Citing ‘unforeseen personal circumstances’

Griff Rhys Jones has pulled his stand-up tour, citing ‘unforeseen personal circumstances’.

The comic was due to perform 23 dates of his latest tour, The Cat's Pyjamas, starting in Hemel Hempstead Old Town Hall on May 12.

However, the tour, in which he was due to share ‘witty observations and rambling comic stories’, many triggered from audience questions, has now been put off until 2024.

His spokesperson told Chortle:  ‘Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, we regret to announce that Griff Rhys Jones is having to postpone his tour. Griff sends his sincere apologies and looks forward to seeing you all next year.’

In an interview to promote the tour at the weekend, the comedian reflected on the fact he will turn 70 in November,

'Being 60 was such a shock. 70? It's going to be an absolute disaster!' he told the Daily Mail. 'But my mother's 98 so I could squeeze in another 30 years. My wife's mother Pat is 100. Completely compos mentis. 100 is the new 70! 70 is the new 50!’

And he spoke about being sober for 40 years, recalling on the wild nights out he used to have with Mel Smith.

‘He was inexhaustible. He partied until, unfortunately, he could Party no more, he said of his comedy partner who died, aged 60, in 2013,

‘He’d go to the Groucho Club, then on somewhere else, then a group of us would go to his place and watch The Godfather for the 500th time, then everyone would stagger home at 5am. I thought, "This is amazing," but after about three months you think, "I just can't keep up with this rock 'n' roll lifestyle." Shortly after, I gave up drinking altogether.’

Rhys Jones is currently heading a campaign to fight against the £1.5billion redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station in London,

The blurb for his Cat's Pyjamas tours promised: ‘Questions and improvised interaction with the audience mean the show varies from night to night. And takes him from adventures, holidays, dog sitting, burning boats, drink and anger-management, to meetings with rock celebrities and royalty. Wherever his associations wander.’

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Published: 25 Apr 2023