Joe Thomas

Actor#108 most popular

Birthday

October 28, 1983

Age

42 years old

Zodiac

♏︎ Scorpio

Birthplace

ChelmsfordEssex

Height

175 cm · 5′9″

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Joe Thomas played Simon Cooper across three series of the E4 sitcom The Inbetweeners and starred in its two feature films. He followed that role by portraying university student Kingsley Owen in Channel 4's comedy-drama Fresh Meat and salesman Martin Lavender in White Gold. Beyond acting, he has written comedy series and appeared on panel programmes including Taskmaster.

Personal life

Thomas began dating actor Hannah Tointon in 2010 after meeting on the set of The Inbetweeners, where she portrayed his character's romantic interest, Tara Webster. The couple got engaged in 2017 and lived on the Barbican Estate in London. In October 2022, they welcomed their first child, a daughter.

Cambridge Footlights and sketch comedy

Thomas grew up in Chelmsford, Essex, as the eldest of four brothers. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School before heading to Pembroke College, Cambridge, to study history.

At university, comedy quickly took priority. He joined the Cambridge Footlights and served as the troupe's secretary from 2005 to 2006, working alongside president Simon Bird. After graduating with a 2:1 degree in 2006, Thomas shared a flat with Bird and fellow Footlights alumnus Jonny Sweet.

The trio began developing stage and television material together. Thomas and Sweet formed a double act, The Jonny and Joe Show, and took their routines to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Thomas also appeared at the Fringe in a student production of All's Well That Ends Well.

Breakthrough with The Inbetweeners

In 2008, Thomas was cast as Simon Cooper in The Inbetweeners. His character was anxious, fiercely loyal, and constantly unlucky in romance. The series captured teenage social awkwardness and became a hit.

Its popularity translated to cinemas. The Inbetweeners Movie debuted in 2011 and broke box office records for a British comedy opening. A sequel, The Inbetweeners 2, followed in 2014, taking the four friends to Australia.

Fresh Meat, White Gold, and screenwriting

In 2011, Thomas joined the cast of Channel 4's comedy-drama Fresh Meat, playing housemate Kingsley Owen through 2016. Alongside his screen acting, he created and wrote Chickens with Simon Bird and Jonny Sweet. The comedy followed three conscientious objectors remaining in England during World War I. After premiering as a 2011 Channel 4 pilot, Sky One commissioned a full six-episode series that aired in 2013.

Thomas reunited with Inbetweeners co-star James Buckley for the BBC Two period comedy White Gold in 2017. Set in 1980s Essex, the series featured Thomas as double-glazing salesman Martin Lavender and ran for two series, with Thomas writing two episodes. In 2018, he starred in the comedy feature film The Festival, directed by Inbetweeners co-creator Iain Morris. He later competed on series eight of Taskmaster in 2019 and earned the Star Baker title on The Great British Bake Off: Stand Up to Cancer in 2023.

Quick facts

Thomas was part of the school team that built T.R.A.C.I.E, a grand finalist on the first series of Robot Wars in 1997.
He served as secretary of the Cambridge Footlights from 2005 to 2006 alongside president Simon Bird.
He graduated from Pembroke College, Cambridge, with a 2:1 degree in history in 2006.
After university, he shared a flat in London with comedy collaborators Simon Bird and Jonny Sweet.
He formed a sketch double act called The Jonny and Joe Show with Jonny Sweet at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Thomas co-created and wrote the World War I comedy series Chickens alongside Simon Bird and Jonny Sweet.
He contributed as a scriptwriter on two episodes of the BBC Two sitcom White Gold.
He won Star Baker on a celebrity episode of The Great British Bake Off: Stand Up to Cancer in 2023.