Mark Benton facts for kids

Mark Benton (born 16 November 1965) is an English actor and TV host. He is famous for playing roles like Martin Pond in the comedy show Barbara and the detective Frank Hathaway in Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.

Many people also know him as the friendly math teacher, Daniel "Chalky" Chalk, in the school drama Waterloo Road. Besides acting, he has also competed on the dancing show Strictly Come Dancing and hosted the game show The Edge.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Mark Benton was born in Guisborough, a town in Yorkshire, England. He went to Sarah Metcalfe Comprehensive School and later studied at Stockton Billingham Technical College.

He started acting at a young age with the Middlesbrough Youth Theatre. This experience helped him build his skills by performing in plays like Atmos Fear and Twist. After his early training, he went on to study at the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, a top acting school in London.

Career on Screen

Mark Benton has appeared in many popular TV shows and movies. He is known for being a versatile actor who can play both funny and serious characters.

Famous Television Roles

One of Benton's first major roles was as Martin Pond in the sitcom Barbara, which ran from 1999 to 2003. He has also worked with the comedy duo Vic and Bob on several shows, including Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased).

Fans of Doctor Who might remember him as Clive, a man who studied conspiracy theories, in the 2005 episode "Rose". This was the very first episode of the show's modern revival.

From 2011 to 2014, Benton played the kind-hearted math teacher Daniel 'Chalky' Chalk in the BBC drama Waterloo Road. This role made him a familiar face to many young viewers. Since 2018, he has starred as the private detective Frank Hathaway in the daytime drama Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.

He has also appeared in many other shows, including:

• Murphy's Law as Father McBride
• Early Doors as Eddie
• Britannia High as Mr. Nugent
• Land Girls as Farmer Finch
• Father Brown as Police Constable Walt Everett
• Midsomer Murders as Eddie Rowbotham

Movie Appearances

Benton has also acted in several films. He played Ricky in the movie Career Girls (1997) and Phil in the independent film Mr In-Between (2001). He also appeared in the comedy Three and Out (2008).

One of his most interesting roles was as a dad in the fantasy film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009). He also played an official in Eddie the Eagle (2015), a movie about the famous ski-jumper.

Competing on Strictly Come Dancing

In 2013, Mark Benton joined the cast of the popular BBC dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing. He was partnered with professional dancer Iveta Lukosiute.

The pair was known for their fun and entertaining performances. Benton became famous for being in the dance-off for four weeks in a row, which is a record on the show. He and Iveta were voted off in the tenth week of the competition.

Personal Life

Mark Benton married his wife, Sarah Gardner, in 2002. Together, they have three children.

He is a big supporter of his local football team, Middlesbrough F.C.. He even appeared in an official club video to encourage fans to buy season tickets. In his free time, he enjoys listening to progressive rock music.