BBC The Baddies Animation Coming to BBC One at Christmas!

Christmas TV just got a little more mischievous as The BBC and Magic Light Pictures are bringing The Baddies to screens this festive season.

Turning Dame Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling picture book into a brand-new animated special – complete with an all-star voice cast led by Rob Brydon and Sheridan Smith.

BBC Christmas animations based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling books have become a festive tradition for families across the UK.

Favourites including The Gruffalo, Stick Man, Zog, and Superworm all hit huge ratings!

Last year’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding proved another huge hit, drawing 8.7 million viewers and becoming Christmas week’s most-watched programme.

Author Dame Julia Donaldson says:  “The Baddies was enormous fun to write because I loved inventing these gloriously wicked characters and then thinking about what might happen when they finally meet someone brave enough to outwit them.

Magic Light has done a brilliant job bringing the story to life and the cast have captured all the humour, silliness and spookiness perfectly.”

Here’s everything we know so far about BBC The Baddies Animation:

What Is BBC The Baddies Animation About?

The Baddies are about the worst Baddies in the world – a troll, a ghost and a witch, who love nothing more than being bad and boasting about it.  

When a girl with a blue spotty hanky moves into a cottage nearby, the Baddies quarrel about all the nasty tricks they want to play on her. Then a mouse sets a challenge for the Baddies to see who can steal the hanky. Soon, they learn that they may have met their match in the little girl.

Packed with mischief, humour and heart, this fun adventure is a celebration of courage, kindness and the power of standing up to bullies.

Who Is in the Voice Cast for The Baddies?

The Baddies will feature an all-star voice cast, with returning favourite and Gavin and Stacey actor – Rob Brydon voicing Ghost, Alison Steadman as Witch, Hammed Animashaun as Troll, Robyn Cara as Girl, Francesca Mills as Mouse, alongside Sheridan Smith as the Narrator.

Sheridan Smith says: “I’ve always loved Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s stories, so it was such a joy to be part of bringing The Baddies to life.

The film is funny, spooky and full of heart, and the animation is absolutely beautiful. I think families are going to have enormous fun watching these wonderful characters causing chaos this Christmas.”

When Will BBC The Baddies Animation Air?

There’s no confirmed air date for The Baddies yet, but based on previous Julia Donaldson BBC favourites, Christmas Day afternoon could be one to watch.

Recent festive favourites have traditionally landed in the post-3pm slot.

The BBC is still keeping the exact air date under wraps, but we’ll update this page as soon as it confirms when The Baddies will hit screens.

If you’d rather not wait until Christmas, The Baddies book is available now — perfect for adding to your bedtime story rotation before the TV adaptation arrives.

With a mischievous new story, a star-studded cast and the team behind some of the BBC’s most-loved festive animations, The Baddies already looks set to earn a place in this year’s Christmas TV line-up.

While we wait for an official air date and first-look images, one thing’s for sure — Christmas just got a little more magical.