Mathew Baynton on Horrible Histories' TikTok Revival and the Tragic Romance of Ghosts' Thomas Thorne

Mathew Baynton has been a fixture on British television for over a decade, but the actor and writer is still grappling with the surreal reality that he defined an entire generation's childhood. From playing Deano in Gavin and Stacey to co-creating the beloved CBBC phenomenon Horrible Histories, Baynton's career is a masterclass in blending comedy with heart. Now, as he steps into the holiday season with the Ghosts Christmas special, he takes a moment to reflect on the weird, wonderful, and occasionally existential journey that brought him here.

As detailed in Screenshot (550).png, Baynton's latest project—the tragically lovelorn poet Thomas Thorne—is a role that resonates deeply with audiences. But it's the unexpected second life of Horrible Histories that has truly blown his mind. "I'm faintly aware of it," he admits, when asked about the show's viral resurgence on TikTok. "I'm not on TikTok, but I am on Twitter, and people sometimes post TikTok things and tag me." The phrase that gets repeated to him with alarming frequency? "You're my childhood." For a man who just turned 41, that realization hits hard.

The Existential Weight of Being a Childhood Icon

There's something uniquely disorienting about hearing that you've shaped someone's formative years. Baynton, who created Horrible Histories alongside Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Laurence Rickard, and Ben Willbond (the same team behind Ghosts and Yonderland), confesses that the compliment often leaves him doing mental math. "To me it's like, 'You can't... no, that's not possible!' But then I sort of do the maths, and I go oh, yeah, we started, I don't know, 12/13 years ago?"

That timeline means a viewer who watched the show from age 10 is now in their early 20s—old enough to be nostalgic, young enough to still feel a connection to the anarchic sketches about Caligula, Viking gods, and the Wackus Bonkus soundbite that now has over 11 million TikTok creations. "It's a real thing," Baynton says of the nostalgia phenomenon. "When I was student age, it was a big thing. You're independent, you're navigating life, and it's the first point you can be nostalgic because you have a past to look back on."

The true secret to the show's endurance, however, lies in its educational DNA. "I think the reason it's lasted is it's educational," Baynton explains. "That's allowed it to continue to exist on a level some things might not. While I'd love to think it's because we were so fantastic, the truth is new audiences keep discovering it because it teaches kids." Parents, too, have embraced Horrible Histories as a rare oasis of quality children's programming—funny enough for adults to enjoy, smart enough to justify screen time. "As a parent myself, I really understand the value of kids TV that isn't mind-meltingly irritating," he adds with a laugh.

The Tragedy of Thomas Thorne: Trapped in Unrequited Love

In Ghosts, Baynton plays Thomas Thorne, a hopeless romantic poet who met his end in a duel over a woman. The character is a study in dramatic irony—a ghost eternally fixated on his own unreturned affections. "I think that is probably right, it's the tragedy of him," Baynton says of Thomas's romantic prospects. "We had the idea that when people talk about hauntings, it'll be the jilted bride in her wedding dress. But it was funny to us to go, 'What would be a terrible way to die?'"

The joke expanded into a deeper character rule: Thomas is stuck in the emotional state of his death. "He died infatuated, and unrequited love is the state he's stayed in. He'll just fixate on whoever he can pin that on," Baynton reveals. That melodramatic intensity is a gift for an actor. "Everything for him is at number 10. It's total melodrama. I particularly loved when he decided he could earn money for Allison by writing essentially 50 Shades of Grey. He starts narrating what he thinks will be erotic, but he uses the word 'car' really self-consciously because to him, a car is something incredibly modern."

The writing team—Baynton and his five co-creators—treat character backstories as a slow-burn mystery. "We have cards we haven't played yet," he teases. "Sometimes ideas we had a while back get twisted when we get to them. We'll surprise ourselves with how their backstory plays out." That approach ensures Ghosts remains fresh even as it nears its fifth series.

What's Next for Mathew Baynton?

When asked about his plans for 2022 and beyond, Baynton mentions a number of simmering creative projects. "I've been writing an animated film, and I've been trying to write a book for quite a long time. If I find enough time, next year I'll try to finish it." He also expresses a deep longing to return to the stage. "It nearly happened, then the pandemic came along and smashed it to pieces. Hopefully there'll be some opportunity to do some theatre."

As for the upcoming series of Ghosts, Baynton is characteristically coy. "We know people are excited by finding out the mysteries we still have left. But we also know that once they're gone, that will be a shame. So we're seeping things out in a way that's as fun for the audience as it is for us." He does offer one tantalizing hint: "There's a couple more backstories in the next series. I think it's fair to say you'll find out one of the deaths that is as yet unexplained, but they'll still be more unexplained for the future. That's so unjuicy!"

The Legacy of Horrible Histories: Why It Endures

For many, Horrible Histories was a lifeline during the pandemic, a comforting escape for parents suddenly thrust into homeschooling. Baynton and his team created a world where history was weird, gross, and hilarious—a combination that proved irresistible to kids and adults alike. The show's influence now extends beyond the original five series; a new cast has taken over, and the brand continues to thrive on iPlayer and even Spotify podcasts.

But for Baynton, the most gratifying part is seeing his work ripple through culture in unexpected ways. "People will recognise me and say, 'You're my childhood,' and it freaks me out," he says. "It becomes existential, because it's like, 'I'm middle aged!' That's the truth. I've just turned 41, and within the group I was always the young one. You hold that identity for a while, and then you realise..."

He trails off, laughing. "This is turning into therapy!"

With Horrible Histories enjoying a TikTok-fueled renaissance, Ghosts entering a new season, and a Christmas special to warm hearts, Mathew Baynton remains one of British comedy's most versatile and beloved figures. Whether he's playing a lovelorn poet or a Roman emperor, he brings a blend of pathos and absurdity that keeps audiences coming back for more.

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