Howard Oliver Drinkwater Read is a British screenwriter, comedian, and animator. He is best known for his stand-up comedy and television work alongside his animated sidekick, "Little Howard". His other animated creations include characters such as Roger T. Pigeon and H:BOT 2000.

Read is a regular contributor to Robin Ince's Book Club and has written extensively for children's television networks, including CBBC, Cartoon Network, Disney XD, and Nickelodeon.

Career

edit

Little Howard

edit

The stage show The Big Howard and Little Howard Show was nominated for a Perrier Award at the 2003 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This concept was later adapted into the CBBC television series Little Howard's Big Question (2009–2011), which won a British Writers' Guild Award for Best Children's Television Script in 2011.[1] Read served as the creator, head writer, and lead animator for all 38 episodes.

Live comedy and television

edit

Outside of his animation work, Read is known for an interactive human Guess Who? stage act. In 2005, he debuted his first solo show, 2005 Comeback Special, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[2]

Filmography and writing credits

edit
YearTitleRoleNotesNetwork / Platform
2001Polar Bears in a SnowstormCreator, writer, animator, voiceShort film; BBC New Comedy Award winnerBBC
2003CelebdaqSegment creator, writer, animatorAnimated segmentsBBC Three
2004CelebdaqPerformerLive-action segmentsBBC Choice / BBC Three
2005The World Stands UpPerformerStand-up comedyParamount Comedy
2005–2006Two Posh Old MenPerformerComedy seriesUKTV G2
2006Stairlift to HeavenPerformerComedy broadcastCBBC / BBC One
2007Comedy CutsPerformerStand-up showcaseITV2
2007The Royal Variety PerformancePerformerStand-up showcaseITV1
2009–2012Little Howard's Big QuestionCreator, head writer, lead animator38 episodes; Writers' Guild Award winnerBBC / CBBC
2013–2014GigglebizWriterSketch comedyCBeebies
2015Class DismissedWriterSketch comedyCBBC
2015The Tracey Ullman ShowWriterSketch comedyBBC One
2015Counterfeit CatWriterAnimated seriesDisney XD
2014The Amazing World of GumballWriterAnimated series; Episode: "The Shell"Cartoon Network
2016The Furchester HotelWriterChildren's puppetry seriesCBeebies
2016Danger MouseWriterAnimated seriesCBBC
2016The FloogalsWriterAnimated seriesChannel 5 / Sprout
2016–2019Dennis and Gnasher UnleashedWriterAnimated seriesCBBC
2012–2019Horrible HistoriesSketch and song writerSeries 5–9; BAFTA Winner (Best Children's Comedy)[3]CBBC
2018TotemsWriterAnimated short projectApple TV+ / Sesame Studios
2018The World's Worst ChildrenDevelopment writerScript adaptationKing Bert Productions
2018Super NaturalSketch and song writerDevelopment stageKing Bert Productions
2018–2021Deer SquadWriterSeries 1 & 2Nick Jr. / iQIYI
2019Ninja ExpressWriterAnimated seriesCBBC / Boomerang
2019Incredible AntWriterAnimated seriesWildseed Studios / iQIYI
2019Not the End of the WorldWriterAnimated seriesWildseed Studios / Sky
2019I Don't Wanna Grow UpCreator, co-writer, performerLive comedy pilotFremantle
2019–2020Family JewelsWriterAdult animation pilotWildseed Studios
2021Rabbids Invasion: Mission to MarsWriterTelevision filmNetflix / France Télévisions
2021–2022It's PonyWriterSeries 2[4]Nickelodeon

Other work

edit

Radio credits

edit

Theatre credits

edit
  • 2002: Words and Pictures
  • 2003: The Big Howard and Little Howard Show
  • 2004: At Home with the Howards
  • 2005: The Little Howard Appeal
  • 2005: 2005 Comeback Special
  • 2007: Little Howard and the Magic Pencil of Life and Death
  • 2011: Aladdin
  • 2012: Little Howard's Big Show
  • 2013: Howard Read - Hide and Speak

References

edit
  1. "Writers' Guild Awards 2011". Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Retrieved 31 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Howard Read: 2005 Comeback Special". Chortle. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  3. "Bafta Children's Award winners announced". Televisual. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  4. "Nickelodeon Greenlights Season 2 of 'It's Pony'". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
edit