Personal Info
Birth date
1973-01-18 (52 Years)
Gender
Male
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Also known as
-Ben Willbond
Biography
Benjamin Thomas Willbond (born 18 January 1973) is an English actor and screenwriter. He is best known for his numerous roles in a children’s program Horrible Histories (2009–2013), as well as Yonderland (2013–2016), where he also played various different roles, and Ghosts (2019–) where he played The Captain. He is also known for appearing in movies such as St. Trinian's (2007), Bill (2015), and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). He was part of the comedy duo "Ben & Arn", for which he won 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. He is 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. He is also the co-creator, -writer and -star of Yonderland, a family fantasy comedy series that premiered on SkyOne 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. 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. 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). In 2007, and he had a short appearance in St Trinian's as a nervous school inspector. Description above is from the Wikipedia article Ben Willbond, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
Ghosts
7.885
Overview:
Samantha and Jay throw caution to the wind when they convert their recently inherited country estate into a bed-and-breakfast. Call it mislaid plans. Not only is the place falling apart, but it’s also inhabited by spirits of previous residents -- whom only Samantha can see and hear.Good Omens
8.02
Overview:
Aziraphale, an angel, and Crowley, a demon, join forces in order to prevent Armageddon. They attempt to raise the Antichrist in a balanced and human way, but are they focusing their efforts in the right direction?Inside No. 9
8.024
Overview:
An anthology of darkly comic twisted tales, each one taking place behind a door marked 'number 9'.Ghosts
7.9
Overview:
A cash-strapped young couple inherits a grand country house, only to find it is both falling apart and teeming with the ghosts of former inhabitants.Horrible Histories
7.983
Overview:
Based on the best-selling children's books and liberally splattered with guts, blood and poo, a group of British comedians offer an anarchic and unconventional take on some of history's most gruesome and funny moments, with topics including the Stone Age, the Middle Ages, the Egyptians and the Romans, among others.Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
6.945
Overview:
A band of fearless chickens flock together to save poultry-kind from an unsettling new threat: a nearby farm that's cooking up something suspicious.Pointless Celebrities
6.289
Overview:
Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman present a celebrity version of the general knowledge quiz in which contestants try to come up with the answers that nobody else could think of.Danger Mouse
6.2
Overview:
Danger Mouse is back saving London, saving the World and, most importantly, saving Penfold in brand new and fantastically absurd, energetic adventures.The Thick of It
8.029
Overview:
Set in the corridors of power and spin, the Minister for Social Affairs is continually harassed by Number 10's policy enforcer and dependent on his not-so-reliable team of civil servants.Bridget Jones's Baby
6.413
Overview:
After breaking up with Mark Darcy five years earlier, Bridget Jones' happily-ever-after hasn't quite gone according to plan. Fortysomething and single again, she decides to focus on her job as top news producer and surround herself with old friends and new. For once, Bridget has everything completely under control. Then her love life takes a turn - while a weekend away at a music festival, she meets a dashing American named Jack, who is everything Mark is not, and spends a night with him. A week later, she runs into newly-separated Mark, and has a one-night dalliance. In an unlikely twist, she finds herself pregnant, but with one hitch - she's not sure of the identity of her baby's father - Mark or Jack.Mayo
4.2
Overview:
Charismatic detective Gil Mayo wise-cracks his way through a variety of murder mysteries alongside his sexy colleague, Alex Jones. Matters aren't simple between the old flames as flirtation could become something more - but who will make the first move? Life is further complicated by Gil's precocious teenage daughter Julie, who he's bringing up by himself after the disappearance of his wife. The detective does come up with a novel way to deal with the piles of bills he keeps receiving though - hiding them in the cupboard!Yonderland
7.478
Overview:
A bored young mum steps through a portal and discovers a world of incompetent knights, monks who are incapable of lying, and a race of people intent on firing the cleverest amongst them into the sun.Starter for 10
6.4
Overview:
In 1985, against the backdrop of Thatcherism, Brian Jackson enrolls in the University of Bristol, a scholarship boy from seaside Essex with a love of knowledge for its own sake and a childhood spent watching University Challenge, a college quiz show. At Bristol he tries out for the Challenge team and falls under the spell of Alice, a lovely blond with an extensive sexual past.King of Thieves
5.542
Overview:
London, England, April 2015. Brian Reader, a retired thief, gathers an unlikely gang of burglars to perpetrate the biggest and boldest heist in British history. The thieves assault the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company and escape with millions in goods and money. But soon the cracks between the gang members begin to appear when they discuss how to share the loot.My Hero
6.5
Overview:
My Hero is a BBC sitcom created by Paul Mendelson. The programme ran for six series, first broadcast in February 2000, and concluding in September 2006. The series follows the antics of the dim-witted superhero "Thermoman", portrayed by Ardal O'Hanlon in series one to five and by James Dreyfus in the final series. The series was regularly directed by John Stroud. In the UK, the digital channel Gold regularly re-runs the programme, although the last series has yet to appear on the channel. In the United States it was shown on PBS and, briefly, BBC America. In Australia, UKTV offered re-runs of the first three series, while BBC Entertainment provided repeats for Scandinavia.Imagine Me & You
7.6
Overview:
During her wedding ceremony, Rachel notices Luce in the audience and feels instantly drawn to her. The two women become close friends, and when Rachel learns that Luce is a lesbian, she realizes that despite her happy marriage to Heck, she is falling for Luce. As she questions her sexual orientation, Rachel must decide between her stable relationship with Heck and her exhilarating new romance with Luce.The Cleaner
7.017
Overview:
After CSI have done their stuff, the cleaner mops up the grisly remains. For Wicky, a bloodbath and the pub is all in a day's work.Playing House
6.382
Overview:
A single-camera buddy comedy about what happens when two best friends come back together, just when they need each other most. Inspired by the ultra-close friendship between the series' creators and stars, "Playing House" centers on mother to-be Maggie who asks her single and career-driven best friend Emma to return home from her job overseas to attend her baby shower, having no idea what’s truly in store.Cemetery Junction
6.541
Overview:
In 1970s England, three blue-collar friends spend their days joking, drinking, fighting and chasing girls. Freddie wants to leave their working-class world but cool, charismatic Bruce and lovable loser Snork are happy with life the way it is. When Freddie gets a new job as a door-to-door salesman and bumps into his old school sweetheart Julie, the gang are forced to make choices that will change their lives for ever.A Kind of Spark
8.4
Overview:
When she discovers a centuries-old mystery within her town, autistic teen Addie finds her voice and lets her light shine as she stands up for those who were persecuted for being different like her.Spinners and Losers
8.333
Overview:
Peter Mannion's speech on immigration, leaking the PM's policy, did not have the effect Tucker desired and now the PM is resigning, leaving the way clear for the Nutters and their leader Tom. Ollie has been promised a job by young Nutter Ben Swain, Tucker's assistant has encouraged Hugh's predecessor Cliff to stand as a stalking horse and Glenn is keen to keep Hugh in the frame whilst his boss is in Australia. Fortunately Tom has a dark secret which is just what Tucker is looking for but will it be enough?Bill
6.831
Overview:
What really happened during Shakespeare's 'Lost Years'? Hopeless lute player Bill Shakespeare leaves his home to follow his dream.Your Highness
5.329
Overview:
A fantasy movie about an arrogant, lazy prince and his more heroic brother who must complete a quest in order to save their father's kingdom.St Trinian's
5.897
Overview:
When their beloved school is threatened with closure should the powers that be fail to raise the proper funds, the girls scheme to steal a priceless painting and use the profits to pull St. Trinian's out of the red.The Catherine Tate Show
6.853
Overview:
Comedy legend Catherine Tate plays all her best-loved characters in this riotous sketch show. Expect sulky teens, offensive nans and the most tactless women in the world.W.E.
6.348
Overview:
In 1998, an auction of the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor causes great excitement. For one woman, Wally Winthrop, it has much more meaning. Wally becomes obsessed by their historic love story. As she learns more about the sacrifices involved, Wally gains her own courage to find happiness.Angelo's
7
Overview:
Angelo's is a sitcom created for Five and Paramount Comedy by Bwark Productions. It follows the ups and downs of everyday life in a central London greasy spoon café.Power Monkeys
6.125
Overview:
Following the success of their 2015 election comedy Ballot Monkeys, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin (Ballot Monkeys, Outnumbered, Drop the Dead Donkey) return to Channel 4 with a six-part satire lampooning the fictional communications and social media ‘experts’ on both sides of the EU referendum, as well as taking audiences a few doors down from the Kremlin and into the imagined world of Donald Trump’s campaign plane.Acting
TBAWomble as Jim Labey
2024The Wives (6 Episodes) as Frankie Morgan
2023A Kind of Spark (10 Episodes) as Adam Quinn
2023We Are Not Alone as Darrenth
2022We Are Not Alone (3 Episodes) as Darrenth
2021The Cleaner (1 Episode) as Justin
2019Good Omens (1 Episode) as Nigel Tomkins
2019Ghosts (30 Episodes) as The Captain
2019Sequins as Alan Bigsby
2018King of Thieves as Building Society Branch Manager
2016Bridget Jones's Baby as Giles
2016Power Monkeys (6 Episodes) as Oleg
2016Tracey Ullman's Show (1 Episode) as Emmanuel Macron
2015Acoustic Kitty as Agent Cooper
2015Danger Mouse (2 Episodes) as Prof. Ham Hands (voice)
2015Bill as King Phillip II of Spain / Earl of Southampton / Grubby Thief / Alexander Dimitrievitch / Head of Guards
2014Rest Stop as Guardian Angel
2014Playing House (5 Episodes) as Dr. Clive Ericson
2014Inside No. 9 (1 Episode) as Jeremy
2013Yonderland (25 Episodes) as Various
2012Meeting Daddy as Daddy
2011Tooty's Wedding as Peter
2011Horrible Histories’ Big Prom Party as Unknown
2011W.E. as Equerry
2011Pointless Celebrities (2 Episodes) as Self
2011Your Highness as Ranger
2010Cemetery Junction as Martin
2009Horrible Histories (64 Episodes) as Unknown
2008Trimming the Fat as JT
2008Laura, Ben And Him (8 Episodes) as Unknown
2008Exit Strategy as Husband
2007St Trinian's as Damaged Inspector
2007Angelo's (1 Episode) as Paul
2007Spinners and Losers as Adam Kenyon
2007I Want Candy as Businessman
2006Starter for 10 as University Challenge Coordinator
2006The Gigolos as Ben
2006Mayo (1 Episode) as Simon Johnston
2006Imagine Me & You as David Steele
2005The Thick of It (4 Episodes) as Adam Kenyon
2005The Robinsons (1 Episode) as Lance
2004The Catherine Tate Show (1 Episode) as Unknown
2000My Hero (1 Episode) as Dexter Paget
Crew
2023Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget ... Additional Writing
Writing
2023We Are Not Alone ... Writer
2022We Are Not Alone (3 Episodes) ... Writer
2019Ghosts (8 Episodes) ... Writer
2015Bill ... Writer
2013Yonderland (25 Episodes) ... Writer
2011Tooty's Wedding ... Writer
2009Horrible Histories (6 Episodes) ... Writer
Production
2021Ghosts (72 Episodes) ... Executive Producer
2019Ghosts (30 Episodes) ... Executive Producer
2011Tooty's Wedding ... Producer