Mathew Baynton | |
---|---|
Born | Mathew John Baynton 18 November 1980 Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England [1] |
Alma mater | Rose Bruford College |
Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian, musician, writer |
Years active | 2000s–present |
Partner | Kelly Robinson |
Children | 2 |
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).
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]
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.
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.
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.
He appeared in 'John Finnemore's Double Acts', and also made an appearance on ‘Button FM’ along with Pat Butcher.
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]
† | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | 1234 | Neil | |
Telstar | Ritchie Blackmore | ||
2009 | City Rats | Barista | |
2010 | Hereafter | College Receptionist | |
2011 | Tooty's Wedding | Aiden | Short film |
You Instead | Tyko | ||
2014 | The Falling | Mr. Hopkins | |
2015 | Bill | William "Bill" Shakespeare / Lord Burghley / English Messenger / Customs Official | |
2023 | Wonka | Felix Fickelgruber | |
2025 | The Wizard at War | Hugo De Giffard | Also co-executive producer |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Roman's Empire | Davvy | Episode #1.4 |
Learners | Howard | Television film | |
2008 | Ashes to Ashes | Tom Robinson | Episode #1.8 |
2008–2009 | Gavin & Stacey | Deano | 3 episodes |
2009 | Horne & Corden | Various roles | 6 episodes |
Doc Martin | Junior Chef | Episode: "Do Not Disturb" | |
Purves & Pekkala | Derrin | Television film | |
Brave Young Men | Dylan | Television film | |
2009–2010 | The Armstrong & Miller Show | Various roles | 2 episodes |
2009–2013 | Horrible Histories | Various roles | 46 episodes |
2010 | The Stephen K. Amos Show | Whale Charity Fundraiser | Episode #1.4 |
2010–2012 | Peep Show | Simon | 4 episodes |
2011 | Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry | Various roles | Episode #1.1 |
BBC Proms | Various roles | Episode: "Prom 20: Horrible Histories Big Prom Party" | |
2011–2012 | Spy | Chris Pitt-Goddard | 16 episodes |
2013–2014 | The Wrong Mans | Sam Pinkett | 10 episodes |
Psychobitches | Jesus / Witch of Wookey Hole | 2 episodes | |
2013–2016 | Yonderland | Various roles | 25 episodes |
2014 | Blandings | Pongo | Episode: "Throwing Eggs" |
2015 | You, Me and the Apocalypse | Jamie Winton/Ariel Conroy | 10 episodes |
2015–2017 | Bob the Builder | Roland | Voice role; 5 episodes |
2016 | Year Friends | Reporter | Episode: "December" |
2016–2017 | Drunk History | Various roles | 4 episodes |
2017 | Inside No. 9 | Ted | Episode: "Diddle Diddle Dumpling" |
Quacks | William | 6 episodes | |
Thunderbirds Are Go | Jimmy/Crewman Hooper | Episode: "Rigged for Disaster" | |
2018 | Pixies | Tatum | 1 episode |
Vanity Fair | Bute Crawley | Miniseries; 4 episodes | |
2018–2020 | The Split | Rex Pope | 5 episodes |
2019 | Urban Myths | Kenny Everett | 2 episodes |
2019–2023 | Ghosts | Thomas Thorne | 35 episodes |
2021 | Hitmen | Kieran Roberts | Episode: "Impersonation" |
Death in Paradise | Colin Babcock | Episode: "Christmas Special" | |
2022 | Ghosts (U.S. version) | Actor Pete | Episode: "Dumb Deaths" |
2023 | Murder Is Easy | Dr. Thomas | Miniseries; 2 episodes [20] |
2024 | A Good Girl's Guide to Murder | Elliot Ward | 6 episodes |
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | Loot | Meadows & Mrs. McLeavy | Derby Playhouse, Derby | |
2005 | The Bubonic Play | Minstrel | Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh | as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe |
2006 | Hello Dalai | Various Roles | Underbelly, Edinburgh | as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe |
2007 | Office Party | Barbican Centre, London | ||
2011 | Horrible Histories: BBC Proms 2011 | Various Roles | Royal Albert Hall, London | as part of BBC Proms |
2013 | Holes | Gus | Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburgh | as 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 |
2024–2025 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Bottom | Barbican Centre, London | Transfer of Royal Shakespeare Company production |
Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Double Acts | Mike | [21] |
2015–2021 | Reluctant Persuaders | Joe Starling | [22] |
2016 | Forty Weeks | Sam | [23] |
2018 | My Boy Jack | Reader | [24] |
2022 | The Miser | Valère | [25] |
The World of Simon Rich | Various characters | [26] | |
2023 | She Stoops to Conquer | Marlow | [27] |
Jim Field Smith is an English film and television director, writer and producer.
Benjamin Thomas Willbond is an English actor and screenwriter best known as a member of the British Them There collective, for which he has written and starred in productions including Horrible Histories, Yonderland, and Ghosts.
Chandeep Uppal is a British actress best known for her role as Meena Kumar in the film Anita and Me.
Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones is a Welsh actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She co-wrote and co-starred in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey. She later co-wrote and starred in the Sky One comedy-drama Stella (2012–2017), for which she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance and won the BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Screenwriter.
Mathew Frazer Horne is an English actor, comedian, singer, television presenter and narrator. He is best known for appearing on several BBC sketch shows and sitcoms, most notably Gavin & Stacey, The Catherine Tate Show, Horne & Corden, and Bad Education.
Daniel Renton Skinner is an English actor and comedy writer, working in stage, film and television. Skinner often performs as the character Angelos Epithemiou, and is also one half of the Brian and Roger podcast.
James Kimberley Corden is an English actor, comedian, singer, writer, producer, and former television host. In the United Kingdom, he is best known for co-writing and starring in the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey. In the United States, he is best known as the host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, a late-night talk show that aired on CBS from 2015 to 2023.
Simon Farnaby is an English actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for his work with the Them There collective where he has written and starred in productions including Horrible Histories, Yonderland, and Ghosts.
Gavin & Stacey is a British sitcom written by James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families: one in Billericay, Essex; one in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Mathew Horne and Joanna Page play the eponymous characters Gavin and Stacey, while Corden and Jones star as Smithy and Nessa. Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb star as Gavin's parents Pam and Mick, Melanie Walters plays Stacey's mother Gwen, and Rob Brydon plays Stacey's uncle Bryn.
John David Finnemore is a British comedy writer and actor. He wrote and performed in the radio series Cabin Pressure, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, and John Finnemore's Double Acts, and frequently features in other BBC Radio 4 comedy shows such as The Now Show. Finnemore has won more Comedy.co.uk awards than any other writer, and two of his shows appear in the top ten of the Radio Times' list of greatest ever radio comedies.
James Howick is an English actor and writer, known for his appearances in television series such as Sex Education, Peep Show, Stag, and Here We Go, as well as his ongoing association with the creative collective Them There with whom he has written and starred in productions including Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts.
Daniel Rigby is an English actor and comedian. He received a BAFTA TV Award for his leading role as Eric Morecambe in the 2011 BBC television film Eric and Ernie.
Laurence Rickard is an English actor, writer, and comedian best known as a member of the Them There collective, with whom he both wrote and starred in productions including Horrible Histories, Yonderland, and Ghosts. In 2022, along with fellow Them There member Ben Willbond, he co-wrote the feature length television comedy We Are Not Alone.
The Wrong Mans is a British comedy drama television series, produced by BBC Television and Hulu. It premiered on BBC Two on 24 September 2013 and in the United States on 11 November 2013. Considered a critical and ratings success, it was co-created and written by Gavin & Stacey alumni James Corden and Mathew Baynton as an attempt to combine the situation comedy format with the intricate plotting and storytelling tropes of an action-adventure series.
Yonderland is a British sitcom television series that was broadcast on Sky One from November 2013 to December 2016. It was produced by Sioned Wiliam, and was created by, written by and starred the main performers from CBBC's series Horrible Histories.
Horrible Histories is a multi-award-winning British children's live-action historical and musical sketch comedy television series, based on the bestselling book series of the same name by Terry Deary. The show, now in its 11th series, is produced for CBBC by Lion Television, and was produced in association with Citrus Television from series 3–5. The comedy series first hit screens in 2009 and is now in its 15th year, with more than 160 episodes over the 11 series.
Bill is a 2015 British family adventure comedy film from the principal performers behind children's TV series Horrible Histories and Yonderland. It was produced by Punk Cinema, Cowboy Films and BBC Films and was released in the UK on 18 September 2015 by Vertigo Films. The film is a fictional take on the young William Shakespeare's search for fame and fortune, as written by Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond and directed by Richard Bracewell who co-produced with Tony Bracewell, Alasdair Flind and Charles Steel. It features the six lead performers playing several different roles each including Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas, Ben Willbond, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick and Laurence Rickard. Bill has received mostly positive reviews from critics and grossed $968,534 worldwide. The film also received nominations for the Evening Standard British Film Award for Award for Comedy and the Into Film Award for Family Film of the Year.
Horrible Histories started on CBBC in 2009. It is a multi-award-winning live-action historical and musical sketch comedy television series, based on the bestselling book series of the same name by Terry Deary. Over 11 series there have been changes in format and cast, but the core aim has remained the same - to entertain and educate. The show is produced for CBBC by Lion Television and was in association with Citrus Television for series 3-5.
Ghosts is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC One from April 2019 to December 2023. It follows a group of ghosts from different historical periods haunting a country house while sharing it with its new living occupants. It is written and performed by the collective group Them There, who had previously worked together on productions including Horrible Histories and Yonderland.
Them There is a theatrical production collective made up of a group of comedy writers and performers, notable for working on a range of projects together including Horrible Histories, Yonderland, and Ghosts. They are also informally referred to as the Horrible Histories troupe and The Six Idiots.