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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 wins a Bafta

Comic honoured for his cancer doucmentary A Pain In The Neck

Rhod Gilbert has won a Bafta for the moving documentary he made about his cancer treatment.

The comic was named best presenter at the Welsh Baftas last night for his brutal and honest Channel 4 show A Pain In The Neck.

After the award was announced, the comic took to social media to thank the team who made and commissioned the show, who ‘kindly and, in my opinion, foolishly, agreed to film my cancer journey without knowing what the outcome would be. I hope this award goes some way to vindicating our stupidity.’

‘I’m sorry I could not be there to accept the award in person. But I am somewhere, alive, thanks to the wonderful love and support of my wife Sian, my friends, family, agent Charlotte, the incredible care at Velindre cancer centre and the NHS more generally. I owe you all everything.’

Gilbert’s wife, the comedy writer Sian Harries posted on X: ‘When Rhod started filming this doc (just on his phone to begin with) after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, I thought he was mad as we had quite enough going on. Then I saw how focussing on informing others was helping him get through it & now I’m so, so proud of him.’

The comedian was a patron and leading fundraiser for the Velindre centre in Cardiff and later joked: 'Imagine my surprise when I was diagnosed with cancer because I thought I'd have lifelong immunity.’

In October, the 55-year-old received his first clear scan after undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer of the head and neck, and he discusses his experiences in his current stand-up show Rhod Gilbert And The Giant Grapefruit.

Three years ago, Gilbert won a Bafta Cymru award presenter for Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience, which scooped the accolade for best factual series too.

Veteran Welsh stand-up Max Boyce also took away a gong last night as the BBC tribute Max Boyce At 80 was named best entertainment programme.

» Our review of Rhod Gilbert: A Pain In The Neck

Published: 21 Oct 2024