Mathew John Baynton is an English actor, comedian, musician and writer. He is a member of the Them There collective, in which he wrote and starred in Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts. He was also the co-creator, writer and star of the comedy-drama The Wrong Mans. Other television roles include Elliot Ward in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, 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).
Early life and education Mathew Baynton grew up in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. 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, and later trained in clowning at École Philippe Gaulier in Paris.
Baynton's second cousins Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper are also in the acting profession. Trevor Cooper is his first cousin once removed.Trevor Cooper
Career Acting and writing Baynton is one of the performers of the children's television series Horrible Histories, appearing in the first five series as an actor, singer, and occasional writer. 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 Sky One on 10 November 2013. 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. 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. The series is co-produced by online television provider Hulu.com in the United States, where it premiered in November 2013. The first six-part series proved a critical and commercial success, and a similarly well-received two-part sequel was broadcast in December 2014.
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.
Baynton appeared at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, starring in the world premiere of Tom Basden's play Holes. He reprised his role of Gus in a London revival of the same play in summer 2014.
In late 2015, Baynton portrayed Jamie Winton and his brother Ariel Conroy in Sky One'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 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, before transferring to the Barbican Centre in December 2024.
In January 2025, it was announced that Baynton would appear as a contestant on the nineteenth series of the Channel 4 show Taskmaster alongside Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jason Mantzoukas, Rosie Ramsey, and Stevie Martin. Baynton would go on to win the series. Bayton also participated in Taskmaster Champion of Champions 4, which aired in December 2025. He won, beating Andy Zaltzman, Maisie Adam, Sam Campbell and John Robins.
Music
Baynton is a former member of the band Special Benny as a vocalist and guitarist. 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. It consists of four self-penned songs.
Radio He appeared in 'John Finnemore's Double Acts'.
Personal life Baynton and his partner Kelly Robinson, a film historian, have two children. Baynton and Robinson had a civil partnership ceremony in 2023.
Baynton said in a 2013 interview that he would be happy for his son to become an actor, if he enjoyed acting. He tries to keep his children out of the spotlight; however, he raised awareness about breaking gender stereotypes after his son was mocked for wearing a pink bicycle helmet.
Baynton has described his diet as mainly plant-based.
Acting credits
Film Year Film Role Notes2008 1234 Neil Telstar Ritchie Blackmore 2009 City Rats Barista 2010 Hereafter College Receptionist2011 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 Fickelgruber2025A Midsummer Night's DreamNick BottomFilmed live in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 2024†2026Ghosts: The Possession of Button HouseThomas ThorneAnnounced 27 February 2026
Television Year Title Role Notes2007 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 episodes2009 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 episodes2011 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 A Christmas Panic! Various English dub of the Christmas special of "A Town Called Panic"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 episodes2017 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 episodes2021 Hitmen Kieran Roberts Episode: "Impersonation" Death in Paradise Colin Babcock Episode: "Christmas Special" 2022 Ghosts Actor Pete Episode: "Dumb Deaths" 2022–2024 The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe Additional voices 2023Murder Is Easy Dr. Thomas Miniseries; 2 episodes 2024A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Elliot Ward 6 episodes2025TaskmasterHimself11 Episodes†2026Up To No GoodPaul Oyle6 episodes; Announced 12 May 2026†2027The CadburysJoseph Rowntree6 episodes; Announced 7 July 2026
Theatre 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 debutWhite Rabbit Red RabbitPerformer@sohoplaceOne-night only performance 2024–2025 A Midsummer Night's Dream Bottom Barbican Centre, London Transfer of Royal Shakespeare Company production2025Inside No. 9 Stage/FrightGuest starWyndham's Theatre, LondonOne-night only performance
Radio Year Title Role 2012Before They Were FamousHunter S. Thompson/Cormac McCarthyPartyGuest2013Hard To TellThe Vicar2015Double ActsMike2015–2021Reluctant PersuadersJoe Starling2016Maternal PrideNarratorPepys: After the FireJohn EvelynForty WeeksSam2017Human ResourcesDylan2018My Boy JackReaderThe Importance of Being EarnestAlgernon2019Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are DeadRosencrantz2022 The Miser ValèreThe World of Simon RichVarious characters2023She Stoops to ConquerMarlow2026The CircleReader2026Transcendental Wild OatsCharles Lane
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2006 Fringe Report Awards Best Farce (with all crew & cast) The Bubonic Play 2010 British Academy Children's Awards Best Writing (with writing team) Horrible Histories - Series 2 2011 British Comedy Awards Best Sketch Show (with writing team) Horrible Histories - Series 2 2012 British Academy Children's Awards Best Performer Horrible Histories 2014 RTS Programme Awards Best Writer – Comedy (with James Corden & Tom Basden) The Wrong Mans British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer – Comedy (with James Corden) The Wrong Mans British Academy Television Awards Best Male Comedy Performance The Wrong Mans Satellite Awards Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy The Wrong Mans Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy The Wrong Mans British Comedy Awards Best New Comedy Programme (with James Corden) The Wrong Mans BANFF World Media Rockie Awards Best Sitcom The Wrong Mans 2015 British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer – Comedy (with James Corden) The Wrong Mans (Episode: "X-Mans") British Academy Television Awards Best Scripted Comedy (with Jim Field Smith & James Corden) The Wrong Mans 2022National Comedy AwardsOutstanding Comedy ActorGhosts
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