Bill Bailey was born on 13 January 1965 in Keynsham, Somerset, England, the son of Christopher and Madryn Bailey. His father was an NHS general practitioner “who ran a little surgery in the front of the house,” and his mother was a hospital ward nurse. He spent most of his childhood in Keynsham, a town between Bath and Bristol, and attended King Edward’s School, Bath, where he was considered a gifted student.

Around age 15, he joined a school band called Behind Closed Doors and was the only student at his school to study music at a high level, earning an A grade. After school, Bill started studying English at Westfield College in London but left after one year. He subsequently received an Associate Diploma from the London College of Music.

Bailey’s career truly took off in 1995 with his show Bill Bailey’s Cosmic Jam, which earned him the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Critics Award. This success paved the way for his own BBC comedy show, Is It Bill Bailey?, in 1998. He became a household name through sitcom roles and panel show appearances throughout the 2000s.

Bill Bailey has presented Extraordinary Portraits on BBC One from Series 3 onward, a BBC Television series in which members of the public who have a notable achievement are paired with an artist to have their portrait painted, drawn, photographed, or sculpted. He has also presented Sky Arts’ Bill Bailey’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation.

Bailey is married to Kristin, and they have one son, Dax. The family resides in Hammersmith, West London. In 2025, Bailey was awarded an MBE in recognition of his contributions to entertainment.