Tom Basden
Encyclopedia
Tom Basden is a British
actor
and comedy
writer
, and a member of the British four man sketch
group Cowards
. He has written and performed extensively for comedy shows on the BBC and Channel 4 and often collaborates in two-man shows with fellow Cowards
member Tim Key
.
, an independent school
for boys in Wimbledon
in South West London
(in the same year group as actors Khalid Abdalla
and Ben Barnes
), followed by Pembroke College
at the University of Cambridge
, where he was Vice President of the Cambridge Footlights.
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.
Basden replaced Tim Minchin
as the resident musician for the second series of Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better
where he appears along with Tim Key and Mark Watson
.
He was a guest panellist on the BBC Two
programme "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" on Wednesday, 4 November 2009.
In 2011 he wrote There Is A War starring himself and Phoebe Fox
for the National Theatre
's Double Feature.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and a member of the British four man sketch
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
group Cowards
Cowards
Cowards are a British four-man comedy act, composed of Tim Key, Stefan Golaszewski, Tom Basden and Lloyd Woolf.-History:Having all studied at Cambridge University and/or been involved in Footlights , Cowards formed in October 2004 and began performing their sketches live. They performed a new hour...
. He has written and performed extensively for comedy shows on the BBC and Channel 4 and often collaborates in two-man shows with fellow Cowards
Cowards
Cowards are a British four-man comedy act, composed of Tim Key, Stefan Golaszewski, Tom Basden and Lloyd Woolf.-History:Having all studied at Cambridge University and/or been involved in Footlights , Cowards formed in October 2004 and began performing their sketches live. They performed a new hour...
member Tim Key
Tim Key
Tim Key is an English actor, comedy writer, and performance poet. In 2009, he was the winner of the Edinburgh Comedy Award and was also nominated for the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality.-Edinburgh Fringe:...
.
Education
Basden was educated at King's College SchoolKing's College School
King's College School, commonly referred to as KCS, King's, or KCS Wimbledon, is an independent school for day pupils in Wimbledon in south-west London. The school was founded as the junior department of King's College London and occupied part of its premises in Strand, before relocating to...
, an independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
for boys in Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
in South West London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(in the same year group as actors Khalid Abdalla
Khalid Abdalla
Khalid Abdalla is a Egyptian-British actor. He came to international prominence after starring in the 2006 Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning film, United 93. Written and directed by Paul Greengrass, it chronicles events aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked as part of the...
and Ben Barnes
Ben Barnes (actor)
Benjamin Thomas "Ben" Barnes is an English actor, best known for his portrayal of Caspian X in The Chronicles of Narnia films Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.-Early life and education:...
), followed by Pembroke College
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he was Vice President of the Cambridge Footlights.
Life and career
Basden's one man show at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Tom Basden Won't Say Anything won the if.comedy award for Best Newcomer. He also starred with Tim KeyTim Key
Tim Key is an English actor, comedy writer, and performance poet. In 2009, he was the winner of the Edinburgh Comedy Award and was also nominated for the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality.-Edinburgh Fringe:...
in the short film The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island
The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island
The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island is a 2007 short film, directed by James Griffiths, and written by and starring Tim Key and Tom Basden...
, which won the UK Film Council Kodak Award for Best British Short Film.
Basden replaced Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin
Timothy David "Tim" Minchin is a British-Australian comedian, actor, and musician.Tim Minchin is best known for his musical comedy, which has featured in six CDs, three DVDs and a number of live comedy shows which he has performed internationally. He has also appeared on television in Australia,...
as the resident musician for the second series of Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better
Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better
Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better is a radio comedy programme starring Mark Watson. It started on BBC Radio 4 on 13 February 2007...
where he appears along with Tim Key and Mark Watson
Mark Watson
Mark Stewart Watson is a professional soccer player who has earned the second most caps in the history of the Canadian national team.-Playing career:...
.
He was a guest panellist on the BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
programme "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" on Wednesday, 4 November 2009.
In 2011 he wrote There Is A War starring himself and Phoebe Fox
Phoebe Fox
Phoebe Fox is a British actress currently living in London following her training at RADA.. In 2010 she appeared in A Month in the Country at Chichester Festival Theatre...
for the National Theatre
National Theatre
National Theatre may refer to: -in Africa:*Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi, Kenya*National Theatre in Accra, Ghana-in Asia:*National Theater and Concert Hall, Republic of China in Taipei, Taiwan*National Theatre of Japan in Tokyo, Japan...
's Double Feature.