David Mitchell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Mitchell
Mitchell in 2009
Born	(1974-07-14) 14 July 1974 (age 50) Salisbury, England
Education	Peterhouse, Cambridge (BA)
Occupation	Comedian actor writer
Years active	1995–present
Spouse(s)	Victoria Coren ​ ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	2

David Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) is a famous British comedian, actor, and writer. He is best known for being part of the comedy duo Mitchell and Webb with his friend Robert Webb.

David Mitchell and Robert Webb starred in the TV show Peep Show on Channel 4. In this show, David played a character named Mark Corrigan. He even won an award in 2009 for his great acting in the show. The duo also created and starred in several funny sketch shows like That Mitchell and Webb Sound (on radio) and That Mitchell and Webb Look (on TV). They also appeared in the "Get a Mac" advertisements for Apple. Their first movie together, Magicians, came out in 2007. More recently, they have starred in the comedy-drama Back since 2017.

David Mitchell also acts on his own. He played William Shakespeare in the BBC Two comedy show Upstart Crow starting in 2016. You might also see him often on British panel shows. He is a team captain on Would I Lie to You? and hosts The Unbelievable Truth on BBC Radio 4. He has also been a guest on many other popular shows like QI, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, and Have I Got News for You. Besides acting and hosting, David writes opinion articles for newspapers like The Observer and The Guardian.

David Mitchell's Early Life and School Days

David James Stuart Mitchell was born in Salisbury, England, on 14 July 1974. His parents, Kathryn Grey and Ian Douglas Mitchell, were hotel managers. David considers himself British because his mother is Welsh and his father's family was originally Scottish. When he was two years old, his parents changed jobs to become lecturers, which gave them more time to spend with him and his younger brother, Daniel.

His family later moved to Oxford, where his parents taught at Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University). David went to New College School for primary school. He once said that when he was young, he secretly wanted to be a comedian or even the Prime Minister. But he told people he wanted to be a barrister to make his parents happy.

From age 13, David attended Abingdon School, a public school. He was always at the top of his class before, but at Abingdon, he realized many others were just as smart. So, he focused on debating and drama, where he felt he could really shine.

Discovering a Love for Acting

David often joined in school plays, sometimes just to play cards backstage! But he got a bigger role as Rabbit in Winnie-the-Pooh. This was the first time he truly felt like he was performing, and he enjoyed it even more than playing cards. He loved comedy writing from a young age, thinking that making a joke was the smartest thing.

In 1993, David went to Peterhouse, Cambridge University to study history. There, he joined the Cambridge Footlights, a famous comedy group. He even became its president in 1995–1996. During his first year, he met Robert Webb while rehearsing for a Footlights play. They quickly became a comedy team, which is why they are known as Mitchell and Webb today! David admits that focusing on comedy affected his studies, and he got a lower grade in his final exams.

David Mitchell's Career Highlights

David Mitchell has had a very successful career in comedy and acting. He is known for his work with Robert Webb and his many solo projects.

Mitchell and Webb's Shared Projects

After their show Peep Show became popular, David and Robert went back to sketch comedy. They created That Mitchell and Webb Sound for BBC Radio 4, which was then turned into the TV show That Mitchell and Webb Look. Both shows were very successful.

In 2006, the duo went on their first stage tour called The Two Faces of Mitchell and Webb. That Mitchell and Webb Look won a BAFTA award for Best Comedy Programme in 2007. Their first movie, Magicians, came out in 2007, where David played a magician named Harry.

They also wrote a comedy book called This Mitchell and Webb Book in 2009. In 2012, they voiced two robots in an episode of Doctor Who called "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship". David and Robert are considered some of the most powerful people in TV comedy in the UK.

David Mitchell's Solo Acting and Writing

Besides working with Robert Webb, David Mitchell has appeared in many shows on his own. He played Owen in the radio show Think the Unthinkable and Dr. Toby Stephens in the TV show Doctors and Nurses. He also had a small role in the film I Could Never Be Your Woman.

David wrote for the impressionist show Dead Ringers and voiced Mitch in the Disney cartoon Phineas and Ferb. He also narrated the reality show Beauty and the Geek.

From 2011, David was a co-host on 10 O'Clock Live, a live comedy news show. He also had his own online video series called David Mitchell's Soapbox, where he shared his funny opinions on different topics.

In 2012, David published his memoirs, Back Story: A Memoir. He also plays William Shakespeare in the sitcom Upstart Crow, which started in 2016. In 2023, he released a non-fiction book called Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens, which was highly praised.

David Mitchell on Stage

David Mitchell made his first stage appearance in Ben Elton's play The Upstart Crow in London in 2020. He played William Shakespeare, just like in the TV show. The play had to close for a while because of the COVID-19 pandemic but reopened in 2022.

David Mitchell and Panel Shows

David Mitchell is very well known for being on many panel shows. He is a team captain on the BBC show Would I Lie To You?, which has been running since 2007. He also hosts The Unbelievable Truth on BBC Radio 4.

He has hosted Have I Got News For You many times and appeared on shows like QI, Mock the Week, and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. David enjoys panel shows because they create funny moments that you can't plan. He was even called "The Best Comedy Panel Show Guest" by Radio Times!

Who Inspired David Mitchell?

David Mitchell looks up to actor Alec Guinness. His comedy heroes include Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, and Peter Cook. He also says that classic British comedy shows like Morecambe and Wise, Monty Python, and The Two Ronnies greatly influenced his career.

David Mitchell's Personal Life

David Mitchell met broadcaster Victoria Coren at a party in 2007 and was immediately very interested in her. They started dating in 2010 and got married on 17 November 2012. His friend Robert Webb was his best man. They have two daughters, born in May 2015 and November 2023. They live in London.

David is interested in history. He once joked that he might join the National Trust when he's older to visit castles. He also said that if he could travel back in time, he would go to the building of Stonehenge to ask why they were doing it!

He enjoys sports like cricket, snooker, tennis, and squash. David is an agnostic, meaning he isn't sure if God exists. He takes a long walk every day to help with a bad back and describes himself as someone who worries a lot.

David likes the author Evelyn Waugh. He appeared on the radio show Desert Island Discs in 2009. He mentioned that he only owns two music albums: Phil Collins' ... But Seriously and Susan Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream.

David Mitchell has Scottish family roots. In 2014, he was one of many public figures who signed a letter hoping that Scotland would remain part of the United Kingdom.

Film Roles

Television Appearances

Audiobooks Narrated

Other TV and Radio Appearances

Podcasts

Radio Shows

Non-Fiction Radio Appearances

Books Written by David Mitchell

Images for kids

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  Mitchell (right) as "Ginger" on stage with Robert Webb during a performance of their The Two Faces of Mitchell and Webb stage tour

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  Mitchell in 2019