Mark Billingham was born on July 2nd, 1961, in Birmingham, where he attended King Edward VI Camp Hill Grammar School before pursuing higher education at the University of Birmingham. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and Theatre Arts, laying the foundation for his future endeavors.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Billingham began his career as a stand-up comedian, which led to several supporting roles in television shows. One of his most notable roles was in the children's show "Maid Marian and Her Merry Men," where he played the character of gormless Gary, a sheriff's guard, from 1989 to 1992. During his time on the show, he also contributed to the writing of scripts.
In the 1990s, Billingham wrote for another children's show, "Knight School," which had a medieval setting but was infused with anachronistic humor. This was a departure from his earlier work, showcasing his ability to adapt to different styles and genres.
In the twenty-first century, Billingham shifted his focus towards writing mystery novels, creating the character of Tom Thorne, a stocky and no-nonsense police detective. His novel "Lazy Bones" earned him the Theakston's Old Peculiar prize for the best crime novel of 2005, as well as the Sherlock award for the best new fictional detective by a British writer.
As of January 2009, the television rights to Billingham's books were optioned, with David Morrissey set to play the role of Tom Thorne. Billingham resides in Hertfordshire with his wife Claire and their children, where he supports Wolverhampton Wanderers from afar. In his free time, he enjoys "smuggling examples of Victorian taxidermy into the house."
