Mark Benton | |
---|---|
Born | Guisborough, Yorkshire, England | 16 November 1965
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) |
Children | 3 |
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 and Martin Pond in Barbara . 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 .
Since 2018, Benton has played the leading role of Frank Hathaway in Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators on BBC1.
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 ]
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) (2000 TV series) , 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 will voice several characters on their album "The Clockwork Fable" [5]
On 21 August 2016, Benton played Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mendelssohn) in the BBC prom 48. 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 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 season of Midsomer Murders ("Death of the Small Coppers"). [8]
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 got eliminated on the 4th dance-off.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | There's No Business | Barman | |
1996 | The Girl | Fred Loam | TV film |
Lord of Misrule | Antler Man | TV film | |
1997 | Career Girls | Richard Burton | |
Dilemma | SWAT Team | ||
1998 | The Sea Change | Derek | |
1999 | The Lost Son | Giant | |
Topsy-Turvy | Mr. Price | ||
Last Christmas | Father Christmas | TV film | |
2001 | Blow Dry | George | |
Nice Guy Eddie | Tony Bentley | TV film | |
A Small Summer Party | Euros | TV film | |
Mr In-Between | Phil | ||
Murphy's Law | McBride | TV film | |
Redemption Road | Sherbert Man | ||
2002 | Crime and Punishment | Zosimov | TV film |
All or Nothing | Man at Bar | ||
Out of Control | Governor | TV film | |
2003 | The Booze Cruise | Dave Bolton | TV film |
Cheeky | Big Mick | ||
2004 | The Reckoning | Sheriff | |
Lighthouse Hill | Peter | ||
Monkey Trousers | Various roles | TV film | |
Gladiatress | Stage Manager/Hermes | ||
Quite Ugly One Morning | Darren Mortlake | TV film | |
King of Fridges | Alan | TV film | |
Christmas Lights | Howie | TV film | |
2005 | Planespotting | Paul Coppin | TV film |
The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt | Dave | TV film | |
2006 | The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering | Dave | TV film |
If I Had You | Harry Fielding | TV film | |
Breaking and Entering | Legge | ||
Magnolia | Gregg | TV film | |
2008 | Hughie Green, Most Sincerely | Jess Yates | TV film |
Three and Out | Vic | ||
Flick | Sgt. Miller | ||
Clash of the Santas | Howie | TV 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 Jenkins | Eddie Finch | TV film | |
Panto! | Francis de Winter | TV film | |
Apples | Lamppost 1 | Voice role | |
2015 | Danny and the Human Zoo | Syd Noble | TV film |
Eddie the Eagle | Richmond the BOA Official | ||
National Theatre Live: As You Like It | Touchstone | ||
2017 | Anna and the Apocalypse | Tony Shepherd | |
Ratburger | Gary | TV film | |
2018 | Torvill & Dean | Ted | TV film |
2021 | Cyrano | Montfluery | |
2022 | Christmas Carole | Leon | TV film |
2023 | Secrets of a Wallaby Boy | Roland | |
The Devil Went Down to Islington | Barry Grossman |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991–1992 | Boon | Charlie Hardiman | Recurring role, 9 episodes |
1992 | Desmond's | Policeman | Episode: "Too Young" |
1993 | KYTV | Policeman | Episode: "Fly on the Walls" |
1994 | Moving Story | Detective Constable Halford | Episode: "Charlotte, Emma, Bamber & Anne" |
Finney | Billy | Series regular, 6 episodes | |
1995 | The Bill | Patrick Hughson | Episode: "Hit and Miss" |
Kavanagh QC | Sergeant Redbridge | Episode: "Heartland" | |
1996 | Roger and the Rottentrolls | Mook | Episode: "The Rubbish Monster" |
Screen Two | Ambulance Man | Episode: "Crossing the Floor" | |
1997 | See You Friday | Bernie | 2 episodes |
Dalziel and Pascoe | Jonathan Etherege | Episode: "Ruling Passion" | |
All Quiet on the Preston Front | Episode: "Diesel's Ostrich" | ||
1998 | Kiss Me Kate | Client | Episode: "Calendar" |
The Jump | Timmy Lambert | Mini-series, 3 episodes | |
1999 | Eureka Street | Chuckle | Mini-series, 4 episodes |
Ballykissangel | Mickeyo | Episode: "The Wedding" | |
1999–2003 | Barbara | Martin Pond | Series Regular, 24 episodes |
2000 | As Time Goes By | Paul Partridge | Episode: "Going Online" |
Gimme Gimme Gimme | Bob Hobbs | Episode: "Stiff" | |
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper | Terence Hawkshaw | Mini-series, 2 episodes | |
Nature Boy | Fred | Mini-series | |
Holby City | Gavin Cunningham | Episode: "Into the Woods" | |
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) | Harry Wallis | Episode: "A Blast from the Past" | |
Comedy Lab | Barry Anderson | Episode: "Anderson" | |
Human Remains | Leighton | Episode: "All Over My Glasses" | |
2001 | Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible | Sergeant Rohmer | Episode: "Frenzy of Tongs" |
Micawber | Ezra | Episode: "Micawber Learns the Truth" | |
2002 | Breeze Block | Mr. Shields | Series regular, 6 episodes |
Nice Guy Eddie | Tony Bentley | Series 1, Episode 1 | |
2003 | The Second Coming | Johnny Tyler | Mini-series, 2 episodes |
Swiss Toni | Crazy Alan | 2 episodes | |
Clocking Off | Colin Wilkes | Recurring role, 5 episodes | |
40 | Gregory | Mini-series, 3 episodes | |
2003–2004 | Murphy's Law | Father McBride | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
Early Doors | Eddie | Series Regular, 12 episodes | |
2004 | Family Business | Graham Kirk | Series 1, Episode 5 |
Catterick | Mark | Series regular, 6 episodes | |
Born and Bred | Mr. Ffotherington | Episode: "More Than You Know" | |
2005 | Doctor Who | Clive | Episode: "Rose" |
Twisted Tales | Trev | Episode: "Guardian" | |
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Professor Elias Blackwell | Episode: "Word of God" | |
Afterlife | Connor McClune | Episode: "Misdirection" | |
2006 | Northern Lights | Howie | Series regular, 6 episodes |
Comedy Doubles | Commentator | Series regular, 6 episodes | |
I'm with Stupid | Sheldon | Recurring role, 3 episodes | |
2007 | Fallen Angel | Eddie | Episode: "The Four Last Things" |
City Lights | Howie | Series regular, 6 episodes | |
The Street | Wayne Taylor | Recurring role, 4 episodes | |
2008 | The Slammer | Mr. Beltham | Series 2, Episode 13 |
Roman Mysteries | Floridius | Recurring role, 2 episodes | |
Britannia High | Mr. Nugent | Series regular, 8 episodes | |
2009 | Desperate Romantics | Mr. Chadwick | Mini-series, 2 episodes |
The Fixer | Leo Westbrook | Recurring role, 2 episodes | |
Blue Murder | Neville Notts | Episode: "Inside" | |
Personal Affairs | Iain Ebelthite | Mini-series, 5 episodes | |
2009–2011 | Land Girls | Farmer Finch | Series Regular, 15 episodes |
Scoop | Max de Lacey | Series regular, 39 episodes | |
2010 | Hustle | Finch | Episode: "The Thieving Mistake" |
Coming Up | Phil | Episode: "I Don't Care" | |
2011 | Silent Witness | Patrick Cain | Episode: "Lost" |
Inspector George Gently | Geoff Blackburn | Episode: "Goodbye China" | |
2011–2012 | Mr Blue Sky | Harvey Easter | Series regular, 10 episodes |
2011–2014 | Waterloo Road | Daniel Chalk | Series Regular, 49 episodes |
2012 | White Van Man | Kenny Knobbler | Episode: "Cupboard" |
2013 | Walk on the Wild Side | Various roles | Series 3, Episode 3 |
2014 | The Job Lot | Gary Pickles | Series 2, Episode 6 |
Psychobitches | Mrs. Noah | Series 2, Episode 3 | |
Educating Bitchfield | Mr. Lister | Episode: "School on Report" | |
2015 | Father Brown | PC Walt Everett | Episode: "The Standing Stones" |
The Holidaymakers | Narrator | Series regular, 8 episodes | |
Inside No. 9 | Les | Episode: "La Couchette" | |
BBC Comedy Feeds | Phil | Episode: "Fishbowl" | |
Doctors | Mal McBride | Episode: "The Heart of England" | |
2016 | Outnumbered | Brian | Christmas Special |
Damned | Mike | Series 1, Episode 5 | |
2017 | The Halcyon | Feldman | Series regular, 8 episodes |
Tracey Ullman's Show | Mayor Bob | Series 2, Episode 6 | |
2018 | Death in Paradise | Les Doyle | Episode: "The Stakes Are High" |
Midsomer Murders | Eddie Rowbotham | Episode: "Death of the Small Coppers" | |
2018–present | Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators | Frank Hathaway | Series regular, 40 episodes |
2021 | Vera | Stanley Booth | Episode: S11E2 "Recovery" |
2021-2023 | The Nevers | The Colonel | Recurring, 5 episodes |
2022 | Big Tree City | Major Prickles (voice) | 6 episodes |
Dead Canny | Karl | Episode: "Pilot" | |
The Read | Narrator | Episode: "The Day of the Sardine" | |
Dodger | The Abbott | Episode: "Train" | |
2023 | Grantchester | Sam "Mac" MacKenzie | Episode: "Series 8, Episode 6" |
2024 | Inside No. 9 | Party Guest | Episode: "Plodding On" |
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 tickets.
Anne Gwendolyn "Wendy" Craig is an English actress who is best known for her appearances in the sitcoms Not in Front of the Children, ...And Mother Makes Three, ...And Mother Makes Five and Butterflies. She played the role of Matron in the TV series The Royal (2003–2011).
Leslie Dennis Heseltine is an English television presenter, actor and comedian. He presented Family Fortunes from 1987 until 2002.
Claire Jane Sweeney is an English actress, singer, and television personality. Known for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkhill on Channel 4's Brookside (1991–2003), she also played Roxie Hart in Chicago and starred in touring productions of Guys and Dolls (2006), Tell Me on a Sunday (2011), Legally Blonde (2011), and Educating Rita (2012). She was a panellist on ITV's Loose Women between 2003 and 2005, and presented 60 Minute Makeover from 2004 to 2006. Her debut album, Claire, reached number 15 on the UK Albums Chart in 2002. Sweeney has portrayed Cassie Plummer on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street since 2023. Her other credits include Candy Cabs (2011), Scarborough (2019), and The Good Ship Murder (2023).
Mark Preston Curry is an English actor as well as a television and radio presenter. He is best known for his career on the British-television children's show Blue Peter (1986–1989) as a host, as well as his run as host on ITV British gameshow Catchphrase (2002).
William Mellor is an English actor, singer and model. He is known for his roles as Jambo Bolton in Hollyoaks, Gaz Wilkinson in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Warren Stamp in EastEnders, DC Spike Tanner in No Offence, Steve Connolly in Broadchurch, Georgie in Barking! and Ollie Curry in White Van Man. He appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Harvey Gaskell. In 2024, he appeared as sub-postmaster Lee Castleton in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, about the British Post Office scandal.
Lisa Jane Riley is an English actress, comedian and television presenter. Riley is best known for portraying the role of Mandy Dingle in the long-running ITV soap opera Emmerdale between 1995 and 2001, and from 2019 onwards. She also replaced Jeremy Beadle as the presenter of You've Been Framed! between 1998 and 2002. She was also a contestant on the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, and a panellist on the ITV daytime series Loose Women.
Daniela Jolanta Denby-Ashe is an English actress. She is best known for playing Sarah Hills on the soap opera EastEnders, Margaret Hale on the period drama North and South, and Janey Harper on the BBC sitcom My Family. She also played Lorraine Donnegan on the drama series Waterloo Road.
Emma Jaye Jacobs, known professionally as Jaye Jacobs, is an English actress. She is best known for playing the role of Donna Jackson in BBC medical drama series Holby City and Casualty (2023).
Neil Dudgeon is an English actor who, since 2010, has played DCI John Barnaby in the ITV drama series Midsomer Murders. He replaced John Nettles in the lead role in 2011.
Sara Scott Griffith is a Scottish actress. She played Stella in Sugar Rush.
Adrian Philip Scarborough is an English actor.
Chelsea Jade Healey, known as Chelsee Healey, is an English actress. She is known for playing Janeece Bryant in the BBC school-based drama series Waterloo Road, Honey Wright in the BBC medical drama series Casualty (2014–2015), and Goldie McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks (2016–present).
Dean Andrews is an English actor. He is known for his role as DS Ray Carling in the BBC drama series Life on Mars. He continued the role in the sequel series, Ashes to Ashes, until 2010. As of April 2019, he has appeared as Will Taylor on ITV soap opera Emmerdale.
Philip Martin Brown is a British actor from Manchester. He is known for his long-running portrayal of English teacher Grantly Budgen in the hit BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road, which he played from 2006 to 2013. He is also known for playing Steve McDonald's therapist in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 2015, although he first appeared in the show as D.I. Pinnock in 2005. In 2021, Brown appeared in the BBC One medical soap opera Doctors as Marvin Bulis, having previously played various other roles in the show.
Janet Dibley is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Elaine Walker in the 1980s sitcom The Two of Us, Lorna Cartwright in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, and Elaine Cassidy in the BBC soap opera Doctors.
Patrick Robinson is a British actor best known for his work in the long-running medical drama series Casualty on BBC One. He played Martin "Ash" Ashford who was, in the early years of the show, a staff nurse and then a charge nurse. In later years he returned to the role after Ashford had become a consultant.
Fiona Dolman is a Scottish actress known for playing Miss Pamela Andrews in the ITV 2008 daytime drama series and spinoff to The Royal, The Royal Today, and Sarah Barnaby in Midsomer Murders.
Adam Gordon Thomas is an English actor, known for his roles as Donte Charles in the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road and Adam Barton in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale (2009–2018). He has also appeared as a contestant on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2016) and Strictly Come Dancing (2023).
Joe Sims is a British actor known primarily for his roles in ITV's drama Broadchurch where he played plumber Nige Carter., and as a voice actor, the Tenth Doctor's companion Mark Seven in Doctor Who, through Big Finish Productions audio dramas.
Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators is a British drama mystery television series set in Stratford-upon-Avon and produced by BBC Birmingham. The first series was broadcast in February 2018. A second series of ten episodes began broadcasting on 25 February 2019.