Mathew Baynton : Horrible Histories Star | Full Q&A | Oxford Union

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Mathew Baynton is an English actor, comedian, musician and writer. He has appeared in several classic programmes, from Gavin and Stacey and Peep Show to Ghosts and Horrible Histories, famously portraying Charles II and Dick Turpin as part of the latter.
Alongside his distinguished acting record, he has been nominated for several awards for his screenwriting, having contributed to both Horrible Histories and co-writing The Wrong Mans with James Corden.
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[@joebleasdale5557]

That entrance was akin to a rockstar returning home from a world tour. Matt truly is a rockstar to the millions of kids who watched, and continue to watch, Horrible Histories. He’s their childhood, their earliest memories, their cool uncle on the telly who told them that learning can be fun. What a night for these students ❤

[@vista5169]

Literally!! 😂

[@whocatalogue]

I have Matt and the other five to thank for, well, everything

[@user-ev4ie2wx7k]

Not just kids. So accomplished and versatile.

[@Tina-go3zu]

Yessss 100% I started watching him in horrible history's he's the reason why I smile

[@TheReaperOfTheNorth]

hay i kown a lot of mens in there late 40's that loved that show when I was 15 I love Horrible history and I'm 30 and I still laugh at their jokes I looked at his IMDb it is woefully sparse this man deserves more substantial rules

[@justacommenter]

It's so healthy how Matt thinks of British history. British kids should absolutely be taught about the horrors of the British history in the same way that German kids are taught about the horrors of their country's history. It's such a shame that those in charge of education lack that shame and empathy.

[@hardlines5472]

I don't think they do. Japan definitely doesn't teach the kids about the horrors of Japans genocide in China or barbarous treatment of occupied countries and the prisoners of war.

[@isabelladippel9649]

The way he talks about accountability in the act of creation and the need for arts accessibility is just spot-on incredible. I absolutely adore him

[@cerridwencottagediary9194]

My daughter was there and said the atmosphere was electric. All the young people were phoning relatives afterwards that had watched Horrible Histories with them when they were little.

[@jesssinclair3366]

The applause at the beginning was so lovely - to think that so many of those students, if not all, will have grown up with Mat on the TV and that he may have perhaps inspired some to pursue history as a career! Great Q&A!

[@hatsheput63]

I'm an American fan...I was crying over the gentle , intelligent , talented man he is... I am dyslexic ,and was in first grade in 1968... school was embarrassing, and confusing to me. I have a normal/high IQ , but book learning was not my strong point. Learned so very much from Horrible History. Not just children were taught , and I bet I'm not the only adult who learned !!! Thank you ever so much for all you have done .

[@phoenix_star]

The way he explained how we can feel both pride and shame about our country was so well articulated. Fantastic interview :)

[@musicloverUK]

Go and see Mat Baynton in A Midsummer Nights Dream at Stratford, it's on til end March 24, he plays Bottom but the whole cast are brilliant. Modern dress and modern style musical interludes. The audience was enraptured. Best thing I've seen in recent years! ❤

[@SharonJackson13]

He is spot on about national shame and remembering the appalling crimes of the past. In Germany, for instance, they make a point of teaching about the Holocaust and being a public Holocaust denier is illegal. So Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are wrong about "moving past our shame," just like Canadians must never forget about what was done to First Nations children for 150 years in Residential Schools. It becomes part of the national conscience. To remind us never to go down those roads again. Thank you, Mathew

[@benjaminlaurence1991]

Talking from my heart here, Mathew baynton is a huge inspiration to me in his incredible acting career. However, I also look up to him for his open-mindset, and I feel as though he approaches different subjects with passion, carefulness and also keeps it funny. Thank you mat.

[@OxfordUnion]

Thanks for sharing!

[@maisyax]

i was so focussed on the fact that matt was nearly elbowing that guy next to him the whole time lmfao

[@DsignMediaUK]

Who also seemed to be struggling to stay awake bless him haha!

[@nicolemusic2242]

oxford union slayed with this

[@worldwatcher1969]

If there was an election for king of the world, I would vote for Mathew Baynton.

[@ppf4u]

Legend says that white t-shirt's boy is still in fear that can be hit any time by Mathew.

[@shymike]

I was quite distracted by him, he's cute!

[@worldwatcher1969]

😂😂😂

[@jenniewren9351]

@@shymike he’s got something of Eddie Redmayne about him.

[@paulhooton6261]

The thing about this group is that they are great actors and writers. How many actors can take on so many varied roles in such a short space of time. And now, they have carried their skills over into the brilliant "Ghosts"

[@kevinoconnor7193]

From Ireland here Watched horrible histories religiously growing up In my final year of university college corks history and politics program and accepted into my masters in International public policy and diplomacy. I can honestly say that if these troupe hadn’t happened I wouldn’t be here. Crying you’re amazing

[@anyasea10739]

After watching this, I love Mathew Baynton even more than I already do

[@dmittie9761]

What a wondeful interview!! I thoroughly enjoyed this and Matt was superb with his answers. I'm in my 60's from America and I LOVE Horrible Histories, Ghosts and the movie 'Bill'; I couldn't get Yonderland but I'm still searching for it so one of these days I might yet get to watch it. :-) I have watched Horrible Histories series literally dozens of times, I've learned a lot, and I still laugh and sing along to the songs. I understand Ghosts will have it's final season in season 5 and I am so sad to see it ending. I hope the 6 Idiots continue to work and collaborate on another show, they're such a brilliantly talented team. At this point I would watch anything they perform, they're all just that good. Thank you so much for brightening the days of so many people around the world!

[@dmittie9761]

@@worldwatcher1969 Thanks for the info!

[@RICDirector]

How on earth did you get Bill? I would KILL for US-compatible DVDs of pretty much anything Mat and the gang have done, but especially Yonderland, Ghosts, and Bill.....

[@djdissi]

Love this interview. What a lovely smart guy he is. And that Simon & Garfunkel one is perhaps my favorite too... absolute genius and hilarious

[@frazzyblue1384]

Childhood revisited restored and fulfilled 👍

[@politicsinpink]

Matt is such a legend and has helped form so many of our childhoods! Thank you for sharing this

[@mattspeed9992]

I wish these talks were podcasts, they would be perfect! Mat Baynton is brill on this!

[@meepmeep_1234]

This man and Horrible Histories is such a favorite memory of my childhood and love getting to watch them in new ventures now as an adult. Still sad about Ghosts ending though😭

[@sp1d3y_yt]

3:27 the guys bloody terrified of mats elbow

[@ceciliamartinelli2751]

the man sitting behind Matthew Baynton is absolutely stunning

[@nanashi7779]

I went to school with him, nice guy

[@maureenreininger2981]

I adore this guy. And Horrible Histories is a blast!

[@concordep2504]

Thoroughly enjoyed this interview, Matt was very honest and thoughtful and those students clearly appreciated him being there

[@jesbaez5229]

From México, one of the best comedy shows I've ever watched. Top class. Top actor.

[@justacommenter]

On the point of doing accents, I think it's probably okay if the accent itself is accurate and not a mockery of the culture or ethnicity? Also, I agree that the casting ought to reflect the diversity of the cultures represented in a show like Horrible Histories, but I also think that in sketch comedy there is an exception to having to stick to your own playing type. Sketch troupes work better with a tight-knit group who play heightened characters in every sketch, and sometimes in that context it's alright for someone to play the opposite sex or someone from a different country, as long as it's self-aware and socially conscientious about how they represent that.

[@ottomanlad1918]

Haven't had such a good time in years! Thanks, Oxford Union!

[@OxfordUnion]

Our pleasure!

[@bianca1637]

He's the best! Thank you so much for this 😄

[@OxfordUnion]

You're very welcome!

[@Dina4444.]

Such a legend

[@BathedInMilk]

The response to 21:30 is wonderfully refreshing from someone in Michael's position. Well said.

[@doctornov7]

This is legendary! Deserves millions of views.

[@Loki_wcue]

Guess who’s going to see this legend today? ME! 😁😄

[@quantumshock6620]

Loved his role in Horrible Histories. Though I do find it hilarious that Mat - from a show which literally makes light of mass murder and torture - thinks that himself playing an Egyptian was where they crossed the line.

[@colonyofrats4193]

It’s the fact that they were in a lot of tan and wore dreads more so I think

[@lesleyhawes6895]

As a retired history teacher, it was the fact that Horrible Histories made the horrible bits examined parts of British History for the first time in British schools. Before them, (and me, using the books , that inspired the TV series, in my classes for at least four years before the first TV series aired) that made it Ok to discuss the toilet habits of the Tudors, or the reason that black people were so important to the growth of Bristol as well as North and South Carolina! Love the whole Horrible Histories (Britain) team, and Mat in particular!

[@user-hd2yq5yb6h]

53:33 fantastic talent. Enjoy his work and all the other Horrible Histories/Ghosts group. Great job. My two son's loved the WWII bits.

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

Great guest but Ben Willbond is my ultimate weakness. Will he be visiting? :D

[@rosequartz4102]

"Does anyone know what a VHS was?" Me: "SURE DO!!" Crowd: *lightly chuckles* Me: ".... Oh dear...."

[@hannehanskov7560]

So sweet ,thoughtful, and intelligent,I would really love if people like him became superstars although he would propably hate it. But I think it would be really healthy for many kids. maybe there would be more entertainment in the spirit of horrible histories and less with absolutly no other point than laughing and pointing fingers at people who either genuinly hope to be stars or maybe just settle with being notorious for behaving bad enough on screen to be interesting for 2 minutes in the tabloids.

[@hgracieeees]

mat saying that monty python is part of his 'family lexicon' is so true for my family. funny thing is, him and the rest of the horrible histories gang are slowly becoming part of the lexicon of my household as well.

[@moyrawoodward2291]

Cecil Rhodes needs to be applauded. He had a vision - his Capetown to Cairo rail line, which today African leaders wish had been accomplished. He gave back to society - which we are still benefiting from.

[@eleanorwhite]

I like Mathew baynton very much always have always will 💞💞💖

[@thinmint5500]

Gods I love him.

[@Char10tti3]

Honestly lovely comments about the show, but highlight the issue with CBBC closing down their channel for online-only platforms in a few years. Lockdowns highlighted the Digital Divide, and even CITV had to close their educational programming when fast food advertising stopped in the 2000s. Such a shame that many generations will lose that chance of having easy access to safe and high quality programming.

[@felixchinde2209]

‘Just do it’ can ‘just do’ me

[@alisterdavid5109]

I thought that was colin morgan from merlin next to mathew baynton

[@aceattorneyruinedmylife]

he does have a similar smile, also a class show from the mid-2000s though

[@lesleyhawes6895]

Are we ever going to see the British "Ghosts" again? It's Ok you can say "no" without me falling apart!

[@heythisanimalcantalk]

There's a fifth season on the way, but that's the last one

[@smolcharlie1736]

5th and final season coming out this Friday the 6th of October

[@-anonymousgranny-7260]

3 minutes in and I’m already corpsing

[@rose-tb3vr]

16:10

[@mbombebaby1224]

For all his life work in history he should be knighted

[@robertstrong6798]

What a totally nice chap , very direct , I love attention. You can be full of yourself and very nice. Maybe he should go teach Ronaldo how to behave

[@johannemilsom7503]

Have you realised that Fosters is one of Australia's least favourite beers, Mathew? Sounds like you have. Good.👍

[@robertstrong6798]

CONTEXT ! CONTEXT ! CONTEXT !

[@TeaLeaf9353]

mat 👍

[@chilzmapewwep2671]

4:32 oh yeah we do ;)

[@grahamcox7888]

Comedy from the past is funny and not funny as modern is comedy, things can be funny but offensive. I find a lot of BBC comedy boring but there is really good stuff about. There is an element of nostalgia with comedy from the past where attitudes were different and the things that were relevant are different.

[@sapien_thinker496]

who's the handsome model sitting behind Matthew

[@patriciasanderson2171]

I like this guy, he cracks me up but he’s naive to think in this current climate that you can avoid offending anyone if you just try hard enough. You have to just write your own stuff and if someone is offended (there always will be) then so be it.

[@mogadeet6857]

I hate horrible histories, yet I love Bill. This was revealing. Despite being every inch the actor, he was still appealing.

[@muhammadaftab15033]

I am a student. Please anyone from England help me.

[@muhammadaftab15033]

@@thegreenman941 Brother! There are some books that are available only in England 🇬🇧, not in Pakistan🇵🇰. would you please send me?

[@grahamcox7888]

Why should I feel shame of the nation I was born into when my family were poor as dirt, the money from slavery and colonialism never filtered down to the working class🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤪

[@lailadobb9221]

Matthew isn’t talking about individual shame for every single person - he is talking about the nation taking responsibility for our own past. Look at Germany and then look at us; there’s clearly a difference.

[@desydukuk291]

Foreigners say that Iranian women have "bigger balls" than Russian men. Why's that?

[@HalfLight6420]

Because the protests for women's rights in Iran are leagues more justified than Russia's invasion.