Who are the Anansi Boys?
This Christmas, a new, six-part adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s mythical fantasy about the trickster God Anansi and his unsuspecting son Fat Charlie is coming to Radio 4.
The story is rich, with many colourful characters but, at its centre, is one family. Here we introduce Mr Nancy, his boys and the actors who play them...
Charlie Nancy
Charles Nancy is the hero of Anansi Boys.
Lives in London. Engaged to Rosie.
Brought up in Florida. He moved to London as a boy when his parents divorced. His mum is now dead.
Nickname: Fat Charlie.
Didn't see his father for years and then finds out that his father has died in embarrassing circumstances.
Played by Jacob Anderson, Grey Worm from Game of Thrones.
He also records music as Raleigh Ritchie and released his first album in 2016.
He's big fan of graphic novels.
He thinks he shares a lot in common with our Anansi Boy hero Charlie as you can hear in this clip.
Charlie is me by the way!
Jacob Anderson on the similarities he shares with his character, the Anansi Boys hero.
Spider Nancy
Spider is a dude. He’s confident, lots of fun, the ladies love him.
He's also Charlie's long-lost brother.
He arrives one day at Charlie’s apartment and that's when the trouble begins.
The way he likes his coffee, ‘dark as night, sweet as sin’, pretty much sums him up.
Nathan Stewart-Jarrett plays Spider.
Known for his roles in cult favourites Misfits and Utopia.
He has also appeared on stage in The History Boys at the National Theatre and Tony Kushner's epic two-part play Angels in America, also at the National.
Anansi
Father of Charlie and Spider.
The idea for Anansi Boys began as a horror movie that Lenny could have starred in 20 years ago.By time I'd written it, it wasn't a horror it was a relatively funny novel.
Also known as Mr Nancy.
One of the Old Gods. Also appears in American Gods.
Has a trademark trilby and gloves.
When Anansi sings, the world listens, but he’s a trickster and he has enemies.
In our dramatisation, he’s played by Lenny Henry who, says author Neil Gaiman, is inseparable from the story:
Lenny Henry and I were working on Neverwhere.
We were going for a long walk at his house.
Lenny was saying that there really weren't any horror films with black leads. I said I'll write you one.
The idea for Anansi Boys began as a horror movie that Lenny could have starred in 20 years ago.
By time I'd written it, it wasn't a horror it was a relatively funny novel. While I was writing the novel I had Lenny's voice in my head.
Anansi Boys begins on Radio 4 on Christmas Day. It will be online for the 30 days after broadcast.
