Bill Bailey

This article is about a British musician and comedian. For the song, see (Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey. For for the dancer, see Bill Bailey. For other people with the same name, see William Bailey.

Bill Bailey
Bailey performing at the Royal Albert Hall in 2008
Birth nameMark Robert Bailey
Born (1965-01-13) 13 January 1965 (age 59)
Bath, England
EducationWestfield College
London College of Music
Years active1989–present
GenresMusical comedy, political satire, surreal humour
Spouse
Kristin Brunt
​
(m. 1998)​
Children1
Websitebillbailey.co.uk
Bill Bailey's voice
Bailey speaking on Front Row in November 2010[1]

Mark Robert Bailey[2] (born 13 January 1965), known professionally as Bill Bailey, is an English musician, comedian, actor and television presenter. He is known for his role as Manny in the sitcom Black Books[3] and for his regular appearances on the panel shows Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, and QI, as well as for his stand-up comedy work. He plays a variety of musical instruments[4] and incorporates music into his performances.

Bailey was listed by The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy in 2003.[5] In 2007, and again in 2010, he was voted the seventh greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups.[6] In 2020 Bailey won the 18th series of the televised BBC dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing with his professional partner Oti Mabuse. At 55, he is currently the oldest winner in the show's history as of 2024.[7]

  1. ^ "Bill Bailey". Front Row. 8 November 2010. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. ^ Peake, Amber (31 October 2020). "Bill Bailey real name: What is Bill Bailey's real name?". Express. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  3. ^ Richardson, Jay (27 May 2021). "Bill Bailey hints at Black Books reunion". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  4. ^ Pool, Hannah (2 December 2009). "Question time: Bill Bailey". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. ^ "The 50 funniest people in Britain (part one)". The Guardian. 7 December 2003.
  6. ^ "The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups – Announcements – Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time!". Channel 4. 11 April 2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  7. ^ Hogan, Michael (26 December 2020). "Bill Bailey: 'I dreamed I was cha-cha-cha-ing between the stones at Stonehenge'". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2021.