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Last updated on the 26 March 2024 by Evandrus
Mini Biography
Born: 30 November 1980, Sutton, Greater London, England.
Tom Basden is an actor, writer and comedian who co-created and starred in the award-winning sitcom Plebs. He attended King’s College School in Wimbledon, where he met fellow actors Khalid Abdalla and Ben Barnes. He then studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he was vice-president of the Cambridge Footlights and collaborated with Tim Key, Sarah Solemani, Stefan Golaszewski and Dan Stevens.
Tom Basden began his career as a stand-up comedian and sketch performer, winning the if.comedy award for Best Newcomer at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe for his solo show Tom Basden Won’t Say Anything. He also starred with Key in the short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, which won the UK Film Council Kodak Award for Best British Short Film.
He was a regular writer and performer for BBC and Channel 4 comedy shows, such as Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Peep Show, Fresh Meat and The Armstrong and Miller Show. He was also a member of the sketch group Cowards, which had a radio series and a TV series on BBC Four.
In 2013, Basden co-wrote and appeared in the ITV2 sitcom Plebs, set in ancient Rome, which won the Royal Television Society award for Best Scripted Comedy in 2014. He played Aurelius, a sarcastic slave who works at a grain company.
He later appeared in other comedy shows and films, such as Quacks, David Brent: Life on the Road, The Reluctant Landlord, Women on the Verge, The Windsors, Damned, Ghosts and Island of Dreams.
Tom Basden is also a playwright, whose works include Party, about a group of students who form their own political party, Holes, about four people stranded on a desert island, and Limehouse, about the founding of the Social Democratic Party in 1981.
He also wrote and starred in the BBC sitcom Here We Go, about a group of friends who run a failing travel agency, and the Netflix comedy series After Life, created by Ricky Gervais, where he played Matt, the brother-in-law and boss of the main character. He also starred as Mr Short in the Netflix young adult sci-fi series The Last Bus.
Basden is married to actress Katy Wix, whom he met while working on the radio series Party. They have two children and live in London.
Suggested viewing
Plebs (2013)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.8
Three hapless lads from the sticks traverse ancient Rome’s bustling streets, juggling dead-end jobs, toga mishaps, and the elusive quest for love. Laughter erupts as they clash with grumpy gods, clueless bosses and seductive yet demanding vestal virgins. From chariot crashes to toga parties, their daily grind turns into hilarious chaos, proving that even in ancient Rome, life’s a comedy of errors.
Top cast: Tom Rosenthal, Joel Fry, Ryan Sampson, Javone Prince, Karl Theobald, Sophie Colquhoun, Lydia Rose Bewley, Tom Basden, Doon Mackichan, Adrian Scarborough, Jon Pointing.
Quacks (2017)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.7 Victorian medicine gets a comedic twist as four ambitious doctors push boundaries and clash with rivals. From unorthodox treatments to questionable ethics, their pursuit of progress is riddled with laughter, rivalries, and the occasional dose of chaos. Witness their daring endeavors to save lives and make their mark, all while navigating the wild world of 19th-century medicine. Top cast: Rory Kinnear, Tom Basden, Lydia Leonard, Mathew Baynton, Rupert Everett, Geoffrey McGivern, Andy Linden, Ed Gaughan, Osi Okerafor. |
Here We Go (2022)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.1 A dysfunctional British family tackles life’s chaotic twists through a teenager’s lens, capturing their misadventures with weddings gone wrong, disastrous holidays and unexpected turns. Laughter and drama intertwine as they stumble towards connection and acceptance, proving that family, though messy, can be hilariously heartwarming. Top cast: Jim Howick, Katherine Parkinson, Alison Steadman, Tom Basden, Jude Collie, Freya Parks, Tori Allen-Martin, Mica Rickettsia, Ed Kear. |
After Life (2019)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.4
A grieving widower, consumed by anger and despair after his wife’s death, decides to lash out at the world by saying and doing whatever he wants. Initially seeking solace in negativity, he unexpectedly finds himself forming connections with those around him, their shared vulnerabilities chipping away at his cynical shell. As he tackles the complexities of grief and grapples with his own pain, he discovers that despite the darkness, life still holds glimmers of beauty and the potential for connection, offering a bittersweet yet hopeful message about finding meaning in the face of loss.
Top cast: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Kerry Godliman, David Bradley, Joe Wilkinson, Tony Way, Diane Morgan, Ashley Jensen, Tommy Finnegan.
Full filmography (@Wikipedia)
Tom Basden Gallery
