Rob Brydon: An unassuming local star
Rob Brydon, the Welsh actor and comedian, renowned for his roles in Gavin & Stacey, The Trip and as the host of Would I Lie to You? loves life in Strawberry Hill – an antidote to his hectic career
Rob Brydon once said: ‘I live in Strawberry Hill, a desolate, barren no-man’s-land between Twickenham and Teddington…’ Despite the jest, he has a genuine appreciation for the area, having lived here for many years with his wife, producer Clare Holland, and their two sons.
He enjoys family outings to Bushy Park, the farmers’ market in Richmond, walks along the river to Teddington Lock and standing at his favourite viewpoint in Richmond Park, always taken by the ‘view of St Paul’s Cathedral from King Henry VIII’s Mound’. And he’s been spotted enjoying the occasional meal at A Cena in East Twickenham. A truly unassuming local star.
But if his early upbringing in the village of Baglan, near Port Talbot, wasn’t necessarily a sign of things to come, his school life was littered with other future celebrities. He was one year behind Eddie Izzard at his first school; Catherine Zeta-Jones was a fellow pupil at his second; and at the third was his future Gavin and Stacey’ co-star Ruth Jones, where they became members of the school’s theatre group.
It didn’t take long for Brydon – and others – to realise his interest in the arts. The presenter, actor, comedian and podcast host studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and began his career in radio aged 20, where he narrated radio shows, adverts and animated films. But fame wasn’t always within easy reach. According to his audiobook, Small Man in a Book, released in 2011, he ‘very, very slowly became an overnight success despite years of misadventure and struggle’.
Rise to fame
It was after a series of bit parts in films, including Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, that Brydon teamed up with Steve Coogan’s production company, Baby Cow, for his first significant venture, the black comedy series Human Remains. This won him Best TV Actor at the British Comedy Awards. But it was the mockumentary series Marion and Geoff in 2000 that kickstarted his TV career.
However, Brydon recalls: ‘When I had my first success, it did coincide with the end of my first marriage and, because I went on to have a very, very unhappy two years, I don’t think I equate career success with personal happiness.’
He has three children from his first marriage and two with his second wife, Clare Holland, whom he married in 2006.
Perhaps Brydon’s most notable role is that of Bryn West in the sitcom Gavin and Stacey, for which he received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Comedy Performance. Since 2009 he has presented the BBC One comedy panel show Would I Lie to You?’ He even popped up in Hollywood blockbuster Barbie.
His stand-up shows have sold out around the UK and, following on from his 2024 Rob Brydon and His Fabulous Band Tour, he’ll be back later this year with Rob Brydon and His Fabulous Band: A Night of Festive Songs and Laughter.
Off on his travels
Awarded an MBE in 2013, Brydon, who turned 60 in May, is always looking for the next challenge. And it won’t be long before he’s back on our TV screens, hosting new a brand new show, Destination X – the second collaboration between NBC and the BBC after The Traitors.
This larger-than-life travel adventure competition merges fantasy with reality, with contestants embarking on the road trip of a lifetime – but with no idea where they are. They must figure out their mystery locations and once on the blacked-out Destination X bus, the journey transforms into a real-life board game with challenges offering clues as to their location – along with a few misdirects.
At the end of each episode, the contestants must guess where they are and the furthest from the actual location will leave the competition. The first player to reach Destination X will win a cash prize.
Said Brydon: ‘How could I turn down the opportunity to become mastermind of Destination X, the thrilling new adventure series? I can’t wait to be the puppet master orchestrating every twist and turn as our contestants are taken on a journey where everything is not as it seems. It’s going to be a wild ride.’
Image: ©BBC/Zeppotron, an Endemol Shine Company/Brian J Ritchie
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