Swansea -born John Sparks began his working life at Lloyds bank in Mumbles. After becoming an English teacher, he turned to comedy in the 1980s, when he moved to London and became an established performer in the first years of London’s alternative cabaret circuit alongside Alexi Sayle, Jo Brand, Paul Merton and Rick Mayall.

Around this time he started appearing as Siadwel on BBC Two’s Naked Video, where his most enduring characters were Siadwel the miserable Welsh poet. He wrote and appeared in four series of Absolutely for Channel 4, where he introduced the world to the disgusting Frank Hovis, followed by six series of Barry Welsh is Coming for ITV Wales and Pub Quiz for BBC Wales.

In 2004 John made his debut as the narrator on Peppa Pig.