Martin Clunes (born, Alexander Martin Clunes, 28 November 1961) is an English actor. The son of the classical actor Alec Clunes, he is best known as Gary in the sitcom Men Behaving Badly which was broadcast from 1992 to 1998. His first television appearance came a decade earlier in Doctor Who, and he also got a role as one of the sons in the BBC sitcom No Place Like Home.
Clunes is an established dramatic actor too, starring in films and television shows such as An Evening With Gary Lineker, Staggered, Hunting Venus, William and Mary, The Booze Cruise and Saving Grace. In 2002 he played serial killer John George Haigh in A Is for Acid, and four years earlier he starred as Richard Burbage in Shakespeare in Love. He also has the leading role in the ITV comedy drama series, Doc Martin, which is produced by the production company he runs with his wife.
When Angus Deayton was sacked as host of Have I Got News For You, Clunes was one of several people recruited to guest host the topical news quiz, having been an extremely successful panellist and stand-in captain in the past (he joked that, as he had been a contestant on the show so many times that there was now only one chair on the set that he had not sat in, before dropping a spotlight and dramatic music on Ian Hislop). Clunes won much acclaim for his role and was a popular choice for a permanent role before the decision was made for the programme to have a different guest presenter each week.
Clunes was also frequently recruited by his friend and former Men Behaving Badly co-star Harry Enfield to play characters in his sketch shows, and he is also the voice of Kipper on the animated children's series Kipper the Dog. He is a keen camper-van driver.
Clunes is also the cousin of the late actor Jeremy Brett who is most famous for portraying Sherlock Holmes in the long running ITV show The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from the 1980s.
Martin Clunes also recently appeared in the ITV drama William and Mary, which ran into a second series. He played the leading role as William in this romantic comedy shown in 2004.
Clunes is twice married:
The actress Lucy Aston (divorced) The television producer Philippa Braithwaite and has a daughter, Emily Clunes. Clunes lives in Powerstock near Bridport in Dorset.
