Rob Brydon
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Rob Brydon was born in Swansea, South Wales in 1965, and grew up in Baglan near Port Talbot. He moved to Porthcawl and took a keen interest in acting at his school Porthcawl Comprehensive. After he left school Brydon started a three-year drama course in Cardiff, but left during his second year to become a radio presenter for BBC Wales.
I met Rob Brydon outside the stage door at Nottingham's Royal Centre, after his show in March 2009.
He signed two photos for me and was very friendly, chatting for a long time to the group of us who were waiting to see him.
After six years in local TV and radio, Brydon left Cardiff for London, finding work as a voice over artist on animations and commercials. When he won the role of the traffic warden in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), he became inspired to make a short video of his own comic creations which he called Rob Brydon - An Extremely Unlucky Traffic Warden. It is notable for a dim, yet
chatted to a camera fixed to the dashboard. So was born the character of Keith Barret who, in 2000, featured in six ten-minute
cheery, Cardiff cabbie who simply
Rob Brydon's character Keith Barret
Rob Brydon as Keith Barret in
Marion and Geoff
In 2000 Rob Brydon had teamed up with Julia Davis in six dark and disturbing mock-documentaries called Human Remains. Each of the six separate, and very different, playlets showed British life
behind the net curtains, and won Brydon yet another British Comedy Award, this time for Best Television Comedy Actor.
Brydon & Julia Davis in Human Remains
Brydon & Julia Davis in Human Remains
Since then he has played Peter de Lane in seven episodes of Directors Commentary (2004); Roman Devere in 5 episodes of the comedy series Little Britain (2005); starred as Dr Paul Hamilton, the British astronomer who moves to
and fronted twelve episodes of Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive (2006-07), a hilarious panel show with Brydon very much the impressionist as he impersonates many other TV personalities.
Australia in twelve episodes of the
sitcom Supernova (2005-06)
Rob Brydon and David Walliams
in Little Britain
Rob Brydon in Supernova
Rob Brydon in Annually Retentive
In 2008 came 14 episodes of probably Brydon's best series yet Gavin & Stacey. Gavin (Mathew Horne) is an Essex boy and Stacey (Joanna Page) i
is a receptionist from Barry Island, whose relationship begins over the phone when they are at work. The cast also includes Alison Steadman as Pam, Ruth Jones as Nessa, co-writer James Corden as Smithy. Rob Brydon stars
Rob Brydon has signed this photo to me
as Bryn West, Stacey's very protective uncle.
stars
Rob Brydon, Melanie Walters,Ruth Jones &
Mathew Horne in Gavin & Stacey
Rob Brydon & James Corden
in Gavin & Stacey
Rob Brydon in Gavin & Stacey
On the big screen, Brydon has appeared with Steve Coogan in the feature films 24 Hour Party People (2002) and A Cock and Bull Story (2005), based on the novel Tristram Shandy.
Rob Brydon and Gillian Anderson in
A Cock and Bull Story
Brydon's many guest appearances on radio have included Just a Minute and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue in which he often impersonates the singer Tom Jones!
On TV he is a popular guest on Stephen Fry's comedy panel game QI. On one occasion Brydon appeared alongside his real-life lookalike, the comedian Ben Miller, which resulted in the two of them kissing!!
Rob Brydon and Ben Miller on QI
Rob Brydon is married to his second wife, Claire Holland, a former producer on the South Bank Show. They have a son born in 2008. Brydon also has 3 children from his first marriage.
Rob Brydon impersonates Tom Jones!
Rob Brydon on QI
Rob & Clare Brydon
Rob Brydon signed this photo for me
Rob Brydon
VIDEOS
minute shorts entitled Marion and Geoff. Keith only sees the bright side of life despite his separation from his wife Marion, who left him for her work colleague, Geoff. Keith shares his thoughts with his cab camera! Marion and Geoff won Brydon a 'Best Television Comedy Newcomer' award at the British Comedy Awards. Brydon took Keith on tour in 2003 with the one-man show Making Divorce Work, whilst in 2004 the cabbie got his own chat show The Keith Barret
Barret Show, thirteen episodes in which Keith offers advice about relationship problems!