Mark Benton

Last updated

Mark Benton
Born (1965-11-16) 16 November 1965 (age 59)
Alma mater RADA
Occupation(s)Actor, television presenter
Television Barbara (1999–2003)
Waterloo Road (2011–2014)
Strictly Come Dancing (2013)
The Edge (2015)
My Kitchen Rules (2016–2017)
Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators (2018–)
Spouse
Sarah Gardner
(m. 2002)
Children3

Mark Benton (born 16 November 1965) [1] is an English actor and television presenter known for his roles as Eddie in Early Doors , Howard in Northern Lights , Martin Pond in Barbara and the eponymous Frank Hathaway in Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators . Benton has also starred in the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road as mathematics teacher Daniel "Chalky" Chalk from 2011 to 2014. In 2013, Benton took part in Strictly Come Dancing , and in 2015 he hosted the daytime game show The Edge .

Contents

Early life

Benton was born in Guisborough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, and attended Sarah Metcalfe Comprehensive School and, later, Stockton Billingham Technical College. Some of Benton's early acting experience came at Middlesbrough Youth Theatre with performances in plays such as Atmos Fear and Twist.[ citation needed ]

Career

Benton has a recurring role as Father McBride in the series Murphy's Law and has worked with Vic and Bob in the series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Catterick , and Monkey Trousers . In 1999, he played Mickey-O in "The Wedding", the last episode of series 5 of Ballykissangel . He also appeared as an earthly representative of the devil in the 2003 ITV drama The Second Coming and the 2005 ITV drama Planespotting. From 1999 to 2003 Benton played Martin Pond in sitcom Barbara. He has also starred in the BBC Three comedy I'm with Stupid and appeared in the Doctor Who episode "Rose" as conspiracy theorist Clive. In late 2008, Benton starred in the ITV drama Britannia High and from 2009 to 2011 co-starred as Max de Lacey in Scoop . Benton also co-starred in the Roman Mysteries episode "The Slave Girl from Jerusalem".

Film roles include Ricky in Mike Leigh's Career Girls (1997), Phil in the 2001 cult British independent film Mr In-Between , and Vic in the British comedy Three and Out (2008). Benton featured in all three of The Booze Cruise episodes, with Martin Clunes and Brian Murphy, among others. In 1996 he appeared in Catherine's Cookson The Girl.

Benton played the role of the bank manager in a string of eight television commercials for the Nationwide Building Society, directed by Armando Iannucci, shown from 2004 to 2010.

In April 2008, Benton appeared as Jess Yates in the BBC Four drama Hughie Green, Most Sincerely.

Benton did the voiceover for the programme Street Doctor on BBC One.

Other roles have included Connor in Afterlife (2005), Dad in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), Hustle (2010), and Farmer Finch in the BBC's Land Girls .

Benton joined the cast of BBC drama Waterloo Road in its seventh series [2] as Daniel 'Chalky' Chalk, a maths teacher, until 6 March 2013. He returned for an episode in series 9.

In 2011, Benton appeared in The Railway Children at Waterloo Station in London as Mr Perks.

On BBC Radio 4, Benton starred as the optimistic title character Harvey Easter in Mr Blue Sky, written by Andrew Collins and broadcast in May and June 2011. A second series was due for May 2012. Benton has also played Fred the butcher in the televised series of episodes by Catherine Cookson.

In 2012, Benton appeared in the one-off special Panto! as Francis, the Director of the play. In July 2012, it was announced that Benton would star as Edna Turnblad in the 2013 UK tour of Hairspray the Musical, starting in February 2013 and finishing in September 2013. [3]

In 2015, Benton appeared as Police Constable Walt Everett in the BBC daytime series Father Brown , episode 3.12 "The Standing Stones". He also appeared as Les in the "La Couchette", the first episode of the second series of anthology series Inside No. 9 . In 2015, Benton presented the BBC One daytime game show The Edge for its first series, being replaced by Gabby Logan. [4]

In 2016, UK progressive rock band Gandalf's Fist announced that Benton would voice several characters on their album The Clockwork Fable. [5]

On 21 August 2016, Benton played Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream in the BBC prom 48.[ clarification needed ] Benton appeared as a bartender in the December 2016 Christmas special of British sitcom Outnumbered .

In 2017, he played Dennis Feldman in the ITV drama The Halcyon . [6]

Since February 2018, Benton has appeared as Frank Hathaway, alongside actress Jo Joyner as Luella Shakespeare, in the new BBC daytime comedy drama Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators . [7] Benton played the role of Eddie Rowbotham in episode 2 of the 20th series of Midsomer Murders ("Death of the Small Coppers"). [8]

Strictly Come Dancing

In September 2013, Benton became one of the contestants in the eleventh series of the BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing , where he was partnered with world dancing champion Iveta Lukosiute. The couple left the show on week 10 after losing the public vote. [9] Mark Benton has been in the most consecutive dance-offs in Strictly history with the number of 4 weeks in a row. He was eliminated in the 4th dance-off.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994There's No BusinessBarman
1996The GirlFred LoamTV film
Lord of MisruleAntler ManTV film
1997 Career Girls Richard Burton
DilemmaSWAT Team
1998 The Sea Change Derek
1999 The Lost Son Giant
Topsy-Turvy Mr. Price
Last ChristmasFather ChristmasTV film
2001 Blow Dry George
Nice Guy Eddie Tony BentleyTV film
A Small Summer PartyEurosTV film
Mr In-Between Phil
Murphy's Law McBrideTV film
Redemption RoadSherbert Man
2002Crime and PunishmentZosimovTV film
All or Nothing Man at Bar
Out of Control GovernorTV film
2003 The Booze Cruise Dave BoltonTV film
CheekyBig Mick
2004 The Reckoning Sheriff
Lighthouse Hill Peter
Monkey Trousers Various rolesTV film
Gladiatress Stage Manager/Hermes
Quite Ugly One Morning Darren MortlakeTV film
King of FridgesAlanTV film
Christmas Lights HowieTV film
2005PlanespottingPaul CoppinTV film
The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt DaveTV film
2006 The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering DaveTV film
If I Had You Harry FieldingTV film
Breaking and Entering Legge
MagnoliaGreggTV film
2008 Hughie Green, Most Sincerely Jess YatesTV film
Three and Out Vic
Flick Sgt. Miller
Clash of the Santas HowieTV film
2009 My Last Five Girlfriends Alan
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Dad
Beyond the Pole Graham
2012 Boys on Film 8: Cruel Britannia Phil
Steppin' Out with Katherine JenkinsEddie FinchTV film
Panto! Francis de WinterTV film
ApplesLamppost 1Voice role
2015 Danny and the Human Zoo Syd NobleTV film
Eddie the Eagle Richmond the BOA Official
National Theatre Live: As You Like It Touchstone
2017 Anna and the Apocalypse Tony Shepherd
Ratburger GaryTV film
2018 Torvill & Dean TedTV film
2021 Cyrano Montfluery
2022Christmas CaroleLeonTV film
2023Secrets of a Wallaby BoyRoland
The Devil Went Down to IslingtonBarry Grossman

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991–1992 Boon Charlie HardimanRecurring role, 9 episodes
1992 Desmond's PolicemanEpisode: "Too Young"
1993 KYTV PolicemanEpisode: "Fly on the Walls"
1994 Moving Story Detective Constable HalfordEpisode: "Charlotte, Emma, Bamber & Anne"
Finney BillySeries regular, 6 episodes
1995 The Bill Patrick HughsonEpisode: "Hit and Miss"
Kavanagh QC Sergeant RedbridgeEpisode: "Heartland"
1996 Roger and the Rottentrolls MookEpisode: "The Rubbish Monster"
Screen Two Ambulance ManEpisode: "Crossing the Floor"
1997 See You Friday Bernie2 episodes
Dalziel and Pascoe Jonathan EtheregeEpisode: "Ruling Passion"
All Quiet on the Preston Front RichardEpisode: "Polson’s Mess"
1998 Kiss Me Kate ClientEpisode: "Calendar"
The Jump Timmy LambertMini-series, 3 episodes
1999 Eureka Street ChuckleMini-series, 4 episodes
Ballykissangel MickeyoEpisode: "The Wedding"
1999–2003 Barbara Martin PondSeries Regular, 24 episodes
2000 As Time Goes By Paul PartridgeEpisode: "Going Online"
Gimme Gimme Gimme Bob HobbsEpisode: "Stiff"
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper Terence HawkshawMini-series, 2 episodes
Nature BoyFredMini-series
Holby City Gavin CunninghamEpisode: "Into the Woods"
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) Harry WallisEpisode: "A Blast from the Past"
Comedy Lab Barry AndersonEpisode: "Anderson"
Human Remains LeightonEpisode: "All Over My Glasses"
2001 Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible Sergeant RohmerEpisode: "Frenzy of Tongs"
Micawber EzraEpisode: "Micawber Learns the Truth"
2002 Breeze Block Mr. ShieldsSeries regular, 6 episodes
Nice Guy Eddie Tony BentleySeries 1, Episode 1
2003 The Second Coming Johnny TylerMini-series, 2 episodes
Swiss Toni Crazy Alan2 episodes
Clocking Off Colin WilkesRecurring role, 5 episodes
40GregoryMini-series, 3 episodes
2003–2004 Murphy's Law Father McBrideRecurring role, 6 episodes
Early Doors EddieSeries Regular, 12 episodes
2004 Family Business Graham KirkSeries 1, Episode 5
Catterick MarkSeries regular, 6 episodes
Born and Bred Mr. FfotheringtonEpisode: "More Than You Know"
2005 Doctor Who CliveEpisode: "Rose"
Twisted Tales TrevEpisode: "Guardian"
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Professor Elias BlackwellEpisode: "Word of God"
Afterlife Connor McCluneEpisode: "Misdirection"
2006 Northern Lights HowieSeries regular, 6 episodes
Comedy DoublesCommentatorSeries regular, 6 episodes
I'm with Stupid SheldonRecurring role, 3 episodes
2007 Fallen Angel EddieEpisode: "The Four Last Things"
City Lights HowieSeries regular, 6 episodes
The Street Wayne TaylorRecurring role, 4 episodes
2008 The Slammer Mr. BelthamSeries 2, Episode 13
Roman Mysteries FloridiusRecurring role, 2 episodes
Britannia High Mr. NugentSeries regular, 8 episodes
2009 Desperate Romantics Mr. ChadwickMini-series, 2 episodes
The Fixer Leo WestbrookRecurring role, 2 episodes
Blue Murder Neville NottsEpisode: "Inside"
Personal Affairs Iain EbelthiteMini-series, 5 episodes
2009–2011 Land Girls Farmer FinchSeries Regular, 15 episodes
Scoop Max de LaceySeries regular, 39 episodes
2010 Hustle FinchEpisode: "The Thieving Mistake"
Coming Up PhilEpisode: "I Don't Care"
2011 Silent Witness Patrick CainEpisode: "Lost"
Inspector George Gently Geoff BlackburnEpisode: "Goodbye China"
2011–2012 Mr Blue Sky Harvey EasterSeries regular, 10 episodes
2011–2014 Waterloo Road Daniel ChalkSeries Regular, 49 episodes
2012 White Van Man Kenny KnobblerEpisode: "Cupboard"
2013 Walk on the Wild Side Various rolesSeries 3, Episode 3
2014 The Job Lot Gary PicklesSeries 2, Episode 6
Psychobitches Mrs. NoahSeries 2, Episode 3
Educating BitchfieldMr. ListerEpisode: "School on Report"
2015 Father Brown PC Walt EverettEpisode: "The Standing Stones"
The HolidaymakersNarratorSeries regular, 8 episodes
Inside No. 9 LesEpisode: "La Couchette"
BBC Comedy FeedsPhilEpisode: "Fishbowl"
Doctors Mal McBrideEpisode: "The Heart of England"
2016 Outnumbered BrianChristmas Special
Damned MikeSeries 1, Episode 5
2017 The Halcyon FeldmanSeries regular, 8 episodes
Tracey Ullman's Show Mayor BobSeries 2, Episode 6
2018 Death in Paradise Les DoyleEpisode: "The Stakes Are High"
Midsomer Murders Eddie RowbothamEpisode: "Death of the Small Coppers"
2018–present Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators Frank HathawaySeries regular, 40 episodes
2021 Vera Stanley BoothEpisode: S11E2 "Recovery"
2021-2023 The Nevers The ColonelRecurring, 5 episodes
2022Big Tree CityMajor Prickles (voice)6 episodes
Dead CannyKarlEpisode: "Pilot"
The ReadNarratorEpisode: "The Day of the Sardine"
Dodger The AbbottEpisode: "Train"
2023 Grantchester Sam "Mac" MacKenzieEpisode: "Series 8, Episode 6"
2024 Inside No. 9 Party GuestEpisode: "Plodding On"
2024 Smoggie Queens Mam6 Episodes
2025 Patience Calvin Baxter6 Episodes

Personal life

Benton has been married to Sarah Gardner since 2002 and has three children.

He is a supporter of Middlesbrough F.C. and has featured in the club's official website advertising campaign to encourage other fans to renew their season ticket.

References

  1. "Mark Benton". Filmdienst . Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  2. "Green, Benton join 'Waterloo Road'". Digital Spy. 20 July 2010.
  3. Matthew Hemley (July 2013) "Mark Benton to star in UK tour of Hairspray", The Stage. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  4. "Series 1, The Edge – BBC One". BBC.
  5. Kielty, Martin (15 February 2016). "Teamrock News: Gandalf's Fist name Clockwork Fable actors". teamrock.com. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  6. "Meet the cast of The Halcyon". RadioTimes. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  7. "BBC – Shakespeare & Hathaway – Private Investigators – Media Centre". BBC.
  8. ""Midsomer Murders" Death of the Small Coppers (TV Episode 2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  9. Ferguson, John (12 September 2013). "Hairspray star Mark Benton rehearses with partner Iveta ahead of Strictly Come Dancing". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 September 2013.