory Games". Lion Television. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.
- ↑ "Laurence Rickard". Noel Gay Artists. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014.
- ↑ "Sky1 to visit Yonderland". Sky1. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "Stars of Horrible Histories to make Shakespeare film" (Press release). BBC Media Centre. 16 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013.
- ↑ "Bill | Cast & crew credits". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "Tracey Ullman's Show". Series 1. Episode 1. 11 January 2016. BBC One.
- ↑ Aroesti, Rachel (6 May 2026). "Amandaland series two review – file this mesmerising comedy icon next to Alan Partridge and David Brent". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ "2014 Winners". Prix Jeunesse International. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016.
- ↑ Richardson, Hollie (10 May 2026). "Bafta TV awards 2026: the full list of winners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 May 2026.