Samantha Baines

Samantha Baines is a multi award-winning comedian, actress, broadcaster, and bestselling author. As a deaf activist and hearing aid wearer, she has written two children's books featuring deaf protagonists: the award-winning Harriet Versus the Galaxy, which she also voices on Audible, and The Night the Moon Went Out, published by Bloomsbury Education. Her latest non-fiction book, Living With Hearing Loss and Deafness: A Guide to Owning It and Loving It, has also become a bestseller. Samantha has appeared in various acting roles, including Netflix’s The Crown, Romesh Ranganathan's sitcom Avoidance, Alan Carr's Changing Ends, Call the Midwife, Silent Witness, and Magic Mike Live, directed by Channing Tatum. Her acting experience has earned her membership in BAFTA and a position on the judging panel for the National Television Awards. She has made personal appearances on shows like ITV's Loose Women, Sky News, and Andrew Neil's This Week, which have led to opportunities in TV presenting. After seven years in stand-up comedy, two sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, and a UK tour, she now focuses on comedy through TV, social media, speaking events, radio, and her books, primarily due to her sound sensitivity. In addition to her acting and writing, Samantha presents on BBC Radio London, BBC Radio Kent, and Virgin Radio, and hosts Q&As at the BFI. She is the creator of the award-nominated podcast The Divorce Social, which has gained recognition in international publications and was named a 'Times Podcast of the Week' and a No.1 relationship podcast on iTunes. The podcast won a bronze award for Best Sex and Relationship Podcast at the British Podcast Awards 2022. Samantha has contributed to various publications, including The Guardian, Time Out, Huffington Post, and Stylist Magazine. Her debut children's book, Harriet Versus the Galaxy, was listed in the Independent's Best Children's Books of the Year 2019 and won the Coventry Inspiration Book Award 2021. Her second book, The Night the Moon Went Out, released in August 2021, was nominated for The People's Book Prize. Her non-fiction book, Living with Hearing Loss and Deafness, debuted as an Amazon Bestseller. Samantha identifies as an 'accidental activist' and serves as an Ambassador for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). She leads discussions on deaf awareness and has addressed MPs at the House of Commons about tinnitus and fronting the RNID 'Subtitle It' campaign. She also founded the social media marketing company Penguin in the Room, which was established after leaving drama school. The company has managed social media for notable figures such as Susan Calman, The Guilty Feminist, Helen George, Lucy Porter, and Ruby Wax's charity, Frazzled Cafe, employing a team of creative freelancers to support their artistic projects.