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Rhod Gilbert

A former market researcher, Carmarthen-born Rhod Gilbert began his comedy career in 2002, after taking a stand-up course. That year he made the finals of the So You Think You're Funny? talent hunt at the Edinburgh Fringe, and in the next 12 months won the BBC New Comedy Award, the Paramount Gift Of The Gag competition and the Leicester Comedy Festival comedian of the year title. He was also a Chortle Award nominee for best new act, and runner-up n the Hackney Empire New Act Of The Year contest.

He made his solo Edinburgh debut in 2005 with a show called 1984, describing the misery of growing up in the fictional Welsh town of Llanbobl, whihc was nominated for the Perrier best newcomer award. That year, he also won the Chortle award for best breakthrough act.

His 2008 Edinburgh show again caught the attention of judges and was nominated for the main if.comedy award. It lead to appearances on BBC One's Live at the Apollo stand-up showcase and the 80th Royal Variety Performance.

Gilbert has also appeared on Mock The Week, and he hosts a Saturday-morning show on BBC Radio Wales. In late 2008, he fronted a series of adverts to promote Welsh tourism.

Rhod Gilbert winds up his Giant Grapefruit tour

Final – fundraising – gigs to be recorded for release

Rhod Gilbert is to end his long-running tour show about his cancer treatment with two intimate performances in the Welsh Valleys that will be recorded for distribution.

The comic will have performed more than 140 dates of Rhod Gilbert And The Giant Grapefruit by the time he wraps up at the Treorchy Park & Dare Theatre in March next years.

Proceeds from these live shows will go to Velindre - the centre in Cardiff

that saved the comedian’s life after he was diagnosed with stage 4 head and neck cancer in 2022. He had been a supporter for more than a decade before he needed their services.

Gilbert said today: ‘It’s been an extraordinary two years. Taking this show on the road has been incredibly emotional, and I’ve been inspired by the people I’ve met in audiences up and down the country.

‘We’ve shared big laughs and moving stories, and I can’t think of a better way to round this all off than recording the show back in Wales in front of a home crowd. These two shows are a thank you to the NHS and to the fantastic Velindre Cancer Centre – to which I literally owe my life.’

Next year the comic will lead a fundraising trek to Sierra Nevada to raise money for Velindre, having previously led similar expeditions in Peru, Nepal, Patagonia, Cuba and Morocco. He has just returned from a 100km trek across Vietnam along with 53 other volunteers.

Tickets for the final gigs go on general sale at 10am tomorrow, priced £30.

Read our review of Rhod Gilbert And The Giant Grapefruit here.

Published: 9 Dec 2025