Dan Renton Skinner is a British actor, comedian, and writer, born on 25 January 1973 in Hammersmith, London. He is best known for creating and portraying Angelos Epithemiou, the eccentric comedy character who gained popularity on the BBC show Shooting Stars.
Who Is Dan Renton Skinner?
Dan Renton Skinner, whose full name is Daniel Renton Skinner, is an English performer known for acting, comedy writing, improvisation, and character-based humour. He gained widespread recognition through his appearances as Angelos Epithemiou on Shooting Stars, the surreal comedy quiz show hosted by Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer.
His comedy often relies on deliberately uncomfortable conversations, unusual character behaviour, deadpan delivery, and unexpected changes in tone. Rather than following conventional stand-up routines, Skinner frequently creates humour through fictional personalities and their interactions with other performers.
He has also established himself as a supporting actor in British television comedies and dramas, demonstrating a range that extends beyond his best-known comic persona.
Dan Renton Skinner: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Daniel Renton Skinner |
| Professional name | Dan Renton Skinner, Dan Skinner |
| Date of birth | 25 January 1973 |
| Age | 53 years old (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Hammersmith, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Actor, comedian, writer |
| Famous character | Angelos Epithemiou |
| Education | Middlesex University |
| Wife | Olivia Lee |
| Children | One child |
| Known for | Shooting Stars, The Angelos Epithemiou Show, House of Fools |
| Podcast | Brian and Roger |
Early Life and Education
Dan Renton Skinner was born in Hammersmith, West London, on 25 January 1973. He attended Reed’s School in Surrey before studying drama at Middlesex University in London.
His university education provided a foundation in performance, theatrical techniques, and dramatic expression. These skills would later become central to his comedy, particularly his ability to maintain convincing fictional personalities during unpredictable interactions.
Skinner also became involved in experimental theatre. His early performance experience included The Warp, an ambitious theatrical production associated with director and performer Ken Campbell.
This exposure to unconventional performance helped shape his interest in comedy that moves beyond traditional jokes and punchlines.
His Early Comedy Collaborations
After university, Skinner began developing comedy material with fellow performers Stephen Evans and Neil Edmond.
Together, they formed a sketch comedy troupe called The Benders, exploring unusual characters and collaborative performances.
Skinner was also associated with the sketch group The Dutch Elm Conservatoire, whose show Conspiracy received an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination in 2005.
These early collaborations allowed him to experiment with improvisation, ensemble comedy, and fictional characters before achieving wider television recognition.
How Dan Renton Skinner Became Famous
Dan Renton Skinner’s major breakthrough came through his portrayal of Angelos Epithemiou on the BBC comedy programme Shooting Stars.
The show, hosted by Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, became known for its absurd questions, unpredictable challenges, surreal humour, and unconventional celebrity appearances.
Angelos fitted naturally into this environment.
Unlike the energetic personalities surrounding him, the character frequently appeared confused, irritated, or uninterested in participating. His awkward responses and peculiar behaviour became central parts of the comedy.
Skinner initially appeared as Angelos during the programme’s sixth series, becoming a regular presence before taking on the scorekeeping role in later series.
The character’s popularity eventually led to additional television appearances, live performances, and a dedicated comedy programme.
Why His Performance Stood Out
The success of Angelos Epithemiou depended heavily on Skinner’s commitment to the character.
He rarely broke character during appearances, even when interacting with celebrities or facing unexpected questions.
Several qualities distinguished his performance:
- Deadpan delivery: He often responded to absurd situations with complete seriousness.
- Deliberate awkwardness: Uncomfortable silences and unusual reactions became part of the humour.
- Unpredictability: Viewers could rarely anticipate what the character would say next.
- Improvisation: Spontaneous exchanges made interactions feel unscripted.
- Character consistency: Angelos maintained a recognisable personality across different programmes and performances.
These techniques helped establish Skinner as a distinctive character comedian rather than simply another television panel-show performer.
Angelos Epithemiou: Dan Renton Skinner’s Most Famous Character
Angelos Epithemiou is a fictional comedy personality created and performed by Dan Renton Skinner.
The character is typically presented as an awkward, socially uncomfortable man with an unusual manner of speaking and an unpredictable attitude toward other people.
He is frequently associated with a carrier bag, distinctive clothing, and a deliberately unpolished appearance.
Within the fictional background developed for the character, Angelos has been portrayed as a former burger van operator and an unlikely television personality.
His humour often comes from the contrast between his apparent lack of enthusiasm and the exaggerated personalities of the entertainers surrounding him.
Angelos Epithemiou on Shooting Stars
Angelos became particularly well known through his interactions with Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, and the programme’s celebrity guests.
During the sixth series, he appeared as a regular team member, replacing Johnny Vegas. In subsequent series, he took over scorekeeping duties previously associated with George Dawes.
The character frequently interrupted proceedings, made unexpected observations, and responded to straightforward questions in unusual ways.
His popularity demonstrated how a carefully developed fictional personality could become a major attraction within an established comedy format.
The Angelos Epithemiou Show
In 2012, Skinner received his own Channel 4 comedy programme, The Angelos Epithemiou Show.
The programme expanded the character beyond the Shooting Stars environment, allowing Angelos to take a more central role.
Rather than relying entirely on his interactions with an existing panel-show cast, the series placed the character within a format built around his unusual personality.
It marked an important career development because Angelos had progressed from a supporting comedy character to the central figure of his own television show.
Live Comedy Performances
Skinner has also performed as Angelos Epithemiou at comedy festivals, theatres, and live entertainment venues.
His live work includes Angelos Epithemiou & Friends and Angelos Epithemiou: Can I Just Show You What I’ve Got?
Live performances offer a different setting from television because the character can interact directly with audiences.
This allows Skinner to incorporate improvisation, unexpected responses, and audience participation while maintaining the character’s distinctive personality.
Dan Renton Skinner’s Television Career
Although Angelos Epithemiou remains his most recognisable creation, Dan Renton Skinner has appeared in numerous British television productions.
His acting career includes sitcoms, sketch shows, comedy dramas, and more serious television roles.
Some of his notable television credits include:
| Television show | Role or contribution |
| Shooting Stars | Angelos Epithemiou |
| The Angelos Epithemiou Show | Angelos Epithemiou |
| The Office Christmas specials | Supporting appearance |
| My Family | Policeman |
| Coupling | Supporting appearance |
| The Armstrong & Miller Show | Sketch comedy performer |
| Reggie Perrin | Reggie’s chauffeur |
| The Wrong Mans | Police officer |
| House of Fools | Bosh |
| Friday Night Dinner | Jeremy Phillips |
| The Kennedys | Supporting role |
| Not Going Out | Guest appearance |
| Cold Call | Recurring role |
| The Cockfields | Ian |
| The Witchfinder | Beekeeper |
| Still Up | Clyde |
| Brassic | Phil Brilliance |
These appearances demonstrate his ability to work within different comedic formats rather than relying exclusively on one established character.
House of Fools
Skinner appeared as Bosh in House of Fools, the BBC sitcom featuring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer.
The programme followed an intentionally chaotic and surreal style of comedy, combining unusual characters with exaggerated situations.
His involvement continued his professional association with Reeves and Mortimer, whose work had played a significant part in bringing Angelos Epithemiou to wider attention.
Friday Night Dinner
Skinner also appeared as Jeremy Phillips in the Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner.
The series focuses on the frequently chaotic family dinners of the Goodman family.
Its comedy combines awkward social situations, eccentric personalities, and misunderstandings, making it a suitable setting for Skinner’s character-based acting.
The Armstrong & Miller Show
Another notable part of Skinner’s television career was his work on The Armstrong & Miller Show.
He appeared across multiple series of the BBC sketch comedy programme, which starred Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller.
Sketch comedy requires performers to move between different characters, personalities, and situations, making it particularly suited to Skinner’s theatrical background.
More Serious Television Roles
Skinner has also taken on dramatic roles, including an appearance as PC David Rathband in the 2023 television drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat.
He appeared in Litvinenko as James Cairns and in the crime drama Beyond Paradise as Adam Morgan.
These performances highlight an aspect of his career that can be overlooked when audiences associate him exclusively with absurdist comedy.
Dan Renton Skinner’s Movies
Dan Renton Skinner has appeared in several films, including comedies, dramas, and independent productions.
His film work demonstrates his willingness to take on supporting characters in projects with different storytelling styles.
High-Rise
One of his recognised film credits is High-Rise, directed by Ben Wheatley.
The film is an adaptation of J. G. Ballard’s novel and explores social divisions within a luxury residential tower.
Skinner played Simmons in the production, joining an ensemble cast that included Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, and Sienna Miller.
The film offered him an opportunity to work within a darker, more dramatic cinematic environment.
Swallows and Amazons
Skinner appeared in the 2016 film Swallows and Amazons, an adaptation of Arthur Ransome’s children’s adventure novel.
He portrayed a Russian agent in the production.
The film follows a group of children whose sailing holiday develops into an adventure involving mystery and espionage.
Notes on Blindness
Skinner also participated in Notes on Blindness, the 2016 documentary-drama based on the experiences of theologian John M. Hull.
The film explores Hull’s adjustment to blindness through recordings, dramatised sequences, and immersive sound design.
Skinner portrayed Hull in reconstructed scenes.
This project differed significantly from his comedy work, requiring a more restrained and dramatic approach to performance.
Other Film Appearances
Additional film credits include The Spy Who Dumped Me, The Toll, and Timestalker.
He also contributed voice performances to the 2024 animated film Fox and Hare Save the Forest, voicing Fox and Rat.
His filmography illustrates how character acting can transfer between live-action comedy, drama, documentary reconstruction, and animation.
Dan Renton Skinner’s Podcast Career
Beyond television and film, Dan Renton Skinner has developed a presence in audio comedy.
One of his most notable projects is Brian and Roger, a comedy podcast created with fellow comedian David Earl.
The podcast centres on fictional characters whose interactions create increasingly awkward and absurd situations.
Its format relies heavily on character development, conversational humour, and the gradual escalation of misunderstandings.
What Makes Brian and Roger Different?
Unlike a conventional interview podcast, Brian and Roger presents fictional conversations between recurring personalities.
The humour emerges through the characters’ relationship and their contrasting approaches to everyday situations.
This format allows Skinner to develop comedy without relying on visual expressions or physical performance.
The podcast received recognition at the British Podcast Awards, including nominations in comedy and fiction categories.
The Barry and Angelos Show
Skinner has also worked with comedian Alex Lowe, known for his Barry from Watford character.
Their collaboration, The Barry & Angelos Show, brought together two distinctive fictional personalities.
The programme appeared on FUBAR Radio and developed the interaction between Angelos Epithemiou and Barry from Watford.
It provided another example of Skinner’s ability to sustain a comedy character across different media.
Dan Renton Skinner’s Wife and Family
Dan Renton Skinner is married to British comedian and television personality Olivia Lee.
Lee is known for her work in comedy, television presenting, and entertainment programmes.
The couple reportedly met while participating in a celebrity edition of Come Dine with Me, during which Skinner appeared as Angelos Epithemiou.
Their relationship connects two performers who have both worked extensively in British comedy.
Does Dan Renton Skinner Have Children?
Yes. Public biographical information indicates that Dan Renton Skinner and Olivia Lee have one child.
However, the couple have not made extensive information about their child publicly available.
Skinner generally maintains a distinction between his professional comedy career and his private family life.
How Old Is Dan Renton Skinner?
Dan Renton Skinner is 53 years old as of October 2026.
He was born on 25 January 1973 and celebrated his 53rd birthday in January 2026.
His career has extended across more than two decades of television appearances, theatrical performances, comedy writing, and film acting.
His age is sometimes confused with that of his fictional character Angelos Epithemiou, whose deliberately unconventional backstory should not be treated as factual information about the actor.
Dan Renton Skinner’s Comedy Style and Influences
Dan Renton Skinner is particularly associated with character comedy, a performance style in which humour develops through the personality and behaviour of a fictional individual.
Instead of appearing on stage primarily as himself, he frequently performs through characters with recognisable habits, attitudes, and ways of speaking.
Angelos Epithemiou provides the clearest example.
The character’s comedy often depends on small behavioural details rather than elaborate jokes. An awkward pause, an unexpected question, or a dismissive response can become the central comic moment.
Character Comedy Versus Traditional Stand-Up
The distinction helps explain why Skinner’s work feels different from conventional stand-up performances.
| Character comedy | Traditional stand-up comedy |
| Performer adopts a fictional identity | Performer commonly appears as themselves or a stage persona |
| Humour develops through character behaviour | Humour often develops through jokes and observations |
| Improvisation may depend on fictional personality | Improvisation may involve direct audience conversation |
| Narrative continuity can extend across performances | Material may change between shows without a continuing fictional story |
| Examples include Angelos Epithemiou | Examples include observational stand-up routines |
These categories are not mutually exclusive. Many comedians combine fictional characters, personal observations, improvisation, and scripted jokes.
Skinner’s distinctive strength is his ability to make an exaggerated fictional character feel internally consistent, even when the surrounding circumstances are absurd.
Awards and Recognition
Dan Renton Skinner’s work has received recognition through British comedy awards and industry nominations.
One of his most significant achievements came in 2011, when he won the British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist for his portrayal of Angelos Epithemiou.
His earlier ensemble comedy work was also recognised through the 2005 Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination associated with The Dutch Elm Conservatoire.
Other recognition includes nominations at the Chortle Awards and British Podcast Awards.
These honours reflect different stages of his career, from experimental sketch comedy to television character performance and audio entertainment.
What Is Dan Renton Skinner Doing Now?
Dan Renton Skinner has continued to work across acting, comedy, and audio projects rather than concentrating exclusively on Angelos Epithemiou.
His more recent screen credits include Still Up, Brassic, Beyond Paradise, Austin, and Timestalker, alongside his voice work in Fox and Hare Save the Forest.
His professional representation through United Agents continues to identify him as an actor, comedian, and writer, with Angelos Epithemiou and Brian and Roger among his best-known projects.
Although his public career remains active, individual future television appearances, podcast releases, and live comedy dates should be checked through official announcements rather than assumed from previous work.
Conclusion
Dan Renton Skinner has built a varied career as an actor, comedian, and writer, but his portrayal of Angelos Epithemiou remains his defining contribution to British television comedy.
From his early work in experimental theatre and sketch groups to his appearances on Shooting Stars, House of Fools, and numerous television dramas, he has demonstrated considerable versatility.
His film performances, live comedy shows, and Brian and Roger podcast also show that his work extends beyond a single character or format.
For audiences discovering him through Angelos Epithemiou, exploring his wider television, film, and podcast credits offers a fuller picture of the performer behind one of British comedy’s most unusual fictional personalities.
FAQ’s
Yes. Dan Renton Skinner created and performs the fictional comedy character Angelos Epithemiou. The character became famous through appearances on the BBC programme Shooting Stars and later featured in his own Channel 4 show.
Dan Renton Skinner is married to Olivia Lee, a British comedian and television personality. The couple reportedly met while appearing on a celebrity edition of Come Dine with Me.
His full name is Daniel Renton Skinner. He is professionally credited as Dan Renton Skinner, Dan Skinner, and, in some earlier productions, Renton Skinner.
Yes. Although primarily associated with comedy, he has appeared in dramatic productions including The Hunt for Raoul Moat, Litvinenko, and Notes on Blindness. These roles demonstrate his range beyond character comedy.
Yes. He co-created and performs in Brian and Roger with David Earl. He has also appeared in audio comedy as Angelos Epithemiou, including The Barry & Angelos Show.
Yes. He won Best Comedy Breakthrough Artist at the 2011 British Comedy Awards for his performance as Angelos Epithemiou, one of the most recognisable achievements of his comedy career.
