Martha Howe-Douglas

Martha Howe-Douglas
At MCM Comic Con London, 24 October 2025
Born1981 or 1982 (age 43–44)
Moseley, Birmingham, England
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
Television

Martha Howe-Douglas (born 1981 or 1982) is an English actress and writer. She is known as a member of the Them There collective with which she wrote and starred in productions including Horrible Histories, Yonderland, and Ghosts. She also played receptionist Donna Parmar in the BBC One daytime soap Doctors.[1]

Early life

Howe-Douglas was born and raised in Moseley, a suburb of south Birmingham, England, in 1981 or 1982.[2] She attended Edgbaston High School.[3] She graduated from RADA in 2003.[4][5]

Career

After graduating from RADA, Howe-Douglas appeared in the Christmas special of The Office, as a receptionist at Wernham-Hogg.[6] From 24 April 2006 until 11 May 2007, Howe-Douglas played receptionist Donna Parmar in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors. For her role as Donna, Howe-Douglas received nominations for Best Comedy Performance and Best Newcomer at the 2007 British Soap Awards.[7]

In 2009, she landed one of the main multi-role parts on a new children's TV history sketch show programme, CBBC's Horrible Histories,[8] where over five years and five series, she played numerous characters including the queens Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, Boudicea and Victoria. In 2011, she appeared in The Proms, in a special live "Horrible Histories Big Prom Party" performance.[9] In 2013, she co-created, co-wrote and co-starred in Sky1's series Yonderland, in which she played lead character Debbie Maddox[10] in all three series.

Howe-Douglas' other acting roles have included appearing in The Armstrong & Miller Show on BBC One and playing Flora Dies-Early in the radio comedy show Bleak Expectations, as well as Lady Anne Woodstock in the radio show The Castle. In 2018, she appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Annie Pritchard.[11] From 15 April 2019, Howe-Douglas co-wrote, produced and starred in the BBC sitcom Ghosts, which sees her reunited with the Horrible Histories cast.[12]

Personal life

Howe-Douglas is married to a photographer who worked on Ghosts.[13]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997Armstrong and MillerVarious1 episode
2003The OfficeMel the receptionistThe Office Christmas specials
2005All About GeorgeHelen
DoctorsMs Larson2 episodes
2006–2007Donna ParmarRegular role
2007FreezingLeon's P.A.
2009The Armstrong and Miller ShowVarious
Nativity!Oakmoor Parent
2009–2013Horrible HistoriesVarious46 episodes
2011The PromsProm 20: Horrible Histories Big Prom Party
2012Shakespeare's WartPavlinaShort
2013–2014WPC 56Abigail Fenton5 episodes
2013–2015CrackanoryVarious4 episodes
2013–2016YonderlandDebbie Maddox25 episodes; also creator
2014PsychobitchesPocahontas1 episode
2015BillVarious
Doctor FosterBecky6 episodes
2016–2017Noddy, Toyland DetectivePat Pat (voice)Recurring role
2017Tracey Breaks the NewsVarious1 episode
2018EastEndersAnnie Pritchard3 episodes
2019–2023GhostsLady Fanny Button/Plague GhostMain role; also creator and writer
2020BreedersAmber1 episode
2021MotherlandAshley1 episode
2022Friday Night LiveRebekah Vardy1 episode

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2006 RTS Midlands Awards Best New Talent Doctors Won [14]
2007 British Soap Awards Best Comedy Performance Nominated [7]
Best Newcomer Nominated [7]

References

  1. ↑ "Martha Howe-Douglas". curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Behind the scenes of Horrible Histories with its Birmingham star". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  3. ↑ Laws, Roz (9 July 2015). "Why the Sky1 comedy Yonderland is set in a Selly Oak kitchen". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "Martha Howe-Douglas". Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Martha Howe-Douglas". Retrieved 19 January 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ↑ "Ghosts star Martha Howe-Douglas announces exciting new role". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Green, Kris (27 May 2007). "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  8. ↑ West, Naomi (25 May 2010). "How Horrible Histories grew up to be a hit comedy show". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  9. ↑ Laws, Roz (26 June 2011). "Behind the scenes of Horribles Histories with its Birmingham star". BirminghamLive.
  10. ↑ "Yonderland (TV series)". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Sandwell, Ian (27 March 2018). "EastEnders fans are just realising where they know Annie from". Digital Spy.
  12. ↑ Sporn, Natasha (15 April 2019). "Ghosts BBC: Cast, trailer and all you need to know about the series from the team behind Horrible Histories". Evening Standard.
  13. ↑ Instagram · marthahowedouglas Ca. 36.360 Follower Martha Howe-Douglas (@marthahowedouglas)
  14. ↑ "ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY Regional Centres' Awards 2006/7" (PDF). Royal Television Society. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
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