Celebrity Best Days Out – Laurence Rickard

Laurence “Larry” Rickard is one of those performers whose face you instantly recognise – even if it’s separated from his body or hidden under a caveman’s wig.

A founding member of the brilliantly bonkers Horrible Histories comedy troupe, Larry has spent the last two decades writing and performing some of Britain’s smartest family comedy. Alongside his long-time collaborators Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Ben Willbond, Simon Farnaby and Martha Howe-Douglas, he also wrote the much-loved fantasy sitcom Yonderland, co-wrote the Shakespeare comedy film Bill, and of course the BBC smash hit Ghosts.

In Ghosts, Larry pulls double duty as both Robin the caveman – a wonderfully deadpan prehistoric philosopher and Humphrey, the permanently confused Tudor ghost whose head has an unfortunate habit of wandering off without him. The series became one of the BBC’s most successful modern sitcoms, winning awards, launching an American remake, and building a fiercely loyal fanbase.

And the story isn’t over yet – but more about that later.

Away from haunted mansions and historical chaos, Larry is a Brighton-born writer, film lover and musician who has happy memories of visiting London as a kid and teenager and still enjoys wandering around the city today.

At the time of writing he lives in Brighton with his family and Mary his partner….A big thanks to him for sharing his “Best Days Out”….

What’s he up to?

There has been much rejoicing amongst the Ghosts’ fanbase as Larry and the team have announced they’ll be returning. Not in a new series – the latest outing will be a feature film set in the Button House universe, bringing their much-loved gang of spectral misfits to the big screen.

Where were your favourite places to visit in London as a kid and why?

There were TWO places I went to loads as a teen…..The first was Rock Circus – a Madame Tussauds attraction that used to be in the Trocadero. Basically a music themed waxwork museum with an animatronic floorshow at the end, where you could see the likes of Janis Joplin and The Beatles performing ‘live’. I have a feeling the tech wouldn’t stand up these days, but I loved it as a kid.

The other was MoMI (Museum of the Moving Image) at the BFI Southbank. I was obsessed with film and TV from an early age, so the chance to see so many props and techniques was incredibly exciting to me. Both are now are long gone, though Deal (Kent) and Bradford both have MoMI-esque museums now.

 Finally, if it sold burgers and my parents weren’t keen on it, I was sold. So for me Hard Rock Cafe was the Holy Grail, because you could eat a burger whilst looking at a guitar – that probably once belonged to Bruce Springsteen’s gardener. 

Do you have a favourite shop?

I love a music shop, so Tin Pan Alley remains a favourite. I am not the world’s greatest bassists, but like all truly mediocre players, I really enjoy browsing kit.

Where in the UK would you recommend to another family?

Bristol. I’ve worked there quite a lot and love the place. There’s loads to do with families there as well – numerous museums, eateries and the fantastic SS Great Britain.

Bath is right next door too, which is obviously crammed with history.

What would be your perfect family day out?

I’m a lifelong Brightonian, so I imagine the seaside would figure pretty highly. When there’s just the right amount of sun, there’s nothing like it. And my three-year-old would happily paddle for hours.

 Hove Lagoon is a fantastic park for kids and there is nothing like the ‘The Big Beach Cafe’ to eat. Plus, the beach comes with ice-creams, fish and chips (50% of which my son is very much on board with) and it’s usually pretty easy to sign-up friends to a day like that.

I know I’ll soon be hitting the phase of parenthood where I’ll basically become a taxi between ‘activities’, so I’m taking the simple days while I still have them.

Bus, tube, taxi, walk or cycle?

I love to walk around London. I really enjoy those moments where a stroll down a road suddenly connects two bits of London that were previously disparate tube stops.

Give us a tip or a London life-hack…

I had some pretty good tips for efficient tube changes, but I think I’ve forgotten them all now. Sorry!