“My dad was a scientist. More than that: my dad grew up in a tiny terraced house in Swansea, the only child of a second-generation immigrant family - his father sold cloth, zips and buttons from door to door - and so science - biochemistry at Swansea University, followed by a PhD at Imperial College - was his way out, his way up.”

English comedian, presenter, screenwriter and author

David Lionel Baddiel is an English comedian, presenter, screenwriter and author. He first came to prominence through his early work with Rob Newman on The Mary Whitehouse Experience, and later through his comedy partnership with Frank Skinner. His career spans television, live comedy and writing. He is best known for work that helped define British comedy in the 1990s, especially his collaborations with Newman and Skinner, and for his later work as a presenter and author.