# Martha Howe-Douglas
**Martha Howe-Douglas** (born 1980) is an English actress, writer, and producer best known as a member of the Horrible Histories comedy troupe and as co-creator and star of the BBC sitcom *[Ghosts](https://www.edgepedia.org/ghosts-2019-british-tv-series)*, in which she played Lady Fanny Button across all five series. She trained at RADA, graduating with a BA in Acting in 2003[1](https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/martha-howe-douglas/), and was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, England[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544279).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Training | BA in Acting (H Level), RADA, graduated 2003[1](https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/martha-howe-douglas/) |
| Signature troupe work | Lead female performer in all five series of *Horrible Histories* (BBC); co-wrote and starred in all three series of *Yonderland* (Sky 1) as Debbie Maddox[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/) |
| *Ghosts* | Co-created in 2018 with Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Mathew Baynton, Ben Willbond, and Laurence Rickard; first aired 15 April 2019, 9:30pm, BBC1[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/) |
| Role in *Ghosts* | Lady Fanny Button, 35 episodes, 2019–2023; also writer (6 episodes) and executive producer[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544279) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8594324/fullcredits/) |
| Final episode | Broadcast Christmas Day 2023 at 7:45pm; over 4.4 million viewers, the 4th most watched show that day[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/) |
| Awards | Best New Talent, Royal Television Society Awards 2007 (winner); Children's BAFTA Performer nomination 2011; BAFTA Television Craft Writer: Comedy nominee 2021 for *Ghosts*[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/) • [5](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/martha_howe_douglas/) |
| Return to *Ghosts* | Listed as writer, executive producer, and Lady Button for the 2026 sequel *Ghosts: The Possession of Button House*[5](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/martha_howe_douglas/) |
## Early career and Horrible Histories
Howe-Douglas's screen work began in the 2000s with credits including *The Office* Christmas specials (2003), *The Armstrong and Miller Show*, and the BBC daytime soap *[Doctors](https://www.edgepedia.org/doctors-2000-tv-series)*, in which she appeared as Ms. Larson and, in later episodes, Donna Parmar[5](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/martha_howe_douglas/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544279). Her profile rose with *Horrible Histories*, the BBC children's sketch show, in which she was the lead female performer playing various roles across all five series[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/). Her performance earned a nomination for Best Performer at the Children's BAFTAs in 2011[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/). Earlier, she had won Best New Talent at the Royal Television Society Awards in 2007[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/).
## Yonderland and Bill
With the rest of the *Horrible Histories* cast, Howe-Douglas co-wrote and starred in all three series of the fantasy comedy *[Yonderland](https://www.edgepedia.org/yonderland)* on Sky 1, playing the lead role of Debbie Maddox, a mother drawn into a parallel world[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/). She is credited as a creator of the series, which ran from 2013[6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/martha-howe-douglas/credits/3000903355/). In 2015 the same troupe made the BBC film *Bill*, a comedy about [William Shakespeare](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-shakespeare), in which she played multiple roles: [Anne Hathaway](https://www.edgepedia.org/anne-hathaway), Molly, a Spanish courtier, and a body collector[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544279).
## Ghosts
In 2018, Howe-Douglas co-created, co-wrote, and co-starred in *Ghosts*, a six-part BBC comedy, with her fellow cast members from *Horrible Histories*, *Yonderland*, and *Bill*: [Simon Farnaby](https://www.edgepedia.org/simon-farnaby), Jim Howick, Mathew Baynton, Ben Willbond, and [Laurence Rickard](https://www.edgepedia.org/laurence-rickard)[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/). The premise follows a young couple, Alison and Mike, who inherit a dilapidated country mansion, Button House, inhabited by the ghosts of its past residents[7](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/ghosts/cast/1000165742/). Howe-Douglas played Lady Fanny Button, a former lady of the house, in 35 episodes from 2019 to 2023[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544279).
The show first aired on Monday 15 April 2019 at 9:30pm on BBC1. Its success led the BBC to commission four more series and three Christmas specials, and CBS picked up the format for a United States version[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/). Within the writing team, Howe-Douglas wrote six episodes across the run, including the series 5 finale "Last Resort"[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8594324/fullcredits/) • [5](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/martha_howe_douglas/). She also served as an executive producer on the series[6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/martha-howe-douglas/credits/3000903355/).
After the fifth series broadcast in late 2023, together with a *Ghosts* [Comic Relief](https://www.edgepedia.org/comic-relief) special featuring [Kylie Minogue](https://www.edgepedia.org/kylie-minogue), the team ended the show. The final episode aired on Christmas Day 2023 at 7:45pm and drew over 4.4 million viewers, making it the 4th most watched show on Christmas Day, ahead of the soaps, *Call the Midwife*, and *Michael McIntyre's Christmas Wheel*[3](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/).
## Other work
Her acting credits beyond the troupe's projects include *[Doctor Foster](https://www.edgepedia.org/doctor-foster-tv-series)* (as Becky), *Motherland* (as Ashley), *Breeders*, *[Tracey Ullman's Show](https://www.edgepedia.org/tracey-ullmans-show)*, *King of Thieves*, *EastEnders*, and *WPC 56*[6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/martha-howe-douglas/credits/3000903355/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544279). In 2024 she wrote the television film *Bad Tidings*[5](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/martha_howe_douglas/).
In 2026 she is listed as writer, executive producer, and Lady Button for *[Ghosts: The Possession of Button House](https://www.edgepedia.org/ghosts-the-possession-of-button-house)*, a follow-up to the television series[5](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/martha_howe_douglas/). The project was announced as a surprise sequel film returning the cast to Button House for one more adventure[8](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/comedy-movies/over-2-years-after-the-show-ended-beloved-uk-comedy-ghosts-is-back-from-the-dead-and-getting-a-surprise-sequel-movie/).
## References
1. [Martha Howe-Douglas, RADA student and graduate profiles](https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/martha-howe-douglas/)
2. [Martha Howe-Douglas, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544279)
3. [Martha Howe-Douglas, HD Management](https://www.hd-management.co.uk/clients/martha-howe-douglas/)
4. [Ghosts (2019–2023) full cast and crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8594324/fullcredits/)
5. [Martha Howe-Douglas, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/martha_howe_douglas/)
6. [Martha Howe-Douglas list of movies and TV shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/martha-howe-douglas/credits/3000903355/)
7. [Ghosts full cast and crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/ghosts/cast/1000165742/)
8. [Beloved UK comedy Ghosts is getting a surprise sequel movie, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/comedy-movies/over-2-years-after-the-show-ended-beloved-uk-comedy-ghosts-is-back-from-the-dead-and-getting-a-surprise-sequel-movie/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Gw to H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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