Tom Davis: Comedian Behind King Gary and Reluctant Vampire

Who is Tom Davis?

Davis is a performer from England who works in stand-up, acting and improvised comedy. Many viewers first noticed him through a pair of BBC comedy characters, one a police detective in a spoof crime show and the other the lead in a suburban sitcom ².

He is in his late forties and is unusually tall, well over six feet ¹. Before entertainment, his income came from construction work on scaffolds ¹. He then moved into sketch programmes, including Bo Selecta and The Morgana Show ¹.

His wider break arrived with an improv-based crime spoof created alongside James de Frond, a long-term creative partner ¹. Outside screen roles, he records the Wolf and Owl audio show with Romesh Ranganathan ¹. He also supports The Kings Trust in a public role, and is married with a young daughter ¹. Because only two brief sources were supplied, this guide keeps to points they both support.

Why is his name in headlines right now?

Search interest has risen to around five hundred recent views or queries, linked to two topics. One is a fresh BBC comedy about vampires. The other is his public remarks about The Traitors, the game of trust and bluff filmed in Scotland ¹.

In a recent phone interview, he explained that he likes the vampire project and likes watching the castle game, yet would feel uneasy under that kind of contest strain ¹. Put simply, he is happy as a viewer but does not wish to compete.

Some headlines also mention a change in his drinking habits and use of alcohol. That subject does not appear in the two sources provided for this piece, so it is not covered here. Readers who see those claims should seek the original long-form interview where he speaks directly.

Which shows and films made him known?

The spoof crime programme Murder in Successville gave him a broad audience. In it, invited guests had to stay in character while he invented police storylines around them ¹. People who appeared included Jamie Laing, Lorraine Kelly and Vicky Pattison ¹. Improv, in this context, means inventing speech and action on the spot without a set script.

He then led King Gary, a BBC sitcom built around everyday neighbourhood life ². A sitcom is a returning comedy series that follows the same group of people. Both parts showed his skill for quick thinking and warm, chatty humour.

On the big screen he took smaller parts in Paddington 2 and in Wonka, appearing in the latter alongside Timothee Chalamet ¹. Earlier television credits include sketch work before the partnership with de Frond took off ¹.

What is his new BBC vampire comedy?

The programme is called The Reluctant Vampire. Davis plays Victor, presented as the ruler of the vampires ¹. The supplied interview does not include a full story outline, so readers should check BBC listings for plot and episode order.

For a general viewer, the set-up uses old folk tales for gentle jokes rather than scares. In folk tales a vampire is an imagined being that shuns daylight. Here that idea feeds light comedy about manners, family and modern life.

The interview itself was delayed by heavy road traffic. Davis joked that bat-like flight would have eased the trip to the studio ¹. That easy tone reflects the style of humour he often brings to family viewing.

• Check BBC iPlayer or TV guides for current dates for The Reluctant Vampire
• Try Murder in Successville to see his unscripted detective work with guests ¹
• Try King Gary to see his suburban sitcom lead ²

What could an ordinary viewer do next?

If you like kind, low-pressure British humour, his work may suit you. Much of it focuses on regular households, small mix-ups and friendly teasing. The interviewer describes him as courteous and quick to apologise for a late start ¹.

His remarks on The Traitors may feel familiar to many fans. Plenty of people enjoy the suspense from the sofa yet would dislike living under watch in a remote castle. He puts himself in that group, calling the prospect daunting ¹.

A practical next step is to sample one episode of his suburban sitcom, or one instalment of the crime improv show, or an episode of his audio show with Ranganathan ¹². For charity details, search the official site of The Kings Trust, where he holds a support role ¹. As of October 5, 2026, schedules may shift, so check local listings.