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Griffith Rhys Jones OBE (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.

Key Information

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

[edit]

Griffith Rhys Jones was born on 16 November 1953 in Cardiff,[1] the son of Gwynneth Margaret (née Jones) and Elwyn Rhys Jones,[2] a medical doctor. He was six months old when his family moved to West Sussex due to his father's occupation as a doctor.[3] Jones attended Conifers Primary School in Midhurst, West Sussex, before his family moved to Epping, Essex.[1] He attended a junior school in Epping, Essex, and Brentwood School, also in Essex.[4][1]

After a short spell working as a petrol pump attendant, Jones gained a gap year job on the P&O ship Uganda, working for a company organising school trips. In his autobiography, Semi-Detached, he describes how he was charged with helping to look after 600 Canadian schoolgirls, followed by a similar number of younger Scottish schoolchildren, and refers to the experience as being like "St Trinian's at sea".[5] Jones initially read History, later changing to English,[1] at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, graduating with a 2:1.[6][7]

Career

[edit]

After Cambridge, Rhys Jones then joined BBC Radio Light Entertainment as a trainee producer,[1] with his responsibilities including the satirical show Week Ending and Brain of Britain.[1] He also appeared in 1974 in the Comedy series Oh no it isn't ! on BBC Radio 4.

Rhys Jones came in as a producer of Rowan Atkinson's show The Atkinson People with Frankie Howerd, Clive Anderson and Rory McGrath, for the BBC and appeared twice on Whose Line Is It Anyway?[2]

Rhys Jones filled in several minor roles in the first series of Not the Nine O'Clock News,[1] and was brought in as a regular cast member from the second series onwards,[1] replacing Chris Langham. Rhys Jones says that the reason he got the part was not due to his appearance in the initial shows, or his talent, but because producer John Lloyd was dating his sister at the time. Rhys Jones became a regular from the commissioned second series.

Rhys Jones was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1984 for Best Comedy Performance in Charley's Aunt[1] and in 1994 for Best Comedy Performance for his performance in An Absolute Turkey.[1] He also played Toad in The Wind in the Willows at the National Theatre in 1990,[2] as well as several other theatre roles including Fagin in Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Harpagon in The Miser. at the Garrick Theatre. He provided the voices on the series of short cartoons Funnybones.[2]

Rhys Jones has continued his acting career, being cast in Casualty[2] and Agatha Christie's Marple[2] as well as starring in Russell T Davies' drama series Mine All Mine on ITV.[2] It'll Be Alright on the Night returned with Rhys Jones as the new presenter, taking over from Denis Norden. The first programme with Rhys Jones as host aired in 2008.

In January 2012, Rhys Jones returned to BBC sketch comedy The Ones[2] alongside the likes of Hugh Bonneville, Tom Hollander and Larry Lamb, for one of a three-episode series in which comedy legends take to the stage for a mix of stand-up and sketches.[2][8]

Partnership with Mel Smith

[edit]

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.[1] (the show's title being a pun on the American television series Alias Smith and Jones). After the first series, the two men appeared in Mike Hodges' science fiction comedy movie Morons from Outer Space.[1] and then in 1989, the London Weekend Television production Wilt.[2] Dressed as bobbies, in July 1985 Smith and Rhys Jones introduced Queen on stage at Live Aid.[9]

Smith and Rhys Jones were reunited in March 2005, for a Comic Relief sketch,.[1] which led to a revival of their previous television series in The Smith and Jones Sketchbook.[1] Their final television appearance together was a Head To Head routine for the special of 2012 The One Griff Rhys-Jones.[1][2]

With Smith, he co-founded the television production company Talkback Productions, now part of RTL Group and later in 2005, he established the production company Modern Television.[10] 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.[11]

Production companies

[edit]

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.[2]

In 2005, Rhys Jones created his own production company Modern Television,[12] which has since made several productions with Rhys Jones as presenter and executive producer.[13]

In May 2014, Rhys Jones was executive producer on his production company's debut BBC drama A Poet in New York[2] starring Tom Hollander as Dylan Thomas.[14]

Documentaries

[edit]

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.[2]

Since 2006, Rhys Jones has appeared in the BBC's Three Men in a Boat series, alongside Dara Ó Briain and Rory McGrath.[15] 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.[16]

In later adventures, the three men took to the Irish Canals and Rivers on a trip from Dublin to Limerick (Dara's Greyhound Snip Nua also tagged along for the trip), went to Scotland, and sailed along the Balkan coast ending up in Venice for a gondola race.[16] His documentary series Mountain, for which he climbed 15 British peaks during 2006,[16] 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.[16] He presented a documentary series with 5 episodes A Pembrokeshire Farm which was broadcast on BBC4 in July/August 2007.[16] Two years later he presented another 5 episode documentary series Return to a Pembrokeshire Farm which was broadcast on BBC4 in September/ October 2009. Both series concerned the renovation of a farm in Pembrokeshire which Rhys Jones had purchased intending to restore them.[16]

He presented a seasonal documentary, Charles Dickens and the Invention of Christmas, which was broadcast on 23 December 2007 on BBC One.[17] 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.[16] Rhys Jones has created and presented programmes about Arthur Ransome,[18] Thomas Hardy,[19] John Betjeman[20] and Rudyard Kipling.[21]

During July to August 2009, Rhys Jones presented the BBC programme Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones.[22] which featured on the cover of Radio Times.[23]

In 2010, Rhys Jones presented a programme called The Prince's Welsh Village that featured Prince Charles.[24]

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.[25] Britain's Lost Routes with Griff Rhys Jones[26] 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,[16] Rhys Jones guest presented an episode of Perspectives on ITV, his chosen subject being The Wind in the Willows.[16]

In 2013 Rhys Jones presented a documentary about his father's service as a medical officer with the Gold Coast Regiment and Burma campaign in the Second World War,[27] Burma, My Father and the Forgotten Army, was broadcast on BBC Two on 7 July.[28]

In 2014 he fronted an eight-part ITV documentary series entitled A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones.[29]

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.[30]

In December 2015, it was announced that Rhys Jones would present Griff's Great Britain, a new eight-part series for ITV.[31]

From 2019, Rhys Jones started to present a number of travelogues for the ABC[32] 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[33] 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.[34] 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.[35]

After a gap of three years, his latest Australian-produced travel show was announced in 2025 as Griff’s Southern Charm[36] and was broadcast by the ABC and Channel 4 under the title Griff’s Great American South.[37][38] 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

[edit]

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.[39]The book was published in 2003, with Rhys Jones saying of the experience: "As a child, you go out and play and you lose all track of time and space. It's harder and harder to attain that blissful state of absorption as you get older. I did a six-month sailing trip to St Petersburg with some mates just to get it back."[40]

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.[41]

Rhys Jones in 2007

Other work

[edit]

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.[42] He officially signed the deal in May 1999.[43]

Rhys Jones provided the voice-over for Brentwood School's 450th anniversary DVD, reading a script written by fellow Old Brentwoodian Jonathan Ruffle.[44]

Rhys Jones became President of The Victorian Society in February 2018, in succession to Asa Briggs, following a period as vice-president from 2009,[45][46] and has participated in media campaigns for the society.[47] 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.[16]

In June 2008, it was announced that Rhys Jones was to become the President of Civic Voice, the nationwide charity that campaigns for better places in the built and green environment.[48]

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.[49]

Personal life

[edit]

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 (previously in Islington, now in a Grade I listed house in London's Fitzrovia in the West End) and Holbrook in Suffolk.[50][51] 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.[52]

Rhys Jones owned Undina, the 45-foot (14 m), 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".[53] Around 2011, he bought a 1948 57-foot (17 m) wooden yacht, Argyll, which he races at regattas, including the Fastnet Race.[53][54]

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."[50] He started running as a leisure pursuit in his early forties. In 2008, he presented two programmes called Losing It which were shown on BBC Two, in which he discussed his own problems with anger management.[16]

An active conservationist, Rhys Jones is the president of Civic Voice, the national organisation representing Britain's civic societies. He also owns a small herd of alpacas.[55]

A resident of East Anglia, Rhys Jones was awarded an honorary degree by the University of East Anglia in 2002.[39]

He was awarded honorary degrees by the University of Glamorgan, the University of Essex[4] and an honorary D.Litt from Anglia Ruskin University.[56] He is also a Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama,[57] the Royal Society of Arts, and an Honorary Fellow of his alma mater, Emmanuel College, Cambridge.[58] In 2009 he was honoured by his father's former university, the University of Wales College of Medicine (now part of Cardiff University).[7]

Rhys Jones was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to the National Civic Society Movement, charity and entertainment.[59][60]

Filmography

[edit]
Rhys Jones in 2014
Year Title Role Notes
1979–82 Not the Nine O'Clock News Various
1984–98 Alas Smith and Jones Various
1984 The Young Ones Host of University Challenge Episode – "Bambi"
1985 Morons from Outer Space Graham Sweetley
1987 The Grand Knockout Tournament Himself Television special
1989 Wilt Henry Wilt
1992 Funnybones All voices
1994–2000 Bookworm Presenter
1994 Monty the Dog All voices
1994 Staggered Graham
2003–09 Restoration Presenter
2004 Mine All Mine Max Vivaldi
2004 Agatha Christie's Marple Dr. Quimper Episode: 4.50 from Paddington
2006–11 Three Men in a Boat Presenter
2007 Mountain Presenter
2007 A Pembrokeshire Farm Presenter
2008–16 It'll Be Alright on the Night Presenter
2008–10 Greatest Cities of the World Presenter
2009 Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones Presenter
2009 Return to a Pembrokeshire Farm Presenter
2010 The Prince's Welsh Village Presenter
2012 Britain's Lost Routes with Griff Rhys Jones Presenter
2013 Burma, My Father and the Forgotten Army Presenter
2014 A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones Presenter
2015 Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys Jones Presenter
2015 The Quizeum Presenter
2016 Griff's Great Britain Presenter
2017 Murder on the Blackpool Express David
2019 Griff's Great Kiwi Road Trip Presenter
2020 Griff’s Great Australian Adventure Presenter
2021 Griff’s Great New Zealand Adventure Presenter[61]
2022 Griff's Canadian Adventure Presenter [62]
Future TX [63]
Gangsta Granny Strikes Again! Mr Parker[64]
2025 Griff's Great American South Presenter [65]

Theatre

[edit]

2026 - I'm Sorry Prime Minister as Jim Hacker (Apollo Theatre)[66]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Griff Rhys Jones

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Griffith Rhys Jones OBE (born 16 November 1953) is a Welsh , , , , and heritage preservation advocate. Jones rose to prominence in during the late 1970s and 1980s through his work on the sketch series (1979–1982), where he collaborated with , , and , and the subsequent partnership-led sketch show (1984–1998). In 1981, he co-founded Talkback Productions with Smith, a company that grew into a major independent producer before its sale in 2000. His theatre career includes leading roles in farces and comedies, earning Olivier Awards for Best Comedy Performance in (1984) and An Absolute Turkey (1994). Transitioning to presenting and documentary work, Jones hosted BBC series such as Restoration (2003–2006), focusing on the repair of historic buildings, and Bookworm (1994–2000), while authoring books on travel, history, and memoir, including Semi-Detached (2010). He received an OBE in 2019 for services to the National Civic Society Movement, charity, and entertainment. As President of the Victorian Society since 2018 and Civic Voice, Jones has campaigned against demolitions of architecturally significant structures, including recent efforts to preserve Liverpool Street Station and critiques of redevelopment plans for sites like Oxford Street's M&S building. His advocacy emphasizes community input in planning and the value of retaining historic fabric over unchecked modernization, reflecting a commitment to empirical assessment of built environments' long-term utility.

Early Life and Education

Birth and Family Background

Griffith Rhys Jones was born on 16 November 1953 in , . He is the son of Elwyn Rhys Jones, a medical doctor, and Gwyneth Margaret Rhys Jones (née Jones). The family relocated from to , during his early childhood. His mother's ancestry traces to , with her paternal grandfather Daniel working as a railway engine driver.

Schooling and University Years

Rhys Jones attended Conifers Primary School in , , before his family relocated to , where he enrolled in a local . To mitigate over his accent, he adapted his speech during this period. He later secured a place at Brentwood School, a direct-grant in that drew students from varied socioeconomic backgrounds. In 1971, Rhys Jones won an exhibition to , initially intending to read but ultimately pursuing English, influenced by his growing involvement in dramatic societies. He graduated in 1974 with a 2:1 in English. During his time at , he joined the Cambridge Footlights Club, a prestigious amateur dramatic society known for nurturing comedic talent, through an introduction by his school friend . This experience marked the beginning of his engagement with performance and writing, foreshadowing his later career in .

Comedy and Entertainment Career

Early Comedy Work

Rhys Jones first engaged in comedy through the Cambridge Footlights during his studies at , where he served on the committee in 1975–1976 as vice-president and later became president of the club. He directed the 1977 Footlights revue, featuring performers such as and , which toured and contributed to his early development in sketch and revue formats. Following graduation, he briefly worked as a and for visiting Arab dignitaries in before joining in 1976 as a trainee producer. In his radio role, Rhys Jones produced comedy programs including Week Ending, a satirical sketch show, as well as series featuring , , and , honing skills in script development and timing that informed his later performing career. These productions emphasized topical humor and ensemble sketches, aligning with the 's light entertainment output of the era. By 1979, this experience facilitated his entry into television via the sketch series , where he initially appeared in minor roles such as milkmen before ascending to the main cast in the second series after impressing producers with impressions, including one of . This marked his professional in visual comedy, though still predating formalized partnerships.

Partnership with Mel Smith

Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith began their professional collaboration as performers on the BBC sketch comedy series Not the Nine O'Clock News, with Jones joining the principal cast alongside Smith for its second series in 1980. In 1981, they co-founded Talkback Productions, an independent television production company that went on to produce numerous British comedy programs, including The Day Today in 1994. The duo's partnership achieved widespread recognition through their eponymous sketch series , which premiered on on 31 January 1984 and featured observational sketches, satirical commentary, and distinctive "head-to-head" conversational segments between the pair. The program ran for four series on through 1987, attracting audiences with its blend of character-driven humor and topical satire, before transferring to . From its fifth series in 1989, the title simplified to Smith and Jones, continuing until 1998 for a total of 62 episodes across both channels. Beyond television sketches, Smith and Jones extended their collaboration to film, starring together in the science fiction comedy released in 1985 and the black comedy Wilt in 1989, both produced under their Talkback banner. They also ventured into other formats, such as the ITV series The World According to Smith and Jones (1987–1988), which offered humorous commentary on archival film clips, and Smith and Jones in Small Doses (BBC, 1989), a collection of short comedic playlets. The partnership produced over 80 programs in total following , though regular joint performances tapered off after the late 1990s as each pursued individual projects; their final collaborative effort was The Smith & Jones Sketchbook on BBC in 2006. Smith died in 2013, after which Jones reflected on their dynamic as productive yet marked by creative differences, describing it as "not exactly a marriage made in heaven."

Solo Stand-Up and Later Performances

Following the death of his long-time comedy partner in July 2013, Griff Rhys Jones embarked on his first solo stand-up tour in 2016 with the show Jones & Smith. The production, comprising 13 dates across October and November, centered on anecdotes from their three-decade collaboration, including work on , , and their production company Talkback, which sold for £62 million. In , Jones toured Where Was I?, a solo show structured as an "Audience With"-style reflection on his career mishaps, particularly presenting experiences, delivered through and self-deprecating humor about professional humiliations. The pre-COVID All Over the Place tour followed in 2019, featuring a full-length stand-up routine with dates starting in , including previews and venues like the Old Theatre in Bowness-on-Windemere. Jones resumed touring post-pandemic with The Cat's Pyjamas in 2024, which sold out internationally and led to a second leg in autumn 2025, including performances at Eastbourne's Devonshire Park Theatre on 24 October and Taunton's Brewhouse Theatre on 26 October. The show packs on contemporary life, building on his established solo format of personal narratives and . Beyond stand-up, Jones has undertaken later stage performances, such as portraying Scrooge in a 2018 musical adaptation of . These efforts demonstrate his pivot to independent, narrative-driven solo work after decades of duo-based .

Television and Media Production

Sketch Comedy and Series

Rhys Jones first gained prominence in through his involvement in the series , which aired from 1979 to 1982 and featured satirical sketches targeting current events, politics, and . He joined the cast starting in the second series in 1980, alongside , , and , replacing from the debut season; the program consisted of 28 episodes across four series, known for its topical humor and musical parodies. Following the success of that collaboration, Rhys Jones partnered with for , a sketch series that debuted on 31 January 1984 and ran for three initial series until 1986, comprising 18 episodes in total, with formats including standalone sketches, two-handers, and occasional guest appearances. The show transitioned to as Smith & Jones in 1989, continuing until 1998 with additional series and specials, totaling over 60 episodes; it emphasized the duo's verbal interplay and , often spoofing advertisements, news, and everyday absurdities. In 2008, Rhys Jones returned to sketch format with the BBC One special The One Griff Rhys Jones, a 40-minute program featuring new sketches with guest performers, marking his solo venture into the genre approximately a after the end of Smith & Jones. This effort highlighted his continued affinity for rapid-fire, character-driven humor, though it did not spawn a full series.

Documentary and Travel Presenting

Griff Rhys Jones has presented a range of documentary and travel series since the early 2000s, frequently exploring historical routes, natural landscapes, and cultural traditions, often blending with educational content. His work in this genre emphasizes experiential journeys, such as or , to illustrate broader themes of human impact on environments. In 2009, Rhys Jones hosted Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones, a five-part series examining how Britain's rivers have shaped history, economy, and daily life, accompanied by his dog for segments on and wildlife. The program featured on-location explorations, including canoeing and historical reenactments, to demonstrate rivers' roles in trade and industry from Roman times onward. Britain's Lost Routes with Griff Rhys Jones, aired on in 2012, consisted of five episodes tracing disused or historic transport paths across , such as pilgrim trails, cattle drovers' routes, and Thames s, produced by Rhys Jones' company Modern Television. Episodes included recreating a royal progress and barge voyages to highlight pre-industrial logistics and their cultural significance. Domestically focused travel documentaries include Griff's Great Britain (2015), where he undertook adventures in the British countryside, covering regions like and to showcase natural beauty and local customs. Similarly, A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones (2023) detailed his return to native , emphasizing Celtic heritage, rugged terrains, and community traditions through personal odysseys. Internationally, Rhys Jones presented Griff Off the Rails: Down Under (2020), a series on Australia's long-distance rail networks, riding trains to explore remote landscapes and indigenous histories. Griff's Canadian Adventure followed in 2021, charting Canada's vast territories from urban centers to frozen wilds, focusing on multicultural influences and indigenous cultures. Other efforts include Griff's Great Kiwi Road Trip (2022), an epic drive across New Zealand's length, and The Greatest Cities in the World with Griff Rhys Jones, profiling global metropolises like and New York through historical and architectural lenses. Most recently, Griff's Great American South (2025) documents a from Nashville to New Orleans, delving into the U.S. Deep South's music, , and social history. Specialized documentaries encompass and the Invention of Christmas (2007, BBC One), analyzing the author's role in modern holiday traditions, and In Search of (2013), tracing the inspirations behind Kenneth Grahame's character. These presentations underscore Rhys Jones' interest in literary and architectural heritage, often critiquing modern developments through historical context.

Production Companies and Writing

Rhys Jones co-founded the independent television production company Talkback Productions in 1981 alongside , initially to produce their own comedy sketches and series such as Alas Smith & Jones. Under their leadership, Talkback expanded into a major UK producer of comedy, light entertainment, and factual content, outputting hits like and game shows, while employing over 200 staff by the late 1990s. The company merged with in 1998 before being acquired by and later sold to FremantleMedia in 2000 for approximately £62 million, yielding substantial financial returns for Rhys Jones and Smith. In 2005, Rhys Jones launched Modern Television in partnership with producer Simon Mansfield, with offices in and . The company specializes in factual programming, including heritage documentaries, travel series, and dramas, often with Rhys Jones serving as presenter and executive producer on titles like Restoration Home and museum-focused explorations. Modern Television has maintained a focus on high-quality, character-driven content, contributing to Rhys Jones's ongoing media output into the . Rhys Jones has written or co-written scripts for over 100 television and radio programs across his career, particularly from Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982) through to Smith & Jones episodes spanning 1984–1998. His writing emphasized satirical takes on British society, , and media, honed during two decades of intensive script development from 1976 onward. Beyond broadcasting, he has authored travel and memoir books, including To the Baltic with Bob (2003), detailing a yacht voyage from to the with friend Bob Lowe, and Rivers: One Man and His Dog Paddle into the Heart of Britain (2011), chronicling canoe expeditions along 28 British rivers. Additional works encompass (2010), a personal account of his upbringing and adolescent years, and Insufficiently Welsh (2014), reflecting on his Welsh heritage. He has also edited poetry anthologies such as Poems (1996) and contributed to heritage-related essays tied to his preservation advocacy.

Heritage Advocacy and Public Campaigns

Involvement in Preservation Organizations

Griff Rhys Jones serves as president of , having been appointed to the role in 2018 following his tenure as vice-president since 2009. In this capacity, he oversees advocacy for the conservation of and has publicly highlighted threats to historic buildings, including derelict sites vulnerable to and . He holds the presidency of Civic Voice, the national organization representing over 300 civic societies in , a position through which he champions community involvement in planning and the protection of local heritage assets. Rhys Jones collaborates with Save Britain's Heritage on preservation efforts, including co-chairing the Campaign alongside to oppose developments that could overshadow the Grade II*-listed Victorian station. His involvement extends to other entities, such as the River Stour Trust, where he supports waterway and riverside conservation projects.

Key Campaigns and Restoration Projects

Griff Rhys Jones hosted the BBC Two series Restoration, which aired from 2003 to 2006 across three seasons, showcasing 72 at-risk heritage buildings and allowing public votes to allocate grants up to £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund for their repair and reuse. The program emphasized practical conservation, highlighting buildings from medieval castles to industrial-era structures, and spurred direct action such as the restoration of the Smithfield Market canopy in Birmingham, which received funding in 2003 to preserve its Victorian ironwork. Jones advocated for over demolition, arguing that such projects preserved cultural continuity while enabling economic viability through new functions like community centers or hotels. As president of since 2018, Jones has led annual campaigns identifying the Top Ten Most Endangered Victorian and Edwardian buildings in , with the 2024 list featuring sites like a requisitioned school in Newcastle and a former pavilion in , aiming to pressure owners and authorities for intervention. The 2025 edition, launched on May 21, included structures such as a Torquay bath house and a disused in proposed for conversion, underscoring threats from neglect and incompatible development. These lists have influenced outcomes, including accelerated repairs at listed sites by raising public and policy awareness of decay risks, with Jones criticizing modern antipathy toward as misguided given its functional durability. In 2023, Jones spearheaded a of heritage groups opposing the redevelopment of London's , which proposed adding 109 meters of office towers over the Grade II-listed Victorian terminus, contending that the plans would obscure its historic facade and erode urban legibility without sufficient public benefit. He publicly described the scheme as "smothering" the station's character, rallying support through media appearances and petitions that highlighted engineering precedents for less intrusive expansions. This effort built on his broader advocacy against over-development, including endorsements for projects like the Jumbo Water Tower in , a 19th-century he backed for sustainable conversion in 2023 to prevent further deterioration. On a personal level, Jones undertook an 18-year restoration of the derelict Trehilyn Estate farm in , , beginning around 2004, transforming its farmhouse and barns through sympathetic repairs that retained original stonework and integrated modern amenities while adhering to conservation principles. This project exemplified his commitment to hands-on heritage work, prioritizing material authenticity over aesthetic novelty, and served as a model for balancing private investment with historical fidelity.

Debates on Architecture and Development

Griff Rhys Jones has engaged in public debates advocating for the preservation of historic against what he views as insensitive modern developments that prioritize commercial gain over . As a co-founder of Save Britain's Heritage in 1975 and later president of , he has criticized practices like facade retention, which he argued in 2004 guts the interior of old buildings while preserving only superficial elements, undermining their integrity. A prominent example is his leadership in opposing the 2023 redevelopment proposals for London's , a Grade II-listed Victorian structure. In February 2023, Rhys Jones was named president of the relaunched Campaign, an unprecedented coalition including Save Britain's Heritage and the Twentieth Century Society, against Herzog & de Meuron's £1.5 billion plan to erect 16-storey office and hotel towers atop the station. He described the scheme as "exploitative" and likely to "smother" the station's historic roofline and light, urging a "massive public outcry" to halt it on heritage and sustainability grounds, noting the demolition of viable structures contradicted environmental goals. The campaign hosted a public meeting in November 2023 and continued advocacy into 2025, emphasizing over destructive overbuilding. Rhys Jones similarly critiqued commercial redevelopment in October 2022 during a planning inquiry into Marks & Spencer's proposal to demolish and rebuild its store, a 1930s landmark. He contended that the retailer failed to imaginatively adapt the existing building, favoring demolition despite viable preservation options. In broader commentary, Rhys Jones has argued for balancing development with heritage, stating in a 2018 that good from any era warrants protection, while expressing surprise at ongoing antipathy toward Victorian styles amid their historical significance. He reinforced this in 2025 discussions, positioning heritage advocates as "builders of the future" who enable growth through preservation rather than obstruction. As president, he annually highlights development threats via Top Ten Endangered Buildings lists, such as the 2024 edition featuring at-risk structures like a I-era school.

Personal Life and Views

Family and Relationships

Griff Rhys Jones married Frances Harris, a , in 1981 following their meeting at a party in London's in 1980. Their was intimate, attended by only 12 guests. The couple has two children: a son, George, born around 1985 and working as an , and a , Catherine, born around 1987 and employed as a jewellery designer. As of 2023, George and Catherine had produced grandchildren for Rhys Jones and his wife. The family divides its time between a home in and a property in .

Lifestyle Choices and Health

Griff Rhys Jones has maintained for over 40 years, abstaining from alcohol since contracting in the early 1980s, when medical advice prohibited drinking for a year to allow liver recovery; he opted not to resume consumption thereafter. This choice followed a scare that underscored the risks of resuming prior habits, aligning with his broader emphasis on in personal conduct. Regarding diet, Jones has described himself as perpetually since around age 30, acknowledging a tendency to overeat—"like a fat "—while practicing to manage weight. His routine often involves black in the morning, sometimes skipping solid until lunch, reflecting elements. In April 2023, he underwent a cholesterol-related scan after , indicating ongoing vigilance for cardiovascular risks associated with age and dietary history. Jones has publicly endorsed bowel , highlighting its simplicity and effectiveness in early detection during a 2018 Cancer Research UK campaign. No verified reports detail regular exercise regimens or other specific health interventions, though his advocacy reflects awareness of preventive measures. At age 70 in 2023, he articulated a "**** it list" prioritizing avoidance of high-risk or unappealing activities over adventurous pursuits.

Political and Cultural Perspectives

Griff Rhys Jones has voiced opposition to high marginal tax rates on property owners, stating in a November 2014 interview that he was considering emigrating from the if the Labour Party implemented its proposed on high-value residences, which he viewed as punitive toward successful individuals. This stance echoed sentiments from other public figures critical of redistributive policies perceived as deterring wealth retention in the UK. In political commentary, Rhys Jones expressed initial openness to Boris Johnson's premiership in a 2020 discussion, reflecting a pragmatic rather than ideological alignment, though he later engaged in public disputes over projects favored by Johnson's administration, such as the of , which he described as "harmful" and architecturally destructive. By May 2025, he advocated for local resistance to unchecked urban development, supporting "NIMBYs" (those opposing projects in their immediate vicinity) and "HIMBYs" (favoring appropriate builds) as necessary checks against policies promoting rapid housebuilding at the expense of community character, directly countering Keir Starmer's emphasis on overriding local objections to meet housing targets. On cultural matters, Rhys Jones has critiqued the erosion of traditional comedic freedoms, admitting in November 2020 that he "hates" the politicization of humor through enforced sensitivity, which he argued stifles authentic expression and makes audiences overly prone to offense. He has decried "public shaming" and "mob sanctimoniousness" in response to dissenting opinions, positioning such dynamics as antithetical to open discourse. His for architectural preservation, including leadership against proposals to "smother" historic sites like Liverpool Street under modern overlays, underscores a preference for retaining tangible over utilitarian modernization, expressing surprise at prevailing disdain for Victorian-era structures. These positions reflect a broader defense of established British cultural norms against rapid ideological or developmental shifts.

Controversies and Criticisms

Tax Policy Opposition

In November 2014, Griff Rhys Jones expressed strong opposition to the Labour Party's proposed , a levy targeting properties valued over £2 million, stating it would impose a "colossal" financial burden on him as the owner of a large home in . He described the policy as "fatuous" and primarily aimed at foreign buyers who had inflated property prices, yet argued it unfairly penalized long-term British residents like himself who had invested in and maintained such properties. Rhys Jones threatened to emigrate, claiming he would purchase a "massive palace" abroad to avoid the tax, joining other public figures such as who voiced similar concerns ahead of the 2015 . He emphasized that his current payment to Camden Council was approximately £2,641 annually, contrasting it with the potentially much higher liability on his "gigantic" residence. Labour's plan, modeled loosely on Liberal Democrat proposals from 2010 suggesting a rate of about 1% on values above the threshold, was criticized by Rhys Jones for discouraging domestic in upkeep and restoration, aligning with his broader advocacy for heritage preservation. The proposal did not materialize following Labour's defeat in the May 2015 election, sparing Rhys Jones the immediate fiscal impact he anticipated. His comments drew backlash from some commentators, who accused him of fiscal ingratitude given the UK's relatively low effective property taxation compared to capital gains exemptions on primary residences, but Rhys Jones maintained that the policy represented punitive overreach rather than fair revenue generation. No further public stances on specific tax policies, such as , have been prominently attributed to him in subsequent years.

Heritage Advocacy Backlash

Griff Rhys Jones has faced accusations of NIMBYism ("not in my back yard") for his campaigns against projects that he argues desecrate rural landscapes, prioritizing heritage preservation over rapid green energy deployment. In , he criticized government subsidies for wind farms and solar arrays as enabling "random desecration" of pristine countryside without sufficient , prompting backlash from environmental advocates who portrayed his stance as elitist obstructionism favoring scenic views over climate imperatives. A notable instance occurred in 2013 when Jones opposed a £20 million solar farm proposed near his home, leading to media depictions of him as a "celebrity curmudgeon" resisting local development for personal benefit, despite his broader advocacy for regulated infrastructure planning. Critics, including outlets aligned with green policies, argued such positions hinder national net-zero goals by delaying essential projects in rural areas where urban alternatives are limited. In urban heritage battles, such as his leadership of the Liverpool Street Station Campaign against Network Rail's tower block proposals starting in 2022, Jones encountered pushback from developers and some policymakers who contend that stringent preservation blocks necessary modernization and housing amid London's shortages. Pro-development voices have labeled his efforts, including calls for public outcry against "exploitative" schemes, as sentimental resistance to progress that exacerbates infrastructure bottlenecks. Jones has countered these criticisms by reframing NIMBYism as responsible , advocating for "HIMBY" (heritage in my back yard) approaches that balance conservation with , as expressed in 2025 discussions on local planning. He maintains that unchecked projects often prioritize commercial interests over long-term environmental and cultural value, citing examples like the potential overshadowing of .

Commentary on Political Correctness

Griff Rhys Jones has critiqued the rise of political correctness, particularly its constraining effects on comedy and cultural expression. In a November 2020 appearance on Steph's Packed Lunch, he expressed disdain for the trend, stating, "there is quite a move to put some legalisation in to do something about that and I just hate it," before humorously adding, "NO, I'm not allowed to say I hate anything am I?" He linked this to broader societal sensitivities making audiences "easily offended," which he believes complicates comedic work compared to earlier eras. Reflecting on his career in a 2023 , Rhys Jones contrasted the freer creative environment of his early days with contemporary norms, remarking, "Everything was much easier when I started out; we weren't politically correct." He voiced relief at distancing himself from modern practices like sensitivity readers scrutinizing every word in manuscripts, citing the posthumous editing of Roald Dahl's books to excise terms deemed offensive as emblematic of excessive caution that prioritizes avoidance of discomfort over original intent. Rhys Jones has noted the personal implications of these shifts, stating he has "never been cancelled" but has received fewer invitations from the in recent years, implying a subtle professional disincentive for non-conformist voices. His commentary underscores a preference for unfiltered humor akin to his work on , which he defends against suggestions of obsolescence due to dated content, arguing it merits revival without .

Awards, Honors, and Legacy

Recognitions and Achievements

Griff Rhys Jones was appointed Officer of the (OBE) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to drama, the National Civic Society Movement, and charity. This recognition highlighted his contributions to heritage preservation through organizations like Civic Voice and his long-standing involvement in comedic and dramatic arts. In theatre, Rhys Jones received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance in 1984 for his role in Charley's Aunt at the National Theatre. He won the same award again in 1994 for An Absolute Turkey. These accolades underscored his versatility in comedic stage roles, drawing from his early career in and . For television work, Rhys Jones earned the Award for Best Presenter in 2014 for A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones, a series exploring Welsh landscapes and history. His collaborative series also secured an International Emmy Award in 1987. Additionally, he received British Comedy Awards in 1990 for Wilt and in 1991 as Top Entertainment Performer. Rhys Jones holds multiple honorary degrees, including a from in 2004 for contributions to television, film , and theatre; from the in 2010; and from the and the . He was awarded an honorary fellowship by in 2013. On radio, his series Do Go On won a Radio Award prize in the category.

Cultural Impact and Recent Work

Griff Rhys Jones's contributions to British comedy have left a lasting mark through his involvement in satirical sketch shows that challenged establishment narratives during the late 1970s and 1980s. His work on Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982), alongside performers like and , pioneered a sharp, irreverent style of topical satire that influenced subsequent , though Rhys Jones has noted the BBC's tendency to underemphasize its groundbreaking role in historical retrospectives. The partnership with Smith extended to (1984–1998), which drew audiences of up to 12 million viewers per episode at its peak, embedding character-driven sketches into mainstream television culture. Beyond performance, Rhys Jones co-founded Talkback Productions in 1982, which grew into a major independent producer responsible for over 20,000 hours of programming, including innovative series like (1994) and (2000–2004), thereby shaping the landscape of British television comedy and factual entertainment. His advocacy for heritage preservation, as president of Civic Voice and vice-president of since the early 2000s, has amplified public discourse on urban development, exemplified by his leadership in the 2023 campaign against the redevelopment of , which mobilized community opposition to large-scale commercial alterations. In recent years, Rhys Jones has sustained his career across television, , and live performance. His 2025 travel documentary series Griff's Great American South explores cultural and historical facets of the U.S. , continuing his tradition of on-location presenting seen in earlier works like Griff's (2016–2017). He assumed the role of in the stage revival of I'm Sorry, Prime Minister, opening at the Apollo in London's West End on January 30, 2026, following a successful regional run, marking a return to satirical political comedy rooted in the original series. Additionally, Rhys Jones launched the second leg of his stand-up tour in September 2025, featuring autobiographical anecdotes from his five-decade career, with performances scheduled through major venues.

Works

Filmography

Griff Rhys Jones began his screen acting career in the late 1970s with on television before transitioning to feature s in the . His film roles often featured comedic or character parts, drawing on his background in and .
YearTitleRole
1985Graham Sweetley
1989WiltHenry Wilt
1992Touchstone
1996Tino
1998Up 'n' UnderRay Mason
2000Taliesin JonesPrincipal Caesar
2002Col. Stokes
2005Riot at the RiteGabriel Astruc
2017Charles Harker
2022Gangsta Granny Strikes Again!Mr. Parker
In television, Rhys Jones co-starred in the BBC sketch series (1979–1982), performing various characters alongside , , and . He then led the comedy partnership series (1982–1998) with , again in multiple roles including sketches and narrative segments. Guest appearances include Demob (1993) as Ian Deasey, Mine All Mine (2004) as Max Vivaldi, (2006) in "The Moving Finger," (2009) as an episode guest, and (2021) in "The Sting of Death."

Theatre Credits

Rhys Jones began performing on stage in the late 1980s and 1990s, taking leading roles in West End productions including An Absolute Turkey, Trumpets and Raspberries, , and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.
  • He originated the role of Toad in Alan Bennett's adaptation of at the National Theatre's Olivier auditorium, with performances commencing on 1 December 1990.
  • Rhys Jones directed for the Royal Shakespeare Company, with the press night on 24 April 1991 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in .
  • From 10 December 1997 to 28 February 1998, he played Hildy Johnson in at the .
  • He portrayed in the revival of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal from December 2009 through January 2011, earning an Olivier Award for in a Musical.
  • In , Rhys Jones played Harpagon during its West End run at the from 1 March to 10 June 2017, following a pre-London tour.
  • He starred as in a semi-staged production of with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra at the Lyceum Theatre on 10 and 17 December 2018.
  • In 2022, Rhys Jones appeared opposite as the husband in An Hour and a Half Late, a about marital discord, during a UK tour that included dates at Richmond Theatre (28 February–5 March), Eastbourne Theatres (7–12 March), Malvern Theatres (14–19 March), Theatre Royal (21–26 March), and Cambridge Arts Theatre (4–9 April).

Bibliography

  • To the Baltic with Bob: An Epic Misadventure. Michael Joseph. 2003.
  • Semi-Detached. Michael Joseph. 2006. (Note: Paperback edition by Penguin, 2007.)
  • Rivers: A Voyage into the Heart of Britain. . 2009.
  • Insufficiently Welsh. Parthian Books. 2014.
Rhys Jones has also edited or introduced several poetry anthologies associated with BBC polls:
  • The Nation's Favourite Poems. . 1996.
  • The Nation's Favourite: Twentieth Century Poems. . 1996.
  • Nation's Favourite: Comic Poems. . 1998 (reprinted by Penguin, 2012).

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