Rob Brydon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rob Brydon MBE
Brydon at the 2009 EG Awards
Born	Robert Brydon Jones (1965-05-03) 3 May 1965 (age 60) Baglan, Glamorgan, Wales
Education	Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Occupation	Actor comedian impressionist presenter singer writer
Years active	1985–present
Known for	Full list
Spouse(s)	Martina Fitchie ​ ​ (m. 1992; div. 2000)​ Clare Holland ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	5

Robert Brydon Jones (born 3 May 1965) is a Welsh actor, comedian, and TV presenter. He is also known as an impressionist, singer, and writer. Rob Brydon became famous for his roles in movies, TV shows, and radio.

In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II made him a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This was to honor his work in comedy and broadcasting, and for his charity efforts.

Brydon became well-known for his parts in the TV series Human Remains (2000) and Marion and Geoff (2000–2003). He also starred in The Keith Barret Show (2004–2005) and Supernova (2005–2006). From 2007 to 2024, he played Bryn West in the BBC show Gavin & Stacey. For this role, he was nominated for a BAFTA Award.

He has worked with Steve Coogan on several BBC shows and movies. These include 24 Hour Party People (2002) and A Cock and Bull Story (2005). Brydon and Coogan also starred in The Trip (2010) and its follow-ups: The Trip to Italy (2014), The Trip to Spain (2017), and The Trip to Greece (2020). He has also appeared in films like Cinderella (2015), The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016), Holmes & Watson (2019), and Barbie (2023).

Since 2009, Brydon has hosted the BBC One comedy panel show Would I Lie to You?. Before that, he hosted a fictional panel show called Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive from 2006 to 2007. He also hosted his own chat show, The Rob Brydon Show, for two years. In 2014, he hosted the game show The Guess List for BBC One.

Early Life and School Days

Rob Brydon was born on 3 May 1965 in Baglan, Glamorgan, Wales. His mother, Joy Jones, was a school teacher. His father, Howard Jones, was a car dealer. Rob grew up in Baglan with his younger brother, Peter.

Brydon went to two private schools: St. John's School in Porthcawl and Dumbarton House School in Swansea. He then attended Porthcawl Comprehensive School. There, he met Ruth Jones, who he later worked with on Gavin & Stacey. They were both part of the school's youth theatre group.

Brydon has shared that his favorite comedians when he was a child were Barry Humphries, Frankie Howerd, and Woody Allen. He also used to learn entire comedy routines by heart from Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, and Peter Sellers.

Career Highlights

Starting in Radio (1982–1999)

Brydon studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff. He left after a year to join BBC Radio Wales when he was 20. He worked as a disc jockey on Saturday morning shows.

Between 1992 and 1994, he was the main presenter of Rave on Radio Wales. This show was a youth magazine and music program for BBC Radio 5. He later developed his Marion and Geoff story from this time. In 1994 and 1995, Brydon appeared in many episodes of the comedy show Satellite City.

Brydon also did voice-over work for TV adverts. He voiced characters for computer games like Discworld and Discworld Noir. He also provided voices for animated films such as The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, and Room on the Broom.

Becoming a TV Star (2000–2009)

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

In 2000, Rob Brydon became a big name in TV comedy. He co-wrote and starred in two BBC series. One was Human Remains, which he wrote with Julia Davis. From 2000 to 2003, he starred in the BBC mockumentary Marion and Geoff. In this show, Brydon played Keith Barret, a kind taxi driver going through a divorce.

From 2004 to 2005, Brydon starred in The Keith Barret Show. This was a funny fake chat show on the BBC. In 2006, he made fun of comedy panel shows like QI and Mock the Week in the BBC Three series Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive.

Michael Winterbottom (left), Steve Coogan (middle), and Rob Brydon (right) in 2005

In 2005, he played a version of himself in the British comedy A Cock and Bull Story. He starred opposite Steve Coogan. Their unscripted conversations were a very funny part of the movie.

From 2007 to 2010, Brydon became very popular for his role as Uncle Bryn in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey. He starred with Matthew Horne, Joanna Page, and James Corden. In 2009, Brydon was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Comedy Performance as Bryn.

Since 2009, Brydon has hosted the game show Would I Lie to You?. He also appeared as a guest on the show before becoming the host. Brydon has also hosted an episode of Have I Got News for You.

His character, Bryn West, in Gavin & Stacey was written by Ruth Jones and James Corden. This role allowed him to connect with his Welsh background. In 2009, Brydon, as Bryn, sang the charity song "(Barry) Islands in the Stream" for Comic Relief. He sang it with Ruth Jones (as her character) and singer Tom Jones. The song reached number one in the UK music charts.

The Trip and Other Roles (2010–Present)

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014

Between 2010 and 2020, Brydon starred with Steve Coogan in the BBC Two series The Trip. In this show, both actors played funny versions of themselves. Brydon's character was optimistic and always ready to do an impression. Coogan's character was more serious. They continued their roles in the films The Trip to Italy (2014), The Trip to Spain (2017), and The Trip to Greece (2020). Critics loved these films, calling them both funny and touching.

Rob Brydon's book, Small Man in a Book, was published in 2011. The title is a play on his famous "small-man-in-a-box" impression. In 2009 and 2010, Brydon went on his first stand-up comedy tour in the UK.

In 2015, he had a small role as Master Phineus in the movie Cinderella. In 2016, he played Gryff in The Huntsman: Winter's War. That same year, he voiced many characters in the animated series Revolting Rhymes. This show was nominated for an Academy Award. In 2018, he played Inspector Lestrade in the comedy movie Holmes & Watson. He also voiced characters in the animated film Early Man (2018).

In 2021, he narrated The Chasers Road Trip: Trains, Brains and Automobiles. He also voiced The Crow in Superworm alongside Olivia Colman. In 2022, he voiced the Pied Piper in The Amazing Maurice. In 2023, he had a short role as Sugar Daddy Ken in the movie Barbie.

Personal Life

Rob Brydon was married to Martina Fitchie from 1992 to 2000. They had two daughters and a son.

On 6 October 2006, Brydon married Clare Holland. She used to be a producer for The South Bank Show. They live in Strawberry Hill in London and have two sons.

Rob Brydon loves golf and is a big fan of the Swansea City football team. He is also an ambassador for their 1912 foundation.

Filmography

Key

Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Television

Radio

Awards and Recognition

Rob Brydon was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. This is where he studied earlier in his life. In 2013, he was given the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This was for his great work in comedy and broadcasting, and for his charity efforts.

Music

Singles

Images for kids

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  Rob Brydon at the 2009 EG Awards

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

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  Michael Winterbottom (left), Steve Coogan (middle), and Rob Brydon (right) in 2005

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  Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014

See also

In Spanish: Rob Brydon para niños