Griff Rhys Jones
A former member of the prestigious Cambridge Footlights Club (of which he became Vice-President in 1976), Griff Rhys Jones’ career took off after university when he began to appear in numerous comedy programmes, initially alongside Clive Anderson.
Griff later became a member on the 1980’s sketch show Not The Nine O’clock News, alongside Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith and Pamela Stephenson.
In 1982, Griff and Mel produced their own series for BBC Alas Smith and Jones, which ran for 6 years. The series followed in the footsteps of Not the Nine O’clock News in its use of taboo-breaking material and sketches in questionable taste and also featured the famous head-to-head 'duologues' between Smith and Jones.
The series then continued until 1995 as simply Smith and Jones.
In 2006 Smith and Jones returned with "The Smith and Jones Sketchbook", recorded in front of a live audience acting as a look back at their earlier shows. Griff can also be seen presenting the BBC's Restoration programme.
Apart from comedy, Griff is a recognised actor and director and has directed and appeared in countless stage productions including Charlie’s Aunt at The Lyric, Hammersmith; An Absolute Turkey at The Globe Theatre, The Front Page at The Donmar Warehouse, The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui at the Queens Theatre, Trumpets And Raspberries at The Phoenix Theatre and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at The Covent Garden Festival.
Griff later became a member on the 1980’s sketch show Not The Nine O’clock News, alongside Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith and Pamela Stephenson.
In 1982, Griff and Mel produced their own series for BBC Alas Smith and Jones, which ran for 6 years. The series followed in the footsteps of Not the Nine O’clock News in its use of taboo-breaking material and sketches in questionable taste and also featured the famous head-to-head 'duologues' between Smith and Jones.
The series then continued until 1995 as simply Smith and Jones.
In 2006 Smith and Jones returned with "The Smith and Jones Sketchbook", recorded in front of a live audience acting as a look back at their earlier shows. Griff can also be seen presenting the BBC's Restoration programme.
Apart from comedy, Griff is a recognised actor and director and has directed and appeared in countless stage productions including Charlie’s Aunt at The Lyric, Hammersmith; An Absolute Turkey at The Globe Theatre, The Front Page at The Donmar Warehouse, The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui at the Queens Theatre, Trumpets And Raspberries at The Phoenix Theatre and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at The Covent Garden Festival.