Most Popular Books by Simon Farnaby

A #1 New York Times Bestseller! Based on the major motion picture—an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, all told with fabulous heart and humor—Wonka introduces readers to a young Willy Wonka, chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time . . . proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.

Merdyn the Wild is from the Dark Ages. He''s the world''s greatest Warlock (don''t call him a wizard), banished to the 21st century for bad behaviour, and determined to wreak vengeance on his nemesis.Rose is a totally ordinary girl, on a mission to mend her broken family.Bubbles is Rose''s guinea pig. He just poos a lot.When Rose bumps into Merdyn and discovers what he is, she quickly realises that he could be just what she needs. Rose agrees to help Merdyn navigate the confusing ways of the modern world (things like: the lidded bowl in the bathroom is NOT a sink, it''s a TOILET, so definitely DON''T wash your face in it) if Merdyn gives her a spell to fix her family in return.Now they just need to hide him in the shed without Rose''s mum noticing, track down Merdyn''s magic staff and find a way to send Merdyn back through time to the Dark Ages. What could possibly go wrong...?From the writer of the Paddington 2 movie and writer and star of Horrible Histories, this hilariously silly, heartfelt adventure with a historical twist is perfect for fans of David Walliams and David Baddiel.

"I have been insulted, abused, pelted with stones, held up to ridicule, manhandled by police, prosecuted, fined, threatened with violence, and finally physically assaulted. In spite of it all I shall try to succeed as a professional golfer, because that is what I have chosen to do, and no amount of sabre rattling is going to stop me" When 46-year-old crane driver and former comedy stunt-diver Maurice Flitcroft chanced his way into the Open - having never before played a round of golf in his life - he ran up a record-worst score of 121. The sport''s ruling classes went nuclear, and banned him sine die. Maurice didn''t take it lying down. In a hilarious game of cat-and-mouse with The Man, he entered tournaments again - and again, and again - using increasingly ludicrous pseudonyms such as Gene Pacecki, Arnold Palmtree and Count Manfred von Hoffmanstel (more often than not disguised by a Zapata moustache soaked in food dye). In doing so, he sent the authorities into apoplexy, and won the hearts of hackers from Muirfield to Michigan, becoming arguably the most popular - but certainly the bravest - sporting underdog the world has ever known

*THE NEW COMPANION BOOK GHOSTS: BROUGHT TO LIFE – THE MAKING OF A CLASSIC IS PUBLISHED ON 24.10.24 – PRE-ORDER NOW!* The comic companion to the BBC sitcom GHOSTS, perfect for all the family. Everybody leaves a trace. The ghosts of Button House may have been dead a long time - some of them a very long time - but they have all left their mark on the world (even if, in Robin''s case, that mark is just a handprint on the wall of a cave). Gathered together in this volume is a treasure trove of unearthed cuttings, original records and rare artefacts that explore the unseen lives of those who died at Button House: from Thomas''s love letters to Pat''s ''Summer Camp Rap'', and from Julian''s campaign promises to Lady Button''s Rules of Etiquette. There are even documents dictated to the one person who can see and hear the ghosts: Alison Cooper. Written by the show''s creators – Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond – this eclectic archive is a unique chance to discover more about the beloved ghosts of Button House. Thank be to Moonah! A book for all the family, it is as warm-spirited and deliriously daft as the series itself. GHOSTS: The Button House Archives ranked #5 in Sunday Times bestseller chart week ending 29/10/2023

Merdyn is the greatest wizard of the Dark Ages. Obviously. Rose is his 21st-century descendent. Lucky her. And Vanheldon the vandal warrior is FURIOUS! After all, last time they met, Merdyn turned his army to stone. Seeking revenge, Vanheldon comes up with a way to kidnap Rose and transport her back to Dark Ages Transylvania, set on luring Merdyn into a terrible trap. Except - whoops! - his magical minion kidnaps Rose''s teenage brother Kris instead. Rose, Merdyn and Bubbles the guinea pig must team up to save the day. But can they rescue Kris without creating historical mayhem? Will Rose''s wizard ancestor even remember her? (And want to help them?) And will Bubbles ever stop pooing? From the writer of the Paddington 2 movie and writer and star of Horrible Histories and Ghosts, this hilariously silly, heartfelt comedy of errors with a historical twist is perfect for fans of David Walliams and David Baddiel. The follow-up to The Wizard in My Shed.

Nachdem Rosies berühmter Vorfahr Merdyn der Mächtige in die Vergangenheit zurückgekehrt ist, hätte das Leben für Rosie zumindest ziemlich normal weitergehen können! Aber im Mittelalter knirscht es gewaltig – Merdyn hatte nämlich einst die Armee des Vandalenkriegers Vanheldon in Stein verwandelt. Und nun sinnt Vanheldon auf Rache! Um Merdyn eine Falle zu stellen, plant Vanheldon, Rosie in das finstere mittelalterliche Transsylvanien zu entführen. Leider misslingt sein Vorhaben, und statt Rosie landet ihr eingebildeter Bruder Kris in den Fängen des bösen Vandalen. Natürlich machen Rosie und ihr sprechendes Meerschweinchen Pupsie sich auf den Weg in die Vergangenheit, um Kris zu retten. Ob Merdyns mächtige Magie ihnen auf der gefährlichen Reise helfen wird? Es ist ein hochspannender Wettlauf mit der Zeit, in dessen Verlauf nicht nur der junge König Artus und eine seltsame Hexe eine Rolle spielen, sondern auch Pupsies Feindschaft zu einem Wolf ... Irre spannend und urkomisch – das zweite Abenteuer von Merdyn dem Mächtigen und seiner Ur-Ur-Ur-undsoweiter-Enkelin Rosie.

Rosie träumt davon, eine berühmte Sängerin zu werden – leider fehlt ihr jegliches Talent dafür. Als Rosie Merdyn trifft, der behauptet, ein berühmter Hexenmeister aus dem Mittelalter zu sein, scheint ihr Traum endlich wahr zu werden – immerhin kann Merdyn zaubern! Doch so einfach ist es nicht, im trubeligen London der Neuzeit einen Mann zu verstecken, der durch sein seltsames Verhalten für eine Menge Aufsehen sorgt. Zum Beispiel, wenn er Pupsie, Rosies geliebtes Meerschweinchen, auf dem Feuer braten und verspeisen will! Und als ihre Mutter glaubt, Merdyn sei der lange verschollene Onkel Martin, wird die Sache richtig kompliziert ... Temporeich, verschroben und voller abenteuerlicher Ideen – dazu hinreißend komisch!

Le retour fracassant du plus grand ensorceleur de tous les temps ! Myrddin est le plus grand ensorceleur de l''Âge sombre. Évidemment. Rose est sa descendante du XXIe siècle. Quelle chance. Vanheldon, le roi des Vandales, est FURIBOND ! Après tout, la dernière fois qu''il a affronté Myrddin, ce dernier a changé son armée en pierre. u200bPour se venger, Vanheldon a un plan. Il va faire kidnapper Rose et la ramener à l''Âge sombre afin d''attirer Myrddin dans un piège de sa confection. Sauf que – oups ! –, c''est Kris, le frère de Rose, qui est enlevé à sa place ! Rose, Myrddin et Bulles le cochon d''Inde doivent faire équipe pour le secourir. Mais y parviendront-ils sans créer une pagaille... historique ? L''ancêtre de Rose se souviendra-t-il d''elle ? (D''ailleurs, voudra-t-il bien les aider ?) Et Bulles arrêtera-t-il de faire caca tout le temps ?

Les Malaventures ébouriffantes du plus grand ensorceleur de tous les temps ! Voici Myrddin le Sauvage. Il arrive de l''Âge sombre. C''est le plus grand ensorceleur* de tous les temps (prosternois-toi devant lui ou subis son courroux). Il vient d''être exilé au XXIe siècle. * C''est comme un magicien mal élevé Voici Rose. Elle vient de Bashingford**. Sa mission est de réparer sa famille dysfonctionnelle. Et elle n''a pas l''intention de se prosterner devant qui que ce soit. **Vainqueur à cinq reprises du prix de la Ville la plus ennuyeuse d''Angleterre. Et ça, c''est Bulles, le cochon d''Inde de Rose. Il fait caca toutes les douze secondes environ.