English comedian and actor who is best known for his role in Black Books, as well as for his appearances on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, and QI. In 2013 he produced a two-part documentary, Bill Bailey's Jungle Hero. He became a competitor on the 18th series of the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing and won, becoming the show's oldest winner at the age of 55.
He was the leader of his high school band called Behind Closed Doors. He later studied English at Westfield College for a year.
He made Channel 4's 2007 and 2010 100 Greatest Stand-Ups lists as number 7.
He married Kristin Bailey in 1998 and the couple had a son, Dax, in 2003. His father was a medical practitioner and his mother worked in a hospital ward.
He was in the film Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, which starred Emma Thompson.