Griff Rhys Jones

Griffith Rhys Jones (born 16 November 1953) is a Welsh actor, comedian, writer and television presenter. He starred in a number of television series with his comedy partner, Mel Smith. He and Smith came to national attention in the 1980s for their work in the BBC television comedy sketch shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones.

From 2008 to 2018, Jones presented the television bloopers show It'll Be Alright on the Night for ITV, having replaced Denis Norden and being succeeded in 2018 by David Walliams.

Early life and education Griffith Rhys Jones was born on 16 November 1953 in Cardiff, the son of Gwynneth Margaret (née Jones) and Elwyn Rhys Jones, a medical doctor. He was six months old when his family moved to West Sussex owing to his father's occupation as a doctor. Jones attended Conifers Primary School in Midhurst, West Sussex, before his family moved to Epping, Essex. Jones initially read History, later changing to English,

Career After Cambridge, Rhys Jones then joined BBC Radio Light Entertainment as a trainee producer,

Partnership with Mel Smith After Not the Nine O'Clock News, Mel Smith and Rhys Jones teamed up in 1984, and they appeared in the comedy sketch series Alas Smith and Jones. and then in 1989, the London Weekend Television production Wilt.

Smith and Rhys Jones were reunited in March 2005, for a Comic Relief sketch. When Smith died in the summer of 2013, Rhys Jones wrote a piece about his comedy partner in the Radio Times, saying it was "sheer bliss" to perform with Smith.

Production companies In 1981, Rhys Jones along with Mel Smith founded Talkback, a production company which produced many British comedy series, including Smack the Pony, Da Ali G Show, I'm Alan Partridge, They Think It's All Over, QI and Big Train. which has since made several productions with Rhys Jones as presenter and executive producer.

In May 2014, Rhys Jones was executive producer on his production company's debut BBC drama A Poet in New York

Documentaries Rhys Jones has developed a career as a television presenter, beginning as the co-host on several Comic Relief programmes. He presented Bookworm from 1994 to 2000, was the presenter of the BBC's Restoration programme and has undertaken fundraising work for the Hackney Empire theatre conservation project. The series has included the trio rowing the River Thames, as in the 1889 novel, sailing from London to the Isle of Wight for a sailing boat race, borrowing numerous vessels to make their way from Plymouth to the Isles of Scilly. was broadcast on BBC One 29 July–26 August 2007. Rhys Jones visited his mother's home town in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf for an episode of the BBC One series Who Do You Think You Are?, broadcast on 20 September 2007. In the episode, he detailed early memories and stories of his grandparents' fruit and vegetable shop on the high street and his mother's childhood concert performances at Trerhondda Chapel. Rhys Jones fronted Greatest Cities of the World, which saw him visiting a different city each week. The first series, featuring London, New York City and Paris, aired on primetime ITV in October 2008. A second series featuring Rome, Sydney and Hong Kong was broadcast in April and May 2010. Thomas Hardy, John Betjeman and Rudyard Kipling.

During July to August 2009, Rhys Jones presented the BBC programme Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones. which featured on the cover of Radio Times.

In 2010, Rhys Jones presented a programme called The Prince's Welsh Village that featured Prince Charles.

In 2011 he presented the series Hidden Treasures of Art, which examined the art of Australia, India and Africa over the course of three episodes. Britain's Lost Routes with Griff Rhys Jones was broadcast on BBC One from 30 May to 20 June 2012. The show looked at lesser-known routes around Great Britain. On 29 April 2012, Burma, My Father and the Forgotten Army, was broadcast on BBC Two on 7 July.

In 2014 he fronted an eight-part ITV documentary series entitled A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones.

From 10 April 2015, he introduced a five-part documentary series for ITV, Slow Train Through Africa, taking in life on and off trains from Morocco to South Africa, by way of Algeria, Tunisia, Kenya and Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

In December 2015, it was announced that Rhys Jones would present Griff's Great Britain, a new eight-part series for ITV.

From 2019, Rhys Jones started to present a number of travelogues for the ABC which were co-produced with various independent broadcasters around the world. Starting with Griff’s Great Kiwi Road Trip which was made by Perpetual Entertainment for broadcast on the ABC, Prime in New Zealand and ITV in the UK, it was followed by Griff's Great Australian Adventure, Griff's Great New Zealand Adventure and Griff's Canadian Adventure.

Unlike previous series, the 6-part series Griff's Canadian Adventure, which showed Rhys Jones travelling across Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia. was picked up by Channel 4 for broadcast in August 2022 and was originally made for BBC First in Canada in association with the ABC, Channel 4 and The History Channel in New Zealand.

After a gap of three years, his latest Australian-produced travel show was announced in 2025 as Griff's Southern Charm and was broadcast by the ABC and Channel 4 under the title Griff's Great American South. Channel 4 also picked up the previous Perpetual Entertainment travel shows for a run on More4, with these 30 minute ITV shows re-edited into hour-long programmes.

Writing Rhys Jones has written or co-written many of the programmes he has appeared in, and many spin-off books. In 2002, he began writing a book called To the Baltic with Bob, describing his adventures on the high seas with his sailing friend Bob, as they make their way to Saint Petersburg, port by port.

His early life has been captured in his autobiography, Semi-Detached, published in 2006 by Penguin Books. His book to accompany the BBC One series Mountain was published in July 2007.

Other work From 1999 to 2001, Rhys Jones featured in television adverts for the Vauxhall range of cars, as a "boffin". In April 2001, he was dismissed by Vauxhall, after an embarrassing advert for the Vauxhall VX220. He officially signed the deal in May 1999.

Rhys Jones provided the voice-over for Brentwood School's 450th anniversary DVD, reading a script written by fellow Old Brentwoodian Jonathan Ruffle.

Rhys Jones became President of The Victorian Society in February 2018, in succession to Asa Briggs, following a period as vice-president from 2009, and has participated in media campaigns for the society. Since 2007, he has been a Vice-President of the River Stour Trust, a registered charity led by volunteers who are dedicated to the restoration and conservation of the River Stour Navigation for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.

In August 2014, Rhys Jones was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue.

Personal life Rhys Jones met his wife, Jo, a graphic designer, while working at the BBC. He described their first meeting by saying: "The day we met, I was semi-naked and she was throwing water over me." The couple have two children.

Rhys Jones and his wife live between homes in London and Holbrook in Suffolk. He and Jo are keen gardeners, and he discussed their extensive garden in an October 2015 episode of Gardeners' World, part of which was filmed there.

Rhys Jones owned Undina, the , fifty-year-old wooden sailing yacht which was used in Three Men in Another Boat; he spent £500,000 on her restoration and in 2013 stated she was for sale for £195,000, "probably less". Around 2011, he bought a 1948 wooden yacht, Argyll, which he races at regattas, including the Fastnet Race.

A former heavy drinker, Rhys Jones is a teetotaller: "I don't drink so going to a party can become very tedious. By about 11 o'clock, everybody goes to another planet and you're not there with them, so I tend to avoid that sort of thing."

A resident of East Anglia, Rhys Jones was awarded an honorary degree by the University of East Anglia in 2002.

He was awarded honorary degrees by the University of Glamorgan, the University of Essex and an honorary D.Litt from Anglia Ruskin University. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Royal Society of Arts, and an Honorary Fellow of his alma mater, Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 2009 he was honoured by his father's former university, the University of Wales College of Medicine (now part of Cardiff University).

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1983 Two Foolish Men (unknown) Short film 1985 Morons from Outer Space Graham Sweetley Also co-writer 1989 Wilt Henry Wilt 1992 As You Like It Touchstone 1994 Staggered Graham 1996 The Adventures of Pinocchio Tino 1998 Up 'n' Under Ray Mason, Radio York Commentator 2000 The Testimony of Taliesin Jones Principal Caesar 2002 Puckoon Col. Stokes 2016 Love Somehow Dylan Thomas (voice) Short film 2020 What a Carve Up! John Stephens 2022 Future TX The Foley Brothers

Television Year Title Role Notes 1974 Cambridge University 1974 Footlights Revue Various characters Television film. Also co-writer 1977 The 1977 Cambridge Footlights Review – Television film. Director: Footlights & co-writer 1979–1982 Not the Nine O'Clock News Various characters Series 1–4; 27 episodes. Also co-writer 1982 The Funny Side of Christmas Trevor Television film. Also co-writer 1984 The Young Ones Bambi, Host of University Challenge Episode: "Bambi" Weekend Playhouse Michael Episode: "Singles Weekend" 1984–1988 Alas Smith and Jones Various characters Series 1–4; 28 episodes. Also co-writer (10 episodes) 1985–1991 Jackanory Storyteller 5 episodes 1987 Porterhouse Blue Cornelius Carrington 2 episodes The Grand Knockout Tournament Himself - Team 3 Member Television Special 1987–1988 The World According to Smith and Jones Griff Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes. Also co-writer 1988 Jake's Journey Innkeeper Television film (pilot) 1989 The Play on One Harry Clark Episode: "A View of Harry Clark" Smith and Jones in Small Doses Various characters 4 episodes. Also co-writer (1 episode) 1989–1998 Smith and Jones Various characters Series 5–10; 36 episodes. Also co-writer (3 episodes) 1991 Screen One Patrick Episode: "Ex" 1992 Tales from the Poop Deck Narrator 6 episodes Funnybones All voices 12 episodes 1993 Demob Ian Deasey 6 episodes Q.E.D. Himself - Narrator Episode: "Knights of the Shining Piddock" 1994–1995 Monty the Dog Narrator / All voices 13 episodes 1994–1999 The Bookworm Himself - Presenter Series 1–6; 42 episodes 1995 Sardines Davy Kotowski Television film 1998 Jack and the Beanstalk Baron Wasteland Television film Crystal Balls Himself - Presenter Television film 1999 Jonathan Creek Jeremy Sangster Episode: "The Curious Tale of Mr. Spearfish" 2000 Aladdin Emperor Television film The League of Gentlemen: Behind the Scenes Himself - Narrator Television film 2002 Casualty Paul Fuller Episode: "Too Close for Comfort" 2003–2009 Restoration Himself - Presenter Series 1–3; 26 episodes 2004 Monkey Trousers Various characters Television film (pilot) Three Ivans, Two Aunts and an Overcoat Ivan 6 episodes Mine All Mine Max Vivaldi 5 episodes Agatha Christie's Marple Dr. Quimper Episode: "4.50 from Paddington" 2005 Monkey Trousers Various characters 2 episodes Riot at the Rite Gabriel Astruc Television film Going to Work Naked Himself - Narrator Television film The Secret Life of Arthur Ransome Himself - Narrator Television film. Also co-writer 2006 The Smith and Jones Sketchbook Various characters 6 episodes. Also co-writer Betjeman and Me: Griff Rhys Jones Himself - Presenter Television film Rudyard Kipling: A Remembrance Tale Himself - Presenter Television film 2006–2011 Three Men in a Boat Himself with Dara Ó Briain & Rory McGrath. Series 1–7; 14 episodes 2007 Mountain Himself - Presenter 5 episodes A Pembrokeshire Farm Himself - Presenter 5 episodes Charles Dickens & the Invention of Christmas Himself - Presenter Television film. Also writer & executive producer Mouse: A Secret Life Himself - Narrator Television film 2008 The Heart of Thomas Hardy Himself - Narrator Television film Auntie's War on Smut Himself - Presenter Television film Losing It: Griff Rhys Jones on Anger Himself - Presenter Television film. Also writer 2008–2010 Greatest Cities of the World Himself - Presenter Series 1 & 2; 6 episodes. Also writer; exec. producer (1 episode) 2008–2016 It'll Be Alright on the Night Himself - Presenter 11 episodes 2009 Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones Himself - Presenter 5 episodes Return to a Pembrokeshire Farm Himself - Presenter 5 episodes 2010 The Prince's Welsh Village Himself - Presenter Television film 2011 Hidden Treasures of... Himself - Presenter Mini-series; 3 episodes 2012 Perspectives Himself - Presenter Episode: "Griff Rhys Jones: Wind in the Willows" Britain's Lost Routes with Griff Rhys Jones Himself - Presenter Mini-series; 4 episodes A Short History of Everything Else Himself - Presenter 6 episodes. Also co-writer 2013 Burma, My Father and the Forgotten Army Himself - Presenter Television film 2014 Under Milk Wood (voice) Television film A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones Himself - Presenter 8 episodes. Also executive producer (5 episodes) National Treasures of Wales Himself - Presenter 4 episodes 2015 Quizeum Himself - Presenter Television film. Also writer Slow Train Through Africa Himself - Presenter Mini-series; 4 episodes 2016 Ordinary Lies Patrick Episode: "Fletch" Griff's Great Britain Himself - Presenter 8 episodes. Also executive producer (2 episodes) 2017 Murder on the Blackpool Express David Television film 2019 Midsomer Murders Ambrose Deddington Episode: "The Sting of Death" Griff's Great Kiwi Road Trip Himself - Presenter 4 episodes 2020 Griff’s Great Australian Adventure Himself - Presenter 6 episodes. Also executive producer (1 episode) 2021 Griff’s Great New Zealand Adventure Himself - Presenter 4 episodes 2022 Griff's Canadian Adventure Himself - Presenter 6 episodes Gangsta Granny Strikes Again! Mr. Parker Television film 2025 Griff's Great American South Himself - Presenter Episode: "Chattanooga & Nashville" 2026 Richard Osman's House of Games Himself - Contestant Series 9; 5 episodes (Week 14)

Video games Year Title Role Notes 1996 The Adventures of Pinocchio Tino (voice)

Theatre 1990 – Alan Bennett's adaptation of The Wind in the Willows, as Mr Toad - (National Theatre)

2026 – I'm Sorry Prime Minister, as Jim Hacker - (Apollo Theatre)