Rob Brydon

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Rob Brydon
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • presenter
  • singer
  • impressionist
  • writer
Years active1985–present
Known forFull list
Spouses
Martina Fitchie
​
​
(m. 1992; div. 2000)​
Clare Holland
​
(m. 2006)​
Children5
Rob Brydon's voice
from the BBC programme Front Row, 18 March 2012[1]
Websiterobbrydon.com

Robert Brydon Jones MBE (/ˈbraɪdən/; born 3 May 1965) is a Welsh actor, comedian, impressionist, presenter, singer and writer. Brydon gained prominence for his roles in film, television and radio. Brydon was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Honours in 2013 for services to comedy and broadcasting, and for charitable services.

Brydon gained fame for his roles in the black comedy series Human Remains (2000), the mockumentary series Marion and Geoff (2000–2003), the chat show spoof The Keith Barret Show (2004–2005), and the comedy series Supernova (2005–2006). From 2007 to 2010 he played Bryn West in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey for which he received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Comedy Performance.

He has acted in a number of shows for the BBC with Steve Coogan starting with 24 Hour Party People (2002) and A Cock and Bull Story (2005). Brydon and Coogan then starred in The Trip (2010) followed by The Trip to Italy (2014), The Trip to Spain (2017), and The Trip to Greece (2020). He has also acted in the films Cinderella (2015), The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016), Holmes & Watson (2019) and Barbie (2023).

Since 2009, Brydon has presented the BBC One comedy panel show Would I Lie to You? after previously playing himself as host of a fictional panel show in Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, which ran on BBC Three from 2006 until 2007. In addition to presenting his own late-night chat show, The Rob Brydon Show, for two years and hosting the 2014 Saturday-night game show The Guess List for BBC One.

Early life and education

Brydon was born on 3 May 1965 in

car dealer. He grew up in Baglan, with his younger brother Peter (born 1973).[4]

Brydon was educated at two

Ruth Jones (with whom he later worked in Gavin & Stacey) and became a member of the school's youth theatre group. While at Dumbarton, he once stole the lunch money of fellow pupil Catherine Zeta-Jones (which he admitted while participating in a series 4 episode of Would I Lie To You?).[5]

Brydon has said that his primary childhood influences in comedy were Barry Humphries, Frankie Howerd and Woody Allen. He has also said that he used to memorise entire sketches by Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Peter Sellers.[6][7]

Career

1982–1999: Early radio work

Brydon attended the

BBC Radio Five Live's The Treatment, Brydon also does occasional stints as a stand-in presenter on BBC Radio 2 including for Ken Bruce before Bruce resigned from the BBC in 2023. Notably on 1 April 2011, Brydon appeared during Bruce's absence, as him, as an April Fools' Day joke, for the entire show.[9][10]

During an episode of Would I Lie To You?, Brydon admitted that he had pretended on the phone to be his own agent, using one of his repertoire of different voices in the early part of his career. This was done to justify enhancing his freelance work fees.

For a brief period in the early 1990s Brydon was a presenter for the

Fairy Liquid. He voiced the main character, Lewton, in the Discworld computer game Discworld Noir,[14] and provided voices in animated films such as The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child and Room on the Broom.[15]

2000–2009: Television roles and acclaim

Brydon on I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue in 2009

In 2000 he made his mark in television comedy, with two series which he co-wrote and performed for the BBC:

Have I Got News For You in the BBC Three series Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive. Ed Potton of The Times found that the series "provides the perfect platform for host Brydon, playing a demonic version of himself, to mimic (often hilariously) and abuse (often brutally) his guests".[16]

Ryerson Theatre in Toronto
, Canada (2005)

In 2005 he portrayed a version of himself in the British comedy

BAFTA Award for Best Comedy Performance as Bryn. Starting in 2009 Brydon has hosted the game show Would I Lie to You?. Since these series Brydon has developed a career path as a character actor, in both comedic and serious roles. He portrayed controversial theatre critic Kenneth Tynan in the BBC Four film Kenneth Tynan: In Praise of Hardcore (2005), opposite Julian Sands as Laurence Olivier
.

Also in 2006, Brydon first appeared on the BBC Radio 4 comedy panel game

Christmas special, he provided impressions of Richard Burton and Tom Jones
.

His character

UK Singles Chart on 15 March 2009. In February 2009, it was announced that Brydon would be one of three people to replace Lyttelton as chairman of the 51st series of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (the others being Stephen Fry and Jack Dee).[18][19] Brydon also appeared as guest panellist in the first two episodes of series 52, chaired by Jack Dee. He returned as a guest panellist in the last two episodes of series 54 in January 2011. Additionally, in 2009 he took over as host of Would I Lie To You?, replacing Angus Deayton.[20] Brydon had also appeared as a guest panellist on the show during the previous season.[21] Brydon has presented an episode of Have I Got News for You[22] and has appeared on BBC Radio 4's panel game Just a Minute.[23][24]

2010–present: The Trip and other roles

Steve Coogan and Brydon at the Sundance Film Festival promoting The Trip to Spain (2014)

Between September and October 2011, Brydon starred alongside Kenneth Branagh in Francis Veber's play The Painkiller at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. He reprised his role with Branagh, in March and April 2016, at the Garrick Theatre in London's West End.[25] Whilst not calling himself an impressionist Brydon says he "started out as an impressionist" but will "bristle" when described as such.[26] His impressions include Alec Guinness, James Dean, Michael J. Fox, Richard Burton, Tom Jones, Michael Caine, Mick Jagger and Ronnie Corbett. He is also noted for his "Small Man in A Box" impression.[27]

In 2010 Brydon starred alongside Steve Coogan in Michael Winterbottom's partially improvised BBC Two sitcom series The Trip, in which both actors played fictionalised versions of their public personas (Brydon, optimistic and always eager to do an impression; and Coogan, misanthropic and bitter that he's not the major international star he believes he should be).[28] Coogan and Brydon reprised their roles as themselves in the follow up films The Trip to Italy (2014), The Trip to Spain (2017), and The Trip to Greece (2020). The films have been met with critical acclaim with many critics describing them as "hilarious and heartbreaking". Elizabeth Nelson of The Ringer comparing their chemistry to that of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in the Road movies. Nelson also compared the films to Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.[29]

Brydon's book Small Man in a Book (the title a play on his "small-man-in-a-box" impression) was published in November 2011.

compères for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert held outside Buckingham Palace on 4 June 2012. The following year he dubbed the voice of Beto in the computer animated film The Unbeatables
for the United Kingdom edition of the film.

In 2015 he had a uncredited role as Master Phineus in the

coming-of-age film Days of the Bagnold Summer
(2019).

In 2021 he acted in the first episode of the second series of the show

Sugar Daddy Ken in Greta Gerwig's comedy Barbie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling
.

In 2022 Brydon appeared in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends revue, including alongside Haydn Gwynne in "The Little Things You Do Together", the marital battle from Company.[33][34]

Personal life

Brydon was married to Martina Fitchie from 1992 to 2000.[35][36] They had two daughters and a son.[37][38]

On 6 October 2006, Brydon married Clare Holland, a former producer on The South Bank Show, at Windsor church. They live in Strawberry Hill in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. They have two sons.[39] A keen golfer, Brydon is also a Swansea City fan and is an ambassador to their 1912 foundation.[40]

In August 2014, Brydon was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.[41]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1995 First Knight Man in crowd
1998 Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence Bus driver
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Traffic warden
2002 24 Hour Party People Ryan Letts
2004 Shaun of the Dead Football commentator/'Zombies from Hell!' presenter (voice) Uncredited
2005 MirrorMask Morris Campbell/Prime Minister
A Cock and Bull Story Capt. Toby Shandy/himself
2010 The Trip Himself
2013
The Unbeatables
 		Rico (voice) UK version
2014 The Trip to Italy Himself
2015 Cinderella Master Phineus Uncredited
2016 The Huntsman: Winter's War Gryff
2017 The Trip to Spain Himself
2018 Early Man Message Bird, Brian and Bryan (voices)
Swimming with Men Eric Scott
Holmes & Watson Inspector Lestrade
2019 Blinded by the Light Matt's Father
Days of the Bagnold Summer Douglas Porter
2020 The Trip to Greece Himself
2022 The Amazing Maurice The Pied Piper (voice)
2023 Barbie Sugar Daddy Ken

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Legends of Treasure Island Long John Silver (voice) Series 2
1994 The Healer Sean Television film
1995 Eleven Men Against Eleven Radio commentator
1996 Cold Lazarus Karl Channel 4/BBC One
Lord of Misrule Cornish policeman Television film
2000 The Baskervilles Brian Baskerville, Nicolas Lucifer II, others (voices)
ITV
Human Remains Peter Moorcross, Gordon Budge, Stephen,
Tony, Barne Willers, Les 		BBC Two
2000–2003 Marion and Geoff Keith Barret
2001 The Way We Live Now Mr Alf BBC One
A Small Summer Party Keith Barret Television film
2002 Murder in Mind Barry Coates BBC One
Black Books B Nugent Channel 4
Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe
 		Prison Guard (voice) Television film
I'm Alan Partridge Baptist fan Episode: "Alan Wide Shut"
Cruise of the Gods Andy van Allen Television film
2003; 2008 Top Gear Himself BBC One
2003–2013 QI BBC Four/BBC One/BBC Two
2004 Directors Commentary Peter de Lane
ITV
Agatha Christie's Marple Inspector Awdry Episode: "What Mrs McGillicuddy Saw!"
2004–2015 The Big Fat Quiz of the Year Himself – panellist Channel 4
2004–2005 The Keith Barret Show Keith Barret BBC Two
2005 Kenneth Tynan: In Praise of Hardcore Kenneth Tynan Television film
Little Britain Roman de Vere Series 3
Jack Dee Live at the Apollo Keith Barret BBC One
2005-2006 Supernova Dr Paul Hamilton BBC Two
2006 Have I Got News for You Guest Presenter BBC One
100 Greatest Funny Moments Narrator Channel 4
2006–2007 Annually Retentive Himself BBC Three
2007 Dawn French's Boys Who Do Comedy BBC One
2007–2010, 2019 Gavin & Stacey Bryn West BBC Three/BBC One
2007 Heroes and Villains: Napoleon
Stanislas Fréron
 BBC One
Oliver Twist Mr Fang
2009 Live at the Apollo
Compere
/stand-up
Horne & Corden Narrator to Olympic sketches BBC Three
The Gruffalo Snake (voice) Television film
2009–present Would I Lie to You? Presenter Since Series 3
2010 Ronnie Corbett's Supper Club Himself (guest) Good Food
2010–2012 The Rob Brydon Show Himself (host) BBC Two
2010–2020 The Trip Himself BBC Two/Sky Atlantic
2011 A Quiet Word With ... Himself (guest)[42]
ABC
Michael McIntyre's Christmas Comedy Roadshow Father Christmas/himself BBC One
The Gruffalo's Child[43] Snake (voice) Television film
2012 The Best of Men Corporal Wynne Bowen
Room on the Broom Cat (voice)
2013 Gangsta Granny Mr. Parker
2014 This is Jinsy Rex Camalbeeter Series 2
The Guess List Himself BBC One
2015 The Brink Martin HBO
Stick Man Various (voice) Television film
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Star Guest Announcer Series 12, episode 3
2016 Revolting Rhymes King, Rolf, the Banker Pig, the Short Sister (voice) BBC One
2017 Not Going Out George (voice) Series 8, episode 3
The Highway Rat Narrator and Horse (voices) Television film
2017 The Nightly Show Himself (guest)
ITV
2018 Trust Richard Nixon FX
2019 The Snail and the Whale Whale (voice) BBC One
2020 Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Star Guest Announcer Series 16, episode 2
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse William Heelis Television film[44]
Zog and the Flying Doctors The King (voice) Television film[45]
2021
The Chasers Road Trip: Trains, Brains and Automobiles
 		Narrator 3 episodes
McDonald & Dodds Roy Gilbert[46] Episode: "The Man Who Wasn't There"
Celebrity Catchphrase Himself (contestant)[47] Episode: "2021 Christmas Special"
Superworm The Crow (voice)[48] Television film
2022 Green Eggs and Ham Philip Trousers (voice)[49] Netflix
The Smeds and The Smoos Uncle Smoo (voice)[50] Television film
The Tuckers Tony Perrot BBC One Wales
2023 Tabby McTat Fred (voice) BBC One[51]

Radio

Year Title Role
1992–1994 Rave Himself – presenter
1994
Satellite City
 		Himself – radio show
1995 The Treatment
2004 Just a Minute Himself
2005 Flight of the Conchords (radio series) Narrator
Just a Minute Himself
2006–2021 I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue Himself (host in 1 episode)
2009 The Unbelievable Truth Himself
2011 The Ken Bruce Show Ken Bruce (as an April Fool joke)
2012 Best of Men Himself

Other appearances

Honours and awards

Brydon was made an honorary fellow of the

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to comedy and broadcasting, and for charitable services.[55][56]

Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2000
British Comedy Awards
 Best Comedy Newcomer
Marion & Geoff
 Won
2001 Best TV Comedy Actor Human Remains Won
2003 Marion & Geoff / Cruise of the Gods Nominated
2004
BAFTA Award
 Best Situation Comedy
Marion & Geoff
 Nominated
2005
British Independent Film Award
 Best Supporting Actor Tristham Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story Nominated
2009
BAFTA Award
 Best Comedy Performance Gavin & Stacey Nominated
2009
British Comedy Award
 Best TV Comedy Actor Nominated
2010 The Trip Nominated
Best New TV Comedy Nominated
2011
BAFTA Award
 Best Situation Comedy Nominated
Best Entertainment Performance The Rob Brydon Show Nominated
British Comedy Award
 Best Male TV Comic Would I Lie to You Nominated
2018
BAFTA Award
 Best Male Performance in a Comedy Series The Trip to Spain Nominated

Discography

Singles

Year Single Chart positions
UK
[57]
 IRE
[58]
EU
2009 "
(Barry) Islands in the Stream
" 		1 48 7

References

  1. ^ "Rob Brydon". Front Row. 18 March 2012. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Rob Brydon". BBC Cymru Wales. 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Mark Lawson talks to ... Rob Brydon". BBC Four. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Ask Rob Brydon". Bbc.co.uk. 29 January 2003. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Would Rob Brydon lie to you?". Daily Post North Wales. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  6. ^ Quark (28 April 2014). "Quark interviews Rob Brydon". Quark. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Quark interviews Rob Brydon". Quark Online. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  8. ^ "South West Wales – Hall of Fame". BBC. February 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2006. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  9. ^ "Rob Brydon impersonates Radio 2's Ken Bruce", BBC News, retrieved 1 April 2011
  10. ^ "Rob Brydon fools Ken Bruce's Radio 2 fans", The Independent, retrieved 1 April 2011
  11. ^ "Other works for Rob Brydon". IMDb.
  12. ^ Al Murray On The Invention Of The Pub Landlord. 2 June 2022. Event occurs at 6:42. I also did Eurotrash
  13. ^ Larman, Alexander. "BFI Screenonline: Brydon, Rob (1965–) Biography". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  14. ^ "Discworld Noir (1999) Windows credits". MobyGames. 20 June 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Rob Brydon – IMDb". IMDb.
  16. ^ Potton, Ed (6 November 2008). "Darbar Festival 2008; Life; Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive; Terminator". The Times. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  17. ^ "The Neverending Story". Slate. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Fry, Brydon, Dee to host 'Clue' return". Digital Spy. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  19. ^ Foster, Patrick (26 February 2009). "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue panel game to return to Radio 4". The Times. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  20. Broadcastnow
    . Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  21. ^ "Would I Lie to You?: Rob Brydon, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Gabby Logan, Robert Webb". Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  22. ^ "Have I Got News for You: Rob Brydon, Frankie Boyle, Claudia Winkleman Episode Summary". TV.com. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  23. ^ "Wales – Arts – Rob Brydon". BBC. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  24. ^ Raphael, Amy (24 February 2008). "Look who's laughing now". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  25. ^ "Branagh Theatre Company". branaghtheatre.com. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  26. ^ "'I've always been interested in failure'". Financial Times. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  27. ^ "Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan: 'We're not the big buddies people think we are'". The Guardian. 26 October 2010.
  28. ^ Wollaston, Sam (2 November 2010). "TV review: The Trip, Coppers, The Little House, Twitchers: A Very British Obsession, Extreme Fishing with Robson Green". The Guardian. London.
  29. ^ "What a Long, Strange Funny Trip 'The Trip' Series Has Been". The Ringer. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  30. ^ Gordon, Bryony (7 November 2011). "Rob Brydon: 'I used to be ambitious, but now I'm more like JR Hartley'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  31. ^ "Rob Brydon: Live – Play.com". Play.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  32. ^ "McDonald & Dodds renewed for third series on ITV".
  33. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  34. ^ "BBC Two - Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends". BBC. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  35. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
  36. ^ "Rob Brydon tells of anguish after breakdown of first marriage". Wales Online. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  37. ^ Swann, Yvonne (22 January 2010). "My perfect weekend: Rob Brydon". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010.
  38. ^ Ancestry.com, England & Wales Birth Index: 1916–2005.
  39. ^ Swann, Yvonne (22 January 2010). "My perfect weekend: Rob Brydon". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  40. ^ "Rob Brydon signs for Swans". Swansea City Football Club official site. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  41. ^ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories". The Guardian. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  42. ^ "A Quiet Word With Rob Brydon". Official site. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  43. ^ "The Gruffalo's Child". BBC One. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  44. ^ "Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse". sky.com. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  45. ^ "Zog and the Flying Doctors". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  46. ^ Bley Griffiths, Elanor (28 February 2021). "McDonald and Dodds season 2 release date: Cast, plot and episodes". Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  47. ^ "Celebrity Catchphrase: Christmas Special". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  48. ^ "Superworm". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  49. ^ "Rob Brydon". IMDb.
  50. ^ "First Look Image: Bill Bailey, 'Bridgerton's' Adjoa Andoh in Julia Donaldson's 'The Smeds and The Smoos'". variety.com. 28 September 2022.
  51. ^ "BBC announces Tabby McTat, a star-studded animation based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  52. ^ "BBC Radio 4 – Desert Island Discs, Rob Brydon".
  53. ^ "Rob Brydon to Front P&O Cruises' New Ad Campaign". cruisecritic.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  54. ^ "Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama – Honorary Fellows". Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012.
  55. ^ "No. 60534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 15.
  56. ^ "Birthday Honours: Adele joins Blackadder stars on list". BBC News. 14 June 2013.
  57. ^ "Jenkins featuring West, Jones and Gibb – Islands in the Stream – Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  58. ^ "Ireland Singles Top 50 – Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 19 August 2011.

External links

News items

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rob_Brydon&oldid=1220295238"