The son of law society president Sir Dingwall Bateson, Timothy won a scholarship to Wadham College, where he trained for acting with the Oxford University Dramatic Society. Straight out of college, he was handpicked by Alberto Cavalcanti for the role of Lord Verisopht in the Ealing production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. Bateson made his theatrical debut at the Old Vic the following year in "Twelfth Night". He was highly acclaimed for his performance as Lucky in "Waiting for Godot", which he first performed at the Arts Theatre in London in 1955
.
