Born:
May 28, 1964
in
New York
Best Known For:
Being Frank Skinner's best mate.
Early-life:
David Lionel Baddiel was born on May 28, 1964, in Troy, New York, where his Welsh father was working as a research scientist. His mother was a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany. They moved to the UK when David was four months old. David's first script and performance almost got him expelled from the sixth form of The Haberdashers Aske School, Elstree. Academically, he excelled and earned a place at Cambridge University where he was vice-president of the famous Footlights club. David graduated from Kings College with a double-first in English Literature in 1986. He then began working on a PhD which he never finished.
Career:
During this period, Baddiel debuted on the London stand-up circuit, and wrote sketches with Rob Newman for BBC Radio 4's Week Ending. Fame followed in 1990 when the duo appeared as part of The Mary Whitehouse Experience. Baddiel and Newman became the first comedians to sell out Wembley Arena. After the duo split, Baddiel formed a comedy partnership with Frank Skinner when they presented TV series Fantasy Football in 1994. They went on to make chart-topping Euro 96 football anthem Three Lions with the Lightning Seeds. Since then they've hosted several series of Baddiel And Skinner Unplanned, appeared together in the West End, and collaborated on podcasts during the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Baddiel has also written various novels, including Time for Bed, Whatever Love Means and The Secret Purpose. He also wrote and starred in sitcom Baddiel's Syndrome.
Quote:
"I have an image of myself as thinner, so it's disappointing when I realise that I'm not."
Trivia:
He pens a regular books column for The Times.