Originally from Halifax, West Yorkshire, Tom Shaw wanted to join the Army until he was 16, when he made a bet with his brother he could get through the audition process onto the Performing Arts course at Huddersfield Technical College. It was while here the tutors, impressed with Tom's performance in class, encouraged him to pursue acting. Tom auditioned and was accepted just before his 18th birthday onto the 3 year acting course at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic (LAMDA), graduating in 2008.