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Simon Farnaby

Writer

Represented by:

Humphrey Elles-Hill

Simon Farnaby is a screenwriter and actor and author. He is known for writing PADDINGTON, PADDINGTON 2 and the WONKA film alongside long-term collaborator Paul King. In recent years, he has also wrote the adaptation of the book THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN (co-written with Scott Murray) into a feature film of the same name, starring Mark Rylance. On the TV side, Simon is known as a long time member of the THEM THERE theatrical production collective, starring in and writing HORRIBLE HISTORIES and the long-running BBC comedy GHOSTS. Simon’s first children’s book  THE WIZARD IN MY SHED has also been picked up by a major studio, and his follow up THE WARRIOR IN MY WARDROBE has just hit the shelves.

Credits

FEATURE FILM
Date: 2023
Production (role):
WONKA (Co-writer)
Company:
Heyday Films / Warner Bros
Project details:
DIRECTOR: Paul King
STARRING: Timothée Chamalet, Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins
PRODUCED BY: David Heyman, Luke Kelly, Alexandra Derbyshire
EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY: Rosie Alison, Kevin McCormick, Michael Siegal
Date: 2020
Production (role):
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN
Company:
BabyCow Films / Cornerstone Films / AI Film / BBC Films
Project details:
DIRECTOR: Craig Roberts
STARRING: Mark Rylance
PRODUCED BY: Nichola Martin, Tom Miller and Kate Glover
EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY: Christine Langan and James Swarbrick
Date: 2017
Production (role):
MISTER BENN
Company:
Mandeville / Disney
Date: 2016-17
Production (role):
PADDINGTON 2 (Co-Writer)
Company:
Heyday / Studiocanal
Project details:
DIRECTOR: Paul King
STARRING: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins
PRODUCED BY: David Heyman
Date: 2016
Production (role):
MINDHORN
Company:
Scott Free / BBC Films / Studiocanal
Project details:
DIRECTOR: Sean Foley
Production (role):
MAGIC FARAWAY TREE
Company:
StudioCanal
Project details:
Producer: Sam Mendes
IN DEVELOPMENT
TELEVISION
Date: 2021
Production (role):
GHOSTS (US)
Company:
CBS
Project details:
Executive Producer
Date: 2019 - 2021
Production (role):
GHOSTS
Company:
BBC ONE
Project details:
Co-Writer & Executive Producer
6 x 30'

“With wonderful costumes and just the right balance of hammy and withering, this is jolly good fun. In all: an original and imaginative concept, slickly executed.”
Sarah Carson, The i

"The comedy is gentle and nicely observed and, for a show about death, curiously life-affirming.”
Carol Midgley, The Times

"... a landslide of puns and slapstick... repeatedly whacking you over the funny bone till you succumb.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail
Date: 2013-16
Production (role):
YONDERLAND
Company:
Working Title / Sky
Project details:
x 4 episodes

Credits

  • Date
    Production (role)
    Company
    Project details
  • Date: 2023
    Production (role): WONKA (Co-writer)
    Company: Heyday Films / Warner Bros
    Project details: DIRECTOR: Paul King
    STARRING: Timothée Chamalet, Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins
    PRODUCED BY: David Heyman, Luke Kelly, Alexandra Derbyshire
    EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY: Rosie Alison, Kevin McCormick, Michael Siegal
  • Date: 2020
    Production (role): THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN
    Company: BabyCow Films / Cornerstone Films / AI Film / BBC Films
    Project details: DIRECTOR: Craig Roberts
    STARRING: Mark Rylance
    PRODUCED BY: Nichola Martin, Tom Miller and Kate Glover
    EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY: Christine Langan and James Swarbrick
  • Date: 2017
    Production (role): MISTER BENN
    Company: Mandeville / Disney
    Project details:
  • Date: 2016-17
    Production (role): PADDINGTON 2 (Co-Writer)
    Company: Heyday / Studiocanal
    Project details: DIRECTOR: Paul King
    STARRING: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins
    PRODUCED BY: David Heyman
  • Date: 2016
    Production (role): MINDHORN
    Company: Scott Free / BBC Films / Studiocanal
    Project details: DIRECTOR: Sean Foley
  • Date:
    Production (role): MAGIC FARAWAY TREE
    Company: StudioCanal
    Project details: Producer: Sam Mendes
    IN DEVELOPMENT
  • Date
    Production (role)
    Company
    Project details
  • Date: 2021
    Production (role): GHOSTS (US)
    Company: CBS
    Project details: Executive Producer
  • Date: 2019 - 2021
    Production (role): GHOSTS
    Company: BBC ONE
    Project details: Co-Writer & Executive Producer
    6 x 30'

    “With wonderful costumes and just the right balance of hammy and withering, this is jolly good fun. In all: an original and imaginative concept, slickly executed.”
    Sarah Carson, The i

    "The comedy is gentle and nicely observed and, for a show about death, curiously life-affirming.”
    Carol Midgley, The Times

    "... a landslide of puns and slapstick... repeatedly whacking you over the funny bone till you succumb.”
    Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail
  • Date: 2013-16
    Production (role): YONDERLAND
    Company: Working Title / Sky
    Project details: x 4 episodes
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