Ghosts: Ben Willbond on his ‘absurd childhood’ inspiring his role as Captain | BBC Sounds

Nathan Bryon (plays Obi in Ghosts) is joined by Ghosts stars Mathew Baynton (plays Thomas Thorne) and Ben Willbond (plays Captain) to discover the unusual childhood stories that inspired Captain's character.
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#Ghosts #MathewBaynton #BenWillbond
Ghosts: Ben Willbond on his ‘absurd childhood’ inspiring his role as Captain | BBC Sounds
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[@BBCSounds]

Hear more from the cast of Ghosts on the Inside... podcast on BBC Sounds: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p0d1y9hv

[@helenandrew2454]

This series of podcasts is fantastic! Thank you all x

[@ttoctam3]

The Captain is a perfect amalgamation of satire and sincerity. He mocks the bits that deserve mockery without shaming the bits that deserve pride.

[@alf6245]

😮OMG your comment brought a tear to my eye 🥰🥲

[@jillysimmonds8545]

Well said.

[@claudiamueller5475]

I was trying to explain to my son the difference between teasing his friends and being mean to them. You gave me the words for it, thank you.

[@30251]

Omg, his voice is so different in real life. Amazing performance as the Captain. I love his little quirks like how he moves his head stiffly and clears his throat. My favourite character for sure.

[@BBCSounds]

The little quirks, yes!

[@lucywm]

Don’t forget Dishy! Very dishy indeed 😍

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@nghnnn2991]

and he bounces!

[@kellydalstok8900]

@@lucywm The chap with the arms on the right. Very strong I imagine.

[@baconmoop]

I think what Ben said here really sums up why I love the captain; sure he's rigid and bossy and a bit of a dick at times, but he had to be. Under it all he's an absolute sweetie and when we get to see his goofiness poke through the hard exterior it's so fun to watch. Episode 2 of this season specifically was a highlight thanks to him.

[@pierrebegley2746]

His moments with Kitty are so sweet too!

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@debrap206]

When watching the captain, Ive always noticed this gentle vulnerable side which I see in Ben. Very endearing.

[@Bethgael]

Watching this, and all the interviews done by any of the Six, I think one of the reasons they work so well is how they interact: here, Mat is just listening, not interrupting, not trying to be centre of attention, and they're all similar in most of the interviews I've seen, everywhere, with any iteration of the group. It's apparent that, any tiffs aside, they genuinely admire each others' talents and genuinely enjoy watching each other work. I hope they come up with a new project soon, to work on together, now that Ghosts is done.

[@claireroberts7950]

Yes brilliant point, you're right, their egos aren't inflated so they grab the spotlight. I love watching Larry with Ben in interviews, Larry is more extrovert and at times has spurred Ben on to have his say when he notices Ben holds back from speaking, I love Larry for that. or a funny one is when Larry says on the set of Bill, when Ben is doing his oranges scene, loads more people turned up to watch 😅.

[@kellydalstok8900]

@@claireroberts7950 Who wouldn’t turn up if they had the chance to watch Ben squeeze an orange.

[@JW-uy2on]

The episode that delved into the Captain's backstory is one of the most poignant and heartrending stories I've ever seen. Beautifully written and acted.

[@Bethgael]

And then--no spoilers--the last season where we finally find out how he died. Oh, my heart.

[@ThatDaniGirl]

The Captain is my favourite character, any backstory of his made me cry a little bit!

[@happytoday333]

I cried.

[@kellydalstok8900]

I think he wrote it himself, I think. Ben is very good at writing poignant stuff, without getting soppy.

[@happytoday333]

@@kellydalstok8900 I got soppy. I cried and cried.

[@nickpitman6327]

I was in class with Ben and can vouch for this 100%. I have nothing but absolute resect for him taking the path he has and converting such weirdness into a fantastic living.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris4825]

Is it me or is Ben’s normal speaking voice quite soothing to listen to? He’s just so soft spoken…

[@romeaffair]

He's done lots of audio books and radio stuff. A lovely voice.

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@driftwood1906]

I went to English boarding school in the mid 1960s. It was only 20 years after the end of the second world war and all the staff were war heroes. I remember the head master booming at a boy "you won't be able to fool around like that when you've got 500 men under your command!". We were only 8 years old. The main school theme was to prepare us to fight world war three against the Russians. "Duty first - self last".

[@Rooshii]

That's funny but also fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

[@flippetskater]

That's so sad, really. Traumatized men passing their trauma on to a new generation. So unnecessary, and so damaging. 😢

[@oliviadaly4795]

100% it's so damaging. Ben was at boarding school the same time (late 60s/early 70s) and that's why he's had so many issues. He was bullied a lot too and has talked on podcasts that it was so bad he blocked it out and has had (still has? I dunno) therapy for it.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris4825]

Ben was born in 1973, and I remember that he did say that he first went to boarding school aged 8, so his Boarding school years would have gone from either 1981 to 1991, so it would be more like from the early 80’s to the early 90’s.

[@oliviadaly4795]

@@flannerymonaghan-morris4825 ohhh yeah; I got the years wrong (mixed them up with my dad, who went to boarding school from I think about '69 - also aged 8 like Ben - to about '77, and also had/has issues from it). Ben was born in '73 (turned 50 on the Ghosts set aha) so would have been at boarding school from '81-'91 Even in Ben's time, some boarding schools would have had fagging (they did in South Africa in my dad's day. I think in India and South Africa and other former British colonies it still exists albeit limited) as it was phased out from the 60s to the 80s. Basically what that meant is first years (age about 11 or 12) would act as personal servants to older boys (Roald Dahl wrote about it in his autobiography, and many others wrote about it too) which is where a lot of (not all) bullying and sometimes sexual abuse could have taken place. It wouldn't have been as bad in the 80s as it was being phased out (and may have already been phased out at Ben's school by the time he was there. It's impossible to know. Possibly, as Eton abolished it in 1980), but the actor Simon Williams talked about having to do things like spit shine his fagmaster's shoes, make his bed, make him tea and even pre-warm his toilet seat by sitting on it at Harrow in 1959.

[@dameindigo]

I could probably listen to Ben saying the most mundane things, reading the ingredients of a packet of crisps, for example, and I would love every damned second of it. This little snippet of the podcast happens to be my favourite moment in it. So, this entire video is brilliant.

[@isobelladobbs4463]

He voices some audiobooks btw if u want to listen to more of his voice

[@elliemontague5694]

@@isobelladobbs4463 WHERE WHAT

[@elliemontague5694]

@@isobelladobbs4463 SHARE PLEASE

[@dameindigo]

@@isobelladobbs4463 I can’t, unfortunately, because they aren’t available to purchase in my country!!

[@jocbt4908]

@@isobelladobbs4463 hello please what are they called

[@Hartley_Hare]

I worked alongside the Army for a while and came across a lot of people, male and female, who were like the Captain to an almost impossible degree. They were often insufferably pompous and wholly unable to conceive of a world other than their own, but at heart there was something rather noble about them. They believed in old fashioned things like duty, and service and dignity and would, I think, have benefited from a bloody good hug and someone listening to them. Oh, and they hated wearing jeans when they were off duty. An RSM at Sandhurst told me that denim was 'the devil's cloth'.

[@aliceramdom.s]

right....

[@Bethgael]

My dad was army, then army reserves and I never, ever saw him in a pair of shorts. Except once, at the beach. He'd be the same vintage as Ben's talking about because I'm only a year older than he is.

[@Hartley_Hare]

@@Bethgael Those men fascinated me, and I worked closely with a number of them - particularly a group of retired colonels. They were outwardly bluff, aggressive and dismissive, but privately they were absolutely lovely and terribly emotionally repressed. It felt as though all they needed was kindness and compassion to blossom into magnificently engaging and indulgent uncles and grandfathers.

[@susanhd]

Brilliant character, so wonderfully written and portrayed. The moment at the memorial where he finally admits he can't stop being busy because if he does ... Brings tears to my eyes. Such a moving moment, in an outstanding episode. Thank you.

[@AirConditionerCasey]

What season and episode was that?

[@susanhd]

​@@AirConditionerCaseySeries 4, episode 4, 'Gone gone'. It's such a moving and funny portrayal of different ways of dealing with grief.

[@aliceramdom.s]

right....

[@lindsaydrewe8219]

How can you not absolutely love the Captain

[@emmyjo720]

Mat seems to adore Ben.

[@Iwasabolished]

Me too

[@bromptondevice7685]

I don't think the captain would run in the opposite direction. He's an honourable man who always tries to do the right thing.

[@nataliesaunders7096]

Agreed. He jumped on the landmine for absolutely no real reason. Just principle.

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@shelleyjames4446]

I listened to him on a podcast called Comfort Blanket and he went into a lot more detail about how his childhood experiences messed him up for quite a long time eg feeling his family didn’t love him and things. It made me wince when the interviewer here casually said “that could have messed you up” (or words to that effect).

[@nightsgrow6575]

I come on, I don’t need another grown man to protect and wrap in blankets

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@fillhixx]

Proper response; “Ya THInk?”

[@a.lee713]

That school description sounds like an Evelyn Waugh novel! Jokes aside, I loved hearing this take on the Captain's inspirations, since he is my favourite ghost. Military figures have been a huge part of my life, both personally and in the media -- positive and negative depictions alike -- so I definitely get where that character is coming from. I love that each of the ghosts, particularly the captain, are generally played for laughs, but their stories are treated seriously and sympathetically when it comes down to it. Hoping to see more of the Captain in the future!

[@Adamjameslee3534]

Ben is just so joyful i can listen to him talk for hours all the cast of ghosts really

[@clanger_6870]

My dad was in the Army and fairly senior. He gave me 2 bits if advice that have stuck with me ever since...1) You can tell a man by his shoes 2) There's one thing worse than a bad decision and that's no decision. I can imagine this wisdom coming from the Captain's mouth lol

[@schubertuk]

The second piece of advice - I would argue - is many, many times more important that the shoes. But that is perhaps because times have changed.

[@steveclapton]

Having been at the same school as Ben at the same time this is so true.

[@janephilpott6565]

I love how Matt Baynton is still enjoying Ben's inspiration to the Captain, even though they are both part of the writing team ❤

[@keepperspective]

Just discovered this show and instantly have the most intense crush on Ben and Matthew!

[@chrissiem3958]

I have a crush on Ben Willbond. Have done for a while. I regret nothing.

[@tairneanaich]

I get why Ben’s so relatable now lmao, Military Brat recognise Military Brat

[@rebekahl840]

The Captian is so definitely my favourite, just his whole character works so well with everything

[@toastedroast]

So much love for this show, So much charm and wonderful characters and storytelling with wonderful wit. And omg Mary ❤️❤️❤️

[@latebloomerabroad]

Aren't these two men the cutest? I've never seen them outside of their roles, they're adorable. Love hearing the inspiration behind the Captain, he's a great character. I love this show, but I'm disappointed that we can't watch all of the seasons/series in the US! 😥

[@michaelcanestraro2849]

I adore the Captain and his eccentric behavior. And Ben too!

[@helenandrew2454]

Oh thank you so much for this…. I’ve been waiting since Friday to see Ben (& Mat) xx

[@kristinemckeown1746]

Nathan Byron does an excellent job with this interview. The whole thing is hilarious. Cheers

[@Hannah-c45]

I've been looking forward to this!! Absolutely incredible and my favourite podcast episode

[@romeaffair]

Gorgeous man

[@O-Demi]

It's so funny how different each of the actors are to their characters, which is truly the indicator of how talented they are!

[@FinnIsSleepy]

Mats gonna do the pachicuti with that shirt

[@ceriannalflorencina8297]

All the men in my family also spoke like this and were military types and YES this. YES.

[@andreafry3428]

I find Ben and the captain very attractive!😍😘

[@Funkyk2]

We all do. It makes me want to rewatch horrible histories and yonderland.

[@claireroberts7950]

Have you watched 'Bill'...?

[@norahdenovan8658]

Oh how I love all the cast of horrible histories& ghost ❤

[@sinnombre-xs9ub]

He’s my favorite❤️

[@jaredporikos2197]

Love everyone in this group equally

[@AndersWatches]

Mat’s shirt is amazing

[@just-tess]

yeesh. almost certainly a violation of intellectual property copyright :(

[@capvers_my_love]

@@just-tesswhat

[@scemo39]

coming back here after Carpe Diem. oh dear :-(((

[@TWINS10984]

PLEASE PLEASE MAKE MORE SEASONS , LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SHOW, MY FAMILY AND CANT GET ENOUGH OF BBC BEST EVER SERIES THANK YOU THE CAST AND CREW FOR BRINING MUCH JOY AND HAPPYNESS TO US ALL XOXOX💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@GavTatu]

please 'sir'......

[@willowpearlxx]

@@GavTatuI want some more 🥺

[@sinnombre-xs9ub]

Love Captain; cannot believe he would fold in the face of duty…

[@K8E666]

The Captain is partially based on his Dad who was a Group Captain in the RAF. He grew up in a military household and went to a military leaning Boys school. It’s a brilliant show that thoroughly recommended - you can see how much fun they have making it !

[@gilliankirby]

I love that interview!

[@AnneOfTheIndies]

Gr8 actor, very lovely.

[@jenA9026]

Love these guys.

[@RonnieMclassics]

Love the show and very happy that HBO max is showing it but.... Was wondering if they would do episodes on Alison finding out that it was Julian who push her out the window basically trying to kill her. What happened to Lady Button's husband and they must of had children since in the first episode she said I am your great grandmother to the lady who died, also a Button. How did Kitty pass and of course the captain. It would have be interesting to see captain's old flame come to visit, I mean he would be in his 80s (depending on his age when he served) but to see to the captain's reaction. So many more stories to unfold.

[@oliviadaly4795]

He might, Peter Sandys-Clarke is coming back as Havers for the final series but we won't know til it airs if its just in flashbacks or in present day too.

[@rachelw7534]

All your questions were answered in the last series. Captains death was traumatic

[@aliceramdom.s]

right....

[@aliceramdom.s]

@@rachelw7534 not really

[@cynhanrahan4012]

The Captain has evolved over the coarse of the show. He makes me both want to slap and hug him. Thomas resonates with me because I'm a poet and Matthew, your character is such an early 18th century stereotype. I adore him. I would love to see him do a serious, decent piece of poetry that was not cliche.'

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@margaretmccafferty2215]

I love the captain

[@anyamarples8769]

i live in the town ben went to school in and i can agree i totally get what he's on about LMAOOO

[@andiotrebac6583]

He is delicious as the Captain

[@lilliankeane5731]

That was an interesting childhood. 😁.

[@HaybaleMelon]

My favourite character is the captain, I hope we learn more about his history

[@schubertuk]

Hopefully you've now seen series 5 and have seen your wish fulfilled?

[@Mrs_Funshine]

Were there only snippets of the podcasts filmed? I need more of these to watch now the series has ended. Loving them!

[@hellogoodbyeandallinbetween]

Ben needs to narrate an audiobook

[@VoroninHop]

He's done at least 2 that I know of

[@oliviadaly4795]

He's done loads. the Loki series (3) by Louie Stowell, C'est La Vie (The French Art of Letting Go) by Fabrice Midal, the story of the Red Arrows by David Montenegro, and loads of radio comedy shows (all on Audible)

[@dburgess287]

If you get the chance to listen to Ben & Justin Edwards in the radio comedy Double Science (which they wrote) then do it, you won't regret it. You will also hear the origins of the "Top Gun" movie references in Ghosts.

[@lindsay-siantrehearne2079]

Brilliant show. I also love how Ben used the voice of Colin Jackson (no relation) for one of the Horrible Histories characters… and, if you listen to his other radio show ‘Deep Trouble’ there’s a voice eerily reminiscent of HH’s Henry VIII

[@schubertuk]

Yes great show. It was my first introduction to Ben Wilbond - and as a result it did't occur to me that both were the same actors - so different was his character. Colin Jackson (No Relation) is nowhere near as nuanced and subtle as The Captain, but to be fair Double Science only got 6 episodes, and was aiming at different form of humour.

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@aliceramdom.s]

@@lindsay-siantrehearne2079 right

[@debrachapman60]

As an RAF brat I completely get what Ben is describing about his childhood. 😄

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@cosmicdib4823]

Why the captain is Ben: - Militaristic background (ish) - Likes jogging/running

[@nightsgrow6575]

How can anyone focus on what he’s saying in this video, why is no one acknowledging the silver fox in the room? 😂😅

[@claireroberts7950]

He has become more handsome the older he has become 😍

[@Mica-e1n]

a delicate soul born in the wrong era. 😭

[@ewannkanowak7161]

He looks at least 10y younger without that mustache

[@CONEAL-s7j]

Beautifully said. Born in the wrong era. Heartbreaking.

[@LH-kr4od]

The Captain reminds me a lot of my WW2 era former army captain grandad. Thomas reminds me of me. Probably why I'm finding him increasingly annoying!

[@henryfitch8710]

I kid you not this ridiculous military attitude is not dead but very much alive. I had an induction when I first started a new job from a regimental sargeant major who waved a cane in front of me, a civilian, which I found quite disturbingly intimidating. That behaviour may be fine if you are 'squaddie' but I had not joined up.

[@eleanorwhite]

I like Mathew baynton very much I always have and I always will 💜💚💛💜💚💚

[@Eli_Stevenson]

Oh my god your on KZbin to 😂

[@tal1isk]

@@Eli_Stevensonikr! she’s everywhere on pinterest

[@claireroberts7950]

I loved the Captain, he was the most believable for me, stiff upper lip and all that, but my favourite character was Pat, he was hilarious.

[@aliceramdom.s]

right

[@eleanorwhite]

I like Mathew baynton very much I always have and I always will 💜💚💚💚💚💛

[@annglaister]

Lol sorry but I’m 68 and was bought up by markists I found it amazing that you could like royalty, the church, the armed forces, because my father hated , hated , the scouts, brownies,the army, ..needless to say I married , someone in the forces … 😂that was 40 years ago …

[@strangeandforeignca]

Ben Willbond is a mega babe

[@jonjon9047]

I wish that they’d sort out his uniform or write in why his Sam Browne strap is back to front, his collar dogs are coloured and he wears a black tie with artillery badges and GS buttons.

[@russellhowell4560]

I’ve heard a lot of theories about it. Apparently Americans do this to show respect to veterans but a lot of people think that maybe Captain was suffering from some sort of dementia like condition towards the end of his life, explaining why his uniform is wrong. It would be strange for them to just outright get it wrong considering how accurate horrible histories was.

[@saurcy28]

@@russellhowell4560 A writer mentioned that his medal being upsideown is related to his death. So I won't be surprised by any incorrect uniform being related to his death as well.

[@lnfreeman]

His tie is green, isn't it? The video temperature is just desaturated

[@lnfreeman]

His collar dogs and Sam Browne are the same in the flashback episode, before the war ends and he gets his medals. Not sure if they signify dementia or something else...

[@hulabiker21]

Maybe they initially had different ideas of his origins/backstory when the program began. As the series has developed, so has his character, and they have changed his origin story to suit, but obviously can’t change his uniform in any previous footage. In series 5 we find he changed features of his uniform so he could blag his way in to a campaign veterans function, as he was desperate to meet a former comrade he knew would be there. His uniform as a ghost is the one he died in. This might explain it ( although I honestly wouldn’t know, I don’t have knowledge of military uniforms) . I appreciate your post was made prior to series 5. I also appreciate it doesn’t explain the Sam Browne mistake.

[@AH-bb6wd]

I went to the same school. He’s massively exaggerating what it was like. Not sure why he feels the need to do this.

[@gilliankirby]

Where you there in the same era?

[@corajo89]

Recollections may vary

[@djdissi]

@@corajo89 agree, as well as presonal experiences

[@Phaota]

That afro looks like he stuck his finger in a light socket and forgot to pick it for a better look. It's all over the place. I'm actually surprised afros are still a thing. They were quite absurd back in the 70s and early 80s, and haven't changed. Just so much hair to deal with on a daily basis. As for Ben's Captain character history, that is very interesting and makes sense. But, the role isn't new to "Ghosts" though. He started it way back in the six seasons of Horrible Histories (yes, I know it continued on after the original gang left, but without them, that series just wasn't the same).

[@smeesquatch]

What a strange, somewhat racist, unnecessarily nitpicking comment. Playing a general WWII era character in a show he didn't write is one thing, but he wrote and designed the Captain specifically to pay homage to the things he witnessed and people he interacted with in his childhood. As for the very odd thing to say about Nathan's hair, which looks absolutely fine and has been a staple in the Black community for ages, I'd have a real real think about that one.

[@Phaota]

@@smeesquatch It wasn't a racist comment and I know full well that afros have been a thing for a long time, but in this case, he didn't pick it enough to give the form a good balance, so it was all over the place, like he just woke up and didn't bother to even fix it up. Not a good look when on camera. Ben does write for the show. He and the other actors are all writers for the series, just like they did on "Horrible Histories".

[@Nina5144]

What a shame he seems to be mocking ‘military types’ and others. He says he bases the cap on this, but characters such as those have been in films and TV dramas since the beginning. I didn’t find this funny at all. Interesting but not funny.

[@underscorellie726]

ok sid

[@dameindigo]

His father is a retired RAF Group Captain. So while he may be poking fun at the sort of ‘over the top’ types he experienced at school while growing up, I’m sure that in no way he means any sort of disrespect in his intentions. Not with military being part of his actual family.

[@PrincessJasmin1111]

Have … have you never seen Ghosts?

[@Felix-sn1go]

Maybe actually watch the show and then make a judgment

[@sm2593]

@@dameindigo agreed and also I'm pretty sure he went to a private school. I think he was referring to that too? Also at the end he speaks quite sensitively about it. Not sure the original commenter watched it until the end.

[@EleanorWhite-ml9xw]

I like Mathew Baynton very much I always have and I always will💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖he is the only one I love and look up to