TOM BASDEN (OK 1999)

Tom is an award-winning English actor, writer and comedian. Tom is best known for co-creating and starring in Plebs, which won Best New Comedy at the British Comedy Awards 2013 and the Royal Television Society award for Best Scripted Comedy in 2014. Tom is also a member of sketch group Cowards. In February this year, the latest season of Tom’s Here We Go was released on BBC One. Tom is currently co-writing The Ballad of Wallis Island alongside Carey Mulligan and Tim Key, which is due to be released in early 2025.

This year's Prize Giving ceremony featured Tom as our special guest prize giver. Tom gave a brilliant speech which was met with much laughter from the assembled community of pupils and teachers. The mix of humour and wisdom he employed ensured that the serious message he ended upon was received loud and clear: Tom advised pupils to pursue things that are really meaningful to them and which make "hours seem like minutes". Some excellent and inspiring advice that really enhanced the optimistic and celebratory atmosphere in the marquee at King’s.