Ben Willbond is an English actor and screenwriter best known as a member of the British Them There collective, for which he has written and starred in productions including Horrible Histories, Yonderland, and Ghosts.

Along with fellow Them There member Laurence Rickard, he co-wrote the 2015 feature film Bill and 2022 feature-length television comedy We Are Not Alone.

Early life Willbond was a Forces child and consequently his family moved around every two years. He was sent to board at Stamford School in Lincolnshire, when he was nine years old. He was bullied whilst attending the school.Ben Willbond twitter (2012) Willbond, when talking about his experience at the school, said "I don't actually remember that time because it was so shocking". He studied Russian and French at St Catherine's College, Oxford.

Career Along with Arnold Widdowson, Willbond was part of the comedy duo "Ben & Arn", who won the Perrier Award for "Best Newcomer" in 1999, and formed the self-proclaimed "thinking man's French pop duo" Priorité à Gauche. He then went on to perform his solo character shows at several Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, the last being in 2005 which also starred Katy Brand and Jim Field Smith.Dominic, Maxwell. "Laura Solon, Ben Willbond." Times, The (United Kingdom) 22 August 2005: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 8 December 2011.

He is perhaps best known for his regular role in CBBC's Horrible Histories, in which he played a wide variety of historical figures, most memorably recurring roles as Henry VIII and Alexander the Great. Along with the five other members of the Horrible Histories starring cast, Willbond is also the co-creator, -writer and -star of Yonderland, a family fantasy comedy series that premiered on Sky One on 10 November 2013. In addition he is the co-writer of Bill, a BBC-produced comedy film based loosely around the early life of William Shakespeare, which involved the same starring troupe.

Previously, Willbond had starred in a short-lived sketch show for ITV2 called Laura, Ben & Him with Marek Larwood and sometime writing partner Laura Solon. He also appeared in Solon's BBC Radio 4 sketch show, Laura Solon: Talking and Not Talking. Other notable television work includes the recurring roles of Steve Warwick in the BBC comedy Rev, Adam Kenyon in BBC Four's The Thick of It and as a television director in the movie-length final episode of the Ricky Gervais comedy Extras (BBC Two). He has also appeared in Katy Brand's Big Ass Show for ITV2 and Mayo for BBC One.

Willbond's other radio credits include BBC Radio 4 series Deep Trouble, Double Science (co-written with Justin Edwards), Recorded for Training Purposes and the first series of Electric Ink. He also starred in the YouTube romantic comedy Nigel and Victoria.

His 2010 short film Tooty's Wedding, which he co-wrote with Solon, won numerous international comedy awards and was screened as part of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Other notable film work includes the movie Starter for 10 (2006).Lawrenson, Edward. "Starter For Ten." Sight & Sound 16.11 (2006): 82. Associates Programs Source Plus. Web. 8 December 2011. In 2007 he had a short appearance in St Trinian's, as a nervous school inspector.

Between 2019 and 2023, Willbond portrayed The Captain in the BBC sitcom Ghosts with the other main Horrible Histories cast.

Personal life Willbond has two children and is married to Charlotte Gordon. He is a keen cricketer and plays for the Thunderers.

Awards

Year Project Award Event Notes 2011 Tooty's Wedding Best Comedy Short Rhode Island International Film Festival 2011 Tooty's Wedding Best Foreign Short & Best Direction (Short) LA Comedy Festival 2011 Tooty's Wedding Jury Prize Best Short Film Friars Club Comedy Film Festival 2011 Tooty's Wedding Best Comedy Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2011 Tooty's Wedding Award of Merit Accolade Competition 2011 Horrible Histories Best Acting Kidscreen Awards Entire cast 2012 Horrible Histories Best Acting Kidscreen Awards Entire cast

Filmography

Year Project Role Notes and references 1999 Ben & Arn's Big Top Ben Edinburgh Fringe Festival performance The Now Show BBC Radio 4 2001 Le Hip Parade François Play UK television series 2004–07 Deep Trouble Writer / performer ('Lieutenant Jack Trainor') BBC Radio 4 2005 Mayo Simon Johnston BBC One The Gigolos Ben Film Imagine Me & You David Film The Catherine Tate Show Gym Trainer BBC Twohttp://www.avalon-usa.com/assets/files/BEN_WILLBOND(5).pdf 2006 Starter for 10 Julian Film My Hero Dexter BBC One 2006–08 Recorded for Training Purposes Writer / performer BBC Radio 4 2007 St Trinian's Alistair Film 2007, 2008 Double Science Doctor Colin Jackson BBC Radio 4 2007, 2012 The Thick of It Adam Kenyon BBC Two 2008 Exit Strategy Husband Short film Lead Balloon Jamie BBC Two Laura, Ben & Him Writer, performer, co-creator ITV 2 2009–13 Horrible Histories Principal sketch performer CBBC 2010–11 Rev. Stephen Warwick BBC Two 2011 Tooty's Wedding Peter Film short 2013–16 Yonderland Various 2014 Inside No. 9 Jeremy Episode: "Sardines" 2015 Bill Various Film Acoustic Kitty Agent Cooper Film short Shush! Simon BBC Radio 4 2016 Power Monkeys Oleg Channel 4. Utilises Russian degree. Bridget Jones's Baby Giles Film 2017 Playing House Dr. Clive Ericson 5 episodes Quacks Patrice Dupont 1 episode Danger Mouse Ham Hands 2 episodes Tracey Breaks the News Emmanuel Macron, Various BBC One2018DamnedMarcus Bowles2018–2023There She Goes Chris Main role; 2 series and 2023 special2019Good Omens Nigel Tomkins 1 episodeSequins Alan Bigsby Film short2019–2023Ghosts The Captain Main role; BBC One2021Alma's Not NormalPhilSeries 1, episode 32022We Are Not AloneDarrenthFilm2023A Kind of SparkAdam QuinnMain role2024The WivesFrankie Morgan6 episodes2024The CleanerJustinSeries 3, episode 12026Death in ParadiseCraig PinnockSeries 15, episode 3

References

External links Official Website

Official Twitter Site