Mathew Baynton makes comic dismay precise, and gives self-important men enough feeling to keep them watchable. We recommend him most warmly in Ghosts; the thriller plotting of The Wrong Mans sometimes gets in the way of his reactions.
Fi1m perspective
In Ghosts (2019), Mathew Baynton’s Thomas Thorne moons over Alison in verse and takes his feelings seriously enough for everyone present. The Regency poet’s self-importance is funny because Baynton gives it such conviction. Martha Howe-Douglas’s Fanny can be appalled beside him without either performer fighting for our attention. He is good company even when the man he plays would be rather trying.
Horrible Histories (2009) established his work as an ensemble performer and writer, with Yonderland (2013) and Bill (2015) continuing the troupe partnership. Alongside that work came The Wrong Mans (2013), co-created and written with James Corden, which puts ordinary workplace concerns up against an expanding conspiracy. The move into a comedy thriller suits Baynton’s expressive reactions: he can keep a scene funny while allowing the danger to matter. It also exposes a weakness in the writing partnership’s appetite for complications.
As Sam Pinkett, he keeps registering how unreasonable the situation has become, rather than supplying the same panic whenever another obstacle arrives. We laughed at Sam’s dismay because Baynton makes each fresh difficulty feel like something he has to comprehend before he can cope with it. The rapport with Corden is worth the evening, but the accumulating villains demand more attention than they repay. There are stretches when both writers seem happier inventing another threat than finding the next joke. We would sooner spend that time watching the two men respond to the trouble already provided.
In Ghosts, Baynton is again a co-creator and writer, but the characters get more room than the plot. Mike Holliday’s editing finds the right face among an ensemble who know how to leave one another space. Baynton’s Thomas is part of that shared timing, not an excuse to stop the programme for a performance. The hotel plot goes nowhere, but the people are sufficiently funny together that we rarely resent the lack of progress.
Wonka (2023) takes him towards villainy as Fickelgruber, with regular collaborator Simon Farnaby among its writers. We would welcome more of that sort of departure. For the clearest reason to watch him, though, start with Ghosts and pay attention when somebody else is speaking.
Biography
Mathew Baynton is an English actor, comedian, writer and musician. He was born on 18 November 1980 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and trained at Rose Bruford College and École Philippe Gaulier in Paris.
He is a member of the Them There collective and co-created, wrote and starred in the comedy-drama series The Wrong Mans (2013–2014). With the group he appeared in Horrible Histories (2009–2013), created and starred in Yonderland (2013–2016), and played Thomas Thorne in Ghosts (2019–2023). Other television roles include Simon in Peep Show, Deano in Gavin & Stacey and Elliot Ward in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (2024).
His film credits include Bill (2015) and Felix Fickelgruber in Wonka (2023).
