Mark Watson

Mark Andrew Watson (born 13 February 1980) is a British comedian and novelist.

Watson was born in Bristol to a Welsh mother and English father. He has younger twin sisters called Emma and Lucy and a brother, Paul. He attended Henleaze Junior school and then Bristol Grammar School, an independent day school where he won the prize of 'Gabbler of the Year', before going to Queens' College, Cambridge, where he studied English, graduating with first class honours. At university he was a member of the Footlights and contemporary of Stefan Golaszewski, Tim Key and Dan Stevens. He was part of the revue which was nominated for the Best Newcomer category in the Perrier Comedy Awards at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and also co-directed a revue with Key.

Although not born in Wales, Watson used to deliver his act with a common Welsh accent which is not quite his own. He adopted it when he started stand-up comedy saying that it made him "more comfortable to be talking in a voice that I didn't quite recognise as my own". He has since reverted to his own accent.