Simon Farnaby

  • 22 October 2009

Occupation

Actor

Paddington 2 Review

Extraordinary

The first Paddington movie in 2014 is already such a beloved classic that it's hard to believe that this sequel actually tops it. Writer-director Paul King and his cast are back with their whimsical approach, combining silly comedy with surreally deranged touches that bring these people to life in ways that are both hilarious and deeply endearing. And this time, the plot feels more developed and the humour even funnier.

We catch up with Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) as he's now a fixture in his Notting Hill neighbourhood. With his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday approaching, he wants to give her the hand-made pop-up book of London landmarks he discovers in Gruber's (Jim Broadbent) second-hand shop and starts working odd jobs to save up to buy it. What he doesn't know is that a neighbour, washed-up actor Phoenix (Hugh Grant), knows that the book is a map to a hidden treasure. When Phoenix steals it and frames him, Paddington's adoptive family (Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin and Julie Walters) launch a plan to clear his name.

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Mindhorn Trailer

In the late 80s, Richard Thorncroft (Julian Barratt) was the most famous police detective on television, but fast-forward to the present day and he's balding, ungroomed and trying to convince himself that he is exactly where he needs to be in life with desperate daily positive affirmations. Fate does have one more adventure in store for the actor, however. A suspected serial killer named Paul Melly (Russell Tovey) has escaped from a secure unit at Darkmoor Hospital and is now taunting Isle of Man police that more will die unless he can speak to Detective Mindhorn. The police are well aware that Mindhorn is just a TV character, but they try their luck and enlist the help of the actor who plays him nonetheless. Unfortunately, Thorncroft turns out to be much less efficient than his onscreen persona, as much as he'd like to believe otherwise.

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Julian Barratt Turns Detective In His New Dark Comedy 'Mindhorn'

By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 22 March 2017

Julian Barratt Simon Farnaby Steve Coogan

'Mindhorn' sees Julian Barratt as a former TV star who pretends to be a detective to nab a killer.

There's something irresistably engaging about cops and comedy, and Julian Barratt has taken that aesthetic to the Isle of Man with his new film 'Mindhorn'. Coming this Spring, it sees a struggling ex-TV star who goes undercover as his own alter ego to help police catch a murderer.

Image caption Julian Barratt stars in 'Mindhorn'

'Mindhorn' is the first film screenplay from 'The Mighty Boosh' star Julian Barratt, written in collaboration with his co-star Simon Farnaby. The film follows a former 80s star named Richard Thorncroft (Barratt), whose best-known role is as a TV cop named Detective Mindhorn who wears robotic eye patch that helps him uncover lies.

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'Bill' Sees 'Horrible Histories' Cast Hit The Big Screen [Trailer And Pictures]

By Stephen Caswell in Movies / TV / Theatre on 25 December 2014

Damian Lewis Simon Farnaby Mathew Baynton Helen McCrory

BBC Films' 'Bill' is the first cinematic outing for the cast of the hit UK TV series, 'Horrible Histories'.

William Shakespeare has had a fairly difficult transition to the silver screen. Sure, his plays have been made into great film adaptations, but whenever the character is portrayed in movies, things seem to go a bit wrong. Thankfully, this new look at the life of the Great Bard is being made by the comedy troupe behind the BBC's television series 'Horrible Histories' and 'Yonderland'.


Mathew Baynton and Martha Howe-Douglas in 'Bill'

The comedy group have often been hailed as a modern Monty Python, yet more child-friendly. And now, after two celebrated television series, the cast have been unleashed in their first feature film from BBC Films. Filming in iconic UK locations around Yorkshire, the cast and crew shot in York Minster, Skipton Castle, Bolton Castle, Selby Abbey, as well as Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London.

Continue reading: 'Bill' Sees 'Horrible Histories' Cast Hit The Big Screen [Trailer And Pictures]

Bill Trailer

A young and ambitious playwright in the time of Queen Elizabeth the 1st makes the travel to London to showcase his wares. The young bard's name? Bill. Young Bill has a play in mind that will one day become the talk of London and, considering how the Queen's personal playwright is far from up to scratch, may even be performed before the Queen herself. But when a group of revolutionaries decide to use the play as the staging point for their plot to kill the Queen, Bill must fight to not only put on a performance to launch his career, but save the audience from assassination. It's all in a day's work for William Shakespeare, however.

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Simon Farnaby - Photographs of a variety of stars as they took to the red carpet for the world premiere of 'Paddington' which was held at the Odeon cinema in London, United Kingdom - Sunday 23rd November 2014

All Stars Trailer

Ethan and Jaden are two street kids with a close knit group of friends, Amy, Tim, Rebecca and Brian, who they enjoy spending time with at the Old Garage youth centre in their town run by Gina. However, the small venue has become more of a problem than a necessary building in the eyes of the council who wish to demolish it unless they can cough up enough cash to own it. In an attempt to raise a few pounds, Ethan and Jaden put forward an idea to Gina; to put on acts in a show and sell tickets. Initially sceptical at first, the worried Gina soon allows them free reign as they audition a variety of talent from martial artists to BMXers and skateboarders as well as a several street dancers. Will the kids manage to save their beloved centre, or will their only inspiration for their passions be bulldozed to the ground despite all their efforts?

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Bunny & The Bull Trailer

Watch the trailer for Bunny & The Bull

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