Mathew Baynton

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Mathew Baynton
Mathew Baynton at Glasgow Film Festival 2011.jpg
Baynton at the 2011 Glasgow Film Festival
Born
Mathew John Baynton

(1980-11-18) 18 November 1980 (age 44)
Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England [1]
Alma mater Rose Bruford College
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, musician, writer
Years active2000s–present
PartnerKelly Robinson
Children2
Relatives Daisy May Cooper (second cousin)
Charlie Cooper (second cousin)

Mathew John Baynton (born 18 November 1980) is an English actor, comedian, musician and writer. He is best known as a member of the Them There collective in which he wrote and starred in shows including Horrible Histories , Yonderland and Ghosts . He was also the co-creator, writer and star of the comedy-drama The Wrong Mans . Other major television roles include Deano in Gavin & Stacey , Chris Pitt-Goddard in Spy , Simon in Peep Show , William Agar in Quacks , and twin brothers Jamie Winton and Ariel Conroy in You, Me and the Apocalypse . He has appeared in several films, including Bill (2015) and Wonka (2023).

Contents

Early life

Baynton grew up in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. [1] He is the youngest of three boys, with two older brothers, Daniel and Andrew. He was educated at Southend High School for Boys. He graduated with first class honours from the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, [2] and later trained in clowning at École Philippe Gaulier in Paris. Baynton explained his motivation in an interview with Metro : "The performing instinct came from making my family laugh, so I've always been drawn to the funny side of things. Comedy is really rewarding." [3]

Baynton's second cousins Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper are also in the acting profession. [4]

Career

Acting and writing

Baynton is one of the performers of the hit children's television series Horrible Histories , appearing in the first five series as an actor, singer, and occasional writer. [5] Baynton and the other five members of the main Horrible Histories cast form the Them There troupe, which has since created other shows.

L-R: Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Jim Howick at the 2011 Children's BAFTAs. The starring cast of TV series Horrible Histories arrives at the Children's BAFTAs, 27 November 2011.jpg
L-R: Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond and Jim Howick at the 2011 Children's BAFTAs.

Along with the other members of the troupe, Baynton is the creator, writer, and star of Yonderland , a family fantasy comedy series that premiered on Sky1 on 10 November 2013. [6] He starred with the same troupe in Bill , a BBC family comedy film based loosely around the early life of William Shakespeare, who ventures to London to pursue his dream of becoming a playwright. [7] [8] The troupe also reunited in 2019 to create the BBC series Ghosts , with Baynton appearing as a romantic poet named Thomas Thorne.

Baynton teamed with friend and fellow Gavin & Stacey alumnus James Corden to create, write, and star in The Wrong Mans , a comedy-thriller for BBC Two that premiered in autumn 2013. [9] The series is co-produced by online television provider Hulu.com in the United States, where it premiered in November 2013. [10] The first six-part series proved a critical and commercial success, and a similarly well-received two-part sequel was broadcast in December 2014. [11]

Other notable TV comedy roles include Deano in Gavin & Stacey ; Chris in the Darren Boyd sitcom vehicle Spy ; and William in the 2017 black comedy series Quacks .

In 2009, he appeared in a music video for Mercury Prize-nominated band, The Bees. [12]

Baynton appeared at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, starring in the world premiere of Tom Basden's play Holes. [13] He reprised his role of Gus in a London revival of the same play in summer 2014. [14]

In late 2015, Baynton portrayed Jamie Winton and his brother Ariel Conroy in Sky1's science fiction comedy-drama miniseries You, Me and the Apocalypse .

In January 2024, Baynton made his Royal Shakespeare Company debut in Eleanor Rhode's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream as Nick Bottom.

Music

Baynton is a former member of the band Special Benny as a vocalist and guitarist. [15] Their debut album Toys was released in 2010.

He has also performed as a solo act under the name Dog Ears. His debut solo EP, So It Goes, was released in November 2011. [16] It consists of four self-penned songs.

Radio

He appeared in 'John Finnemore's Double Acts', and also made an appearance on ‘Button FM’ along with Pat Butcher.

Personal life

He and his partner Kelly Robinson, a film historian, have two children: a son, Bo, born in 2011, and a daughter, Ida, born in 2016. Baynton and Robinson had a civil partnership ceremony in 2023. [17]

Baynton has commented on his son's skewed view of his father's profession: "He thinks work is putting on a beard. One day his eyes will be opened, but I do find it wonderful that that's his view of work." [18] He commented during the same interview that while many actors do not want their children to become actors as well, he sees no problem with his son following in his footsteps, stating that "if he enjoys it, so why shouldn't I let him?". [18] Bo appeared as the young Mary, Queen of Scots in one episode of Horrible Histories.

Baynton tries to keep Bo and Ida out of the spotlight. However, Baynton raised awareness about breaking gender barriers after Bo was mocked in the park for wearing a pink bicycle helmet. [19] Baynton expressed his belief that he lets his son express his likes and dislikes freely without categorising toys and colours in gendered categories. Baynton stated "I won't be teaching my boy how to be a 'boy'." [19]

Acting credits

Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
20081234Neil
Telstar Ritchie Blackmore
2009 City Rats Barista
2010 Hereafter College Receptionist
2011 Tooty's Wedding AidenShort film
You Instead Tyko
2014 The Falling Mr. Hopkins
2015 Bill William "Bill" Shakespeare / Lord Burghley /
English Messenger / Customs Official
2023 Wonka Felix Fickelgruber
2025The Wizard at WarHugo De GiffardAlso co-executive producer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 Roman's Empire DavvyEpisode #1.4
Learners HowardTelevision film
2008 Ashes to Ashes Tom RobinsonEpisode #1.8
2008–2009 Gavin & Stacey Deano3 episodes
2009 Horne & Corden Various roles6 episodes
Doc Martin Junior ChefEpisode: "Do Not Disturb"
Purves & PekkalaDerrinTelevision film
Brave Young MenDylanTelevision film
2009–2010 The Armstrong & Miller Show Various roles2 episodes
2009–2013 Horrible Histories Various roles46 episodes
2010 The Stephen K. Amos Show Whale Charity FundraiserEpisode #1.4
2010–2012 Peep Show Simon4 episodes
2011 Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry Various rolesEpisode #1.1
BBC Proms Various rolesEpisode: "Prom 20: Horrible Histories Big Prom Party"
2011–2012 Spy Chris Pitt-Goddard16 episodes
2013–2014 The Wrong Mans Sam Pinkett10 episodes
Psychobitches Jesus / Witch of Wookey Hole2 episodes
2013–2016 Yonderland Various roles25 episodes
2014 Blandings PongoEpisode: "Throwing Eggs"
2015 You, Me and the Apocalypse Jamie Winton/Ariel Conroy10 episodes
2015–2017 Bob the Builder RolandVoice role; 5 episodes
2016Year FriendsReporterEpisode: "December"
2016–2017 Drunk History Various roles4 episodes
2017 Inside No. 9 TedEpisode: "Diddle Diddle Dumpling"
Quacks William6 episodes
Thunderbirds Are Go Jimmy/Crewman HooperEpisode: "Rigged for Disaster"
2018PixiesTatum1 episode
Vanity Fair Bute CrawleyMiniseries; 4 episodes
2018–2020 The Split Rex Pope5 episodes
2019 Urban Myths Kenny Everett2 episodes
2019–2023 Ghosts Thomas Thorne35 episodes
2021HitmenKieran RobertsEpisode: "Impersonation"
Death in Paradise Colin BabcockEpisode: "Christmas Special"
2022 Ghosts (U.S. version) Actor PeteEpisode: "Dumb Deaths"
2023 Murder Is Easy Dr. ThomasMiniseries; 2 episodes [20]
2024 A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Elliot Ward6 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenueNotes
2003 Loot Meadows & Mrs. McLeavy Derby Playhouse, Derby
2005The Bubonic PlayMinstrel Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe
2006Hello DalaiVarious Roles Underbelly, Edinburgh as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe
2007Office Party Barbican Centre, London
2011 Horrible Histories: BBC Proms 2011 Various Roles Royal Albert Hall, Londonas part of BBC Proms
2013HolesGus Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburghas part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe
2024 A Midsummer Night's Dream Bottom Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Royal Shakespeare Company debut
2024 White Rabbit Red Rabbit Nassim Soleimanpour @sohoplace One-night only performance
2024–2025A Midsummer Night's DreamBottom Barbican Centre, LondonTransfer of Royal Shakespeare Company production

Radio

YearTitleRoleRef.
2015Double ActsMike [21]
2015–2021Reluctant PersuadersJoe Starling [22]
2016Forty WeeksSam [23]
2018My Boy JackReader [24]
2022The MiserValère [25]
The World of Simon RichVarious characters [26]
2023She Stoops to ConquerMarlow [27]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2006 Fringe Report Awards Best Farce (with all crew & cast)The Bubonic PlayWon [28]
2010 British Academy Children's Awards Best Writing (with writing team) Horrible Histories - Series 2 Won [29]
2011 British Comedy Awards Best Sketch Show (with writing team)Horrible Histories - Series 2Won [30]
2012 British Academy Children's Awards Best Performer Horrible Histories Nominated [31]
2014 RTS Programme Awards Best Writer – Comedy (with James Corden & Tom Basden) The Wrong Mans Won [32]
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer – Comedy (with James Corden)The Wrong MansNominated [33]
British Academy Television Awards Best Male Comedy Performance The Wrong MansNominated [34]
Satellite Awards Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy The Wrong MansNominated [35]
Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy The Wrong MansNominated [35]
British Comedy Awards Best New Comedy Programme (with James Corden)The Wrong MansNominated [36]
BANFF World Media Rockie Awards Best SitcomThe Wrong MansNominated [37]
2015 British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer – Comedy (with James Corden)The Wrong Mans (Episode: "X-Mans")Nominated [38]
British Academy Television Awards Best Scripted Comedy (with Jim Field Smith & James Corden)The Wrong MansNominated [39]
2022 National Comedy Awards Outstanding Comedy Actor Ghosts Nominated [40]

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