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Tom Basden

Tom Basden

Actor and writer, also producer · Born November 30, 1980 (45) · Sutton, London, UK

BAFTA Award nominee

Thomas William Basden (born 30 November 1980) is an English actor, writer, comedian, and musician. He is best known for co-creating and starring in Plebs, which won the Royal Television Society award for Best Scripted Comedy in 2014.[1] He was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2007 Edinburgh Comedy Awards and is a member of the sketch group Cowards. He co-wrote and starred in the 2025 film The Ballad of Wallis Island.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 30, 1980 (45)
From
Sutton, London, UK
Works as
Actor and writer, also producer
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 36 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

What are Tom Basden's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Self
28%
Society
23%
Survival
16%
Power
4%
Friendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 2 · Wry 0 · Earnest 2

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 1 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 0

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Trickster
2 of 4
Shadow
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
7
Joyful
5
Warm
4
Tense
3
Contemplative
4
Other
5

How their films linger

Fun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Tom Basden's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tom Basden's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

36 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Alley Cats(2026)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ponce (voice)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • How to Get to Heaven from Belfast(2026)

    Show 5 episodes · as Seb

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Writer · as Robin

  • The Ballad of Wallis Island(2025)

    Executive Producer · Screenplay · Songs · as Herb McGwyer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Writer · as Robin

  • Plebs: Soldiers of Rome(2022)

    Writer · as Aurelius

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Venice at Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Stephen

  • Man vs. Bee(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Police Officer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Here We Go(2020)

    Show 19 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer · as Robin Hankey

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Last Bus(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mr. Short

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Mandy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 9 episodes · as Benefits Advisor

  • Ghosts(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Cartwright

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • After Life(2019)

    Show 18 episodes · as Matt

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Women on the Verge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Daniel

  • Quacks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as John Sutton

  • Gap Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show Creator

  • David Brent: Life on the Road(2016)

    as Dan

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Anthony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Anthony

  • W1A(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dan Shepherd

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • The Wrong Mans(2013)

    Show 7 episodes · Writer · as Noel

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Very Few Fish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Writer

  • Plebs(2013)

    Show 38 episodes · Creator · as Aurelius

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Derek(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Autograph Expert

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Games On: Tent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Paul

  • Fresh Meat(2011)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Boot Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as The Hunk

  • Dark Relic(2010)

    as Robert

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Brave Young Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Writer · as Jamie Husband

  • Cowards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer · Actor

  • The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Composer · Writer · as Herb McGwyer

  • After You've Gone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike

  • Clatterford(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Kira's Dad

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Vital Signs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Woodley

  • Hyperdrive(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Lallakkiss

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Bill's Included (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 6 episodes · Executive Producer

  • The Mandy Who Knew Too Much (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Benefits Advisor

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 36 titles, 34 of them dated from 2006 to 2026; peak year 2025.

Biggest box office

The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025)

$6.3M worldwide

Highest rated

After Life (2019)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Alley Cats (2026)

Film career

20062026

Peak 2025 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting32 of 36: 23 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score75thWriting10 of 36: 2 only writing, 8 with another roleProducing3 of 36: 1 only producing, 2 with another roleMusic1 of 36: 0 only music, 1 with another roleOther crew4 of 36: 1 only other crew, 3 with another role

36 titles, 9 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

2000s7 · 7 acting · 3 crew2010s16 · 13 acting · 4 crew2020s11 · 11 acting · 5 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

4 major nominations and no wins, 2008–2026.

  1. 2026
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Screenplay (Adapted)
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Outstanding British Film of the Year
  2. 2012
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Breakthrough Talent
  3. 2008
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Short Film

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Tom Basden's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 4; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 18 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

The Last Bus (2022)

77th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

After Life (2019)

Midcredits 97th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Tom Basden's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and violence & gore and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles0–36 · median 27 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles19–46 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles23–88 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles16–56 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles13–29 · median 25 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Tom Basden work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tom Basden's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ricky Gervais shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers