Samantha is a deaf consumer expert on Rip Off Britain and currently plays Bonnie Baldridge on BBC’s Father Brown. We’re talking to her after Samantha launched her own luxury accessories brand Baines London, inspired by her difficult experience in hospital with her newborn daughter. Her daughter was born with congenital heart disease, which meant an extended hospital stay of three months. It was during this time that she realised how important nature and flowers were for her mental health, but in places like hospitals flowers aren’t accessible. So she tried pressing flowers, digitising them and designing patterns with them, so she was able to bring nature with her, wherever she went. Baines London was created from that and uses real pressed flower designs on pure silk scarves, stationery and homeware.
Samantha, you’re obviously busy, how does it feel to have started Baines London?
Scary and amazing. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. People always say I do too much, I attribute that to my adhd but it keeps my creative juices flowing. I always want to create positive change with everything I do and I am launching charity scarves with Baines London very soon, with proceeds going to incredible causes. Pretty, good for you mental health and raising money for good causes – what’s not to love!
Aside from your busines, your acting and your presenting – do you have anything else going on?
I’m currently working on her third children’s book to be announced soon.
So tell us, how did you get into comedy?
I started out in a sketch group with two other actors, which gave me a taste of writing and performing comedy live. It’s hard to organise three people’s calendars for gigs, so instead I gave stand up a go and ended up doing it for seven years! I was a funny women finalist 2014, took two solo shows to the Edinburgh fringe to sell out runs and five star reviews and did a UK tour. These days I write funny books (children’s and non-fiction), act in TV comedies, present on serious topics with humour thrown in and do the odd instagram sketch. Stand up comedy was a lot of fun, really honed my writing skills and helped me feel truly at home on stage.
Do you have any advice for those starting out?
Go for it! You will learn so much from comedy writing and performing that can transfer to so many things. I don’t do stand up anymore but I use everything I’ve learnt in writing my books, presenting on tv and hosting events.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on my newest children’s book which has a deaf character (as they all do) which is very silly and fun. As a deaf neurodivergent woman I also do a lot of campaigning around disability and deafness and I’m proud to be ambassador for Royal National Institute for Deaf people, NSPCC and most recently Stagetext.
I currently play Bonnie Baldridge , a dodgey cockney housewife, in Father Brown on BBC. I’ve also just started a luxury accessory business I’ve wanted to start for years Baines London. I saw a study that said, just looking at flowers can reduce stress in your body and with a two year old I need to reduce stress haha! I use real images of flowers in my designs so I can look at flowers wherever I go.
Who are your favourite Funny Women?
SO MANY. All these people are very funny and lovely humans too: Elf Lyons, Felicity Ward, Desiree Birch, Maisie Adams, Katherine Ryan, Bridget Christie, Doon Mackichan, Ellie Taylor.
You can keep up with Samantha on Instagram and Tik Tok @samanthabaines
You can view Accessibility Guide to working with Sam (deaf/ADHD)
Buy the bestselling LIVING WITH HEARING LOSS AND DEAFNESS: a guide to owning it and loving it here
