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Griff Rhys Jones

Date of birth:

Griff Rhys Jones started comedy with the Cambridge Footlights, and after graduated joined BBC Radio Light Entertainment as a trainee producer. He had several roles in the first series of Not The Nine O’Clock News in 1979, and took over from Chris Langham as a permanent cast member from the second series.

On the show he formed a partnership with Mel Smith, which led to their own sketch show Alas Smith and Jones. They also established TV company Talkback Productions, which they sold for £62 million.

Jones has also presented travelogues; starred in Three Men In A Boat and its sequels alongside old friends Rory McGrath and Dara O Briain; presented It’ll Be Alright on the Night since 2008; and acted in shows such as Agatha Christie’s Marple.

On the West End stage he played Fagin in Oliver! from 2009 to 2011 and has won two Olivier awards for best comedy performance, a decade apart: for Charley’s Aunt in 1984 and An Absolute Turkey in 1994. He also appeared as Toad in The Wind in the Willows at the National Theatre in 1990.

When Smith and Jones played Live Aid

...not that Mel was in any way impressed

comedy It has gone down as one of the best performances in rock history.

But what’s often forgotten about Queen’s appearance at Live Aid is that it was introduced by comedians Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, dressed as policemen.

In an article to mark the 40th anniversary of that landmark gig, Jones said that even his own children don’t believe he was there, writing that even after showing them the footage from Wembley Stadium, ‘they were not particularly impressed and thought it was an AI fake’.

He also revealed that his double-act partner did not exactly appreciate the significance of the occasion, writing in The Oldie that Mel ‘turned up a little late and asked me to give him something to say’.

And after their performance, Smith watched for a few minutes before sighing: ‘I’m off.’

Jones tried to persuade him to stay, pointing out it was the greatest concert ever. ‘I had actually skipped my son’s christening to be there,’ he said.

‘Yes, but I’ve got a horse running in Doncaster,’ Smith said – and skedaddled.

Jones also recalled the supportive words of promoter Harvey Goldsmith as they we about to go on to the stage: ‘Keep it fucking short.’