Clive James Standen was born on a British Army base in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, and grew up in Leicestershire, East Midlands, England. He went to school at the King Edward VII School, Melton Mowbray followed by a performing arts course at Melton Mowbray College. Standen then went on to earn a place on the 3 year diploma course in Acting at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Away from acting, in his late teens Standen was a former international Muay Thai boxer and later Fencing gold medalist. He married his wife Francesca in 2007 at Babington House. They live in London with their three children. On 25 November 2011, Standen made a surprise trip back to his hometown of Melton Mowbray to switch on the town's Christmas lights.
