Rhod Gilbert - Stand up comedian

Welsh sensation Rhod Gilbert is one of the UK’s leading comedy talents. He has enjoyed many successful years as a star of television and radio and continues to uphold his esteemed reputation as a seasoned host, prolific writer and first-class live performer.

Since 2020, he has hosted four series of Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains for Comedy Central with special guests joining him on a trip down memory lane in a nostalgic, and frequently embarrassing celebration of teenage years. Previously, Rhod hosted three series of BBC Two’s hugely popular show You’re Fired: interviewing outgoing candidates and taking a light-hearted look at events in The Apprentice.  He regularly hosts Have I Got News For You? and hosted a series of BBC Two’s iconic music quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and two series of Ask Rhod Gilbert; his own panel show for BBC One.

Rhod has written and presented two very personal documentaries.  Rhod Gilbert: Stand Up To Shyness explored the huge impact that shyness has had had upon his life and was met with tremendous critical acclaim; earning nominations in the 2018 Bafta Cymru Awards for ‘Best Single Documentary’ and ‘Best Presenter’.  His second documentary was another subject close to his heart; Rhod Gilbert: Stand Up To Infertility, explored his own experiences with fertility issues, and the subject of male fertility in general.  The programme was nominated for ‘Best Single Documentary’ in the 2021 Bafta Cymru Awards. Rhod is now proudly working with the Fertility Network UK on an ongoing campaign to continue to raise awareness around the issue.

The hugely successful, long-running series Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience is now in its ninth series.  Rhod writes and presents the programmes, and as an Associate Producer is proudly involved in all aspects of the production.  The acclaimed series airs on BBC One in Wales, and BBC Two across the network. Along the way, Rhod has tried his hand at all manner of jobs from being a Binman in South Wales to Butler to a Lord, an RAF Fighter Pilot – and most recently, as a Care Worker.  Rhod has been awarded ‘Best Presenter’ and the series has scooped ‘Best Factual Series’ at the Bafta Cymru Awards; most recently in 2021.  

Rhod is a regular on hit panel shows Qi, Would I Lie To You? and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and has taken part in the Bafta-award winning series Taskmaster.  As a stand-up, he has performed on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Live At the Apollo – performing iconic stand-up sets and hosting twice. He has also had the honour of performing three times on The Royal Variety Performance.  

Further afield, Rhod embarked on a treacherous adventure through Nepal, teaming up with Greg Davies in World’s Most Dangerous Roads for BBC Two.  He later starred in, and produced Rhod Gilbert vs Kilimanjaro, which followed him leading a trek to Africa’s highest peak in aid of Velindre Cancer Centre.  There was no camera crew, and never any intention to broadcast the journey, but, as a special one-off feature, BBC One Wales transmitted the footage captured by Rhod and his companions on their extraordinary adventure.  Rhod continues to be a proud patron of Velindre and has since lead fundraising treks in Peru, Patagonia and Cuba. 

A natural and accomplished presenter, Rhod hosted his own weekly Saturday morning show for BBC Radio Wales from 2007 until 2019.  Blending music, comedy and idle banter, the show was renowned for its irreverent and ill-informed opinion.  After twelve very happy years Rhod stepped down from BBC Radio Wales to focus on his touring commitments. He has since launched a comedy podcast The Froth, alongside his comedy writer wife, Sian Harries.  Described as ‘Yesterday’s Non-News, Today’, each week, they focus forensically on frothy stuff; joined by special guests to chat nonsense in an antidote to the serious news cycle.  

On BBC Radio 2, Rhod has stepped in to host Steve Wright in The Afternoon, and has held the reins for both Graham Norton and Dermot O’Leary.  He hosted a one-off special: Rhod Gilbert’s New Year’s Resolutions which went out live on New Year’s Day.  Early in his career, Rhod wrote and recorded a full series for the station; Rhod Gilbert’s Bulging Barrel of Laughs.  Featuring regular guests, stand-up comedians and live music, the show was nominated for a prestigious Sony Radio Academy Award.  His early stand-up world was also depicted in a one-off sitcom; Rhod Gilbert’s Leaving Llanbobl.  

Rhod is truly cemented as one of the foremost touring acts in the country with several sold-out nationwide tours under his belt.  He was a sell-out sensation at the Edinburgh festival every year from 2005 – 2012 and has been invited to perform at every major international festival in the world.  His stand-up shows are best-sellers on DVD.  His debut live DVD – Rhod Gilbert & The Award-Winning Mince Pie – was released in 2009 and claimed the title for the year’s fastest selling debut stand-up DVD entering the stand-up chart at number 3. His second DVD – Rhod Gilbert & The Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst was released in 2010, and was followed by The Man With the Flaming Battenberg Tattoo in 2012. All three titles are available as a LIVE box set.

After a six-year hiatus, Rhod returned to stand-up in 2019 and is currently touring the UK with his highly-anticipated new show entitled The Book of John.  The show has been met with widespread critical acclaim and scooped an award for ‘Best Tour‘ in the 2020 Chortle Awards.  Rhod has already played over 200 dates nationwide, and extra dates have been added due to overwhelming demand. The show has been released on DVD and is available on digital download HERE.

“Darkly hilarious. Gilbert’s most satisfying show for a decade. It’s good to have him back”

Times
★★★★★ Independent

“Volcanic, high octane humour. Uproariously funny”

Guardian
★★★★★ Scotsman

“Britain’s crossest comic roars back in style. Hilarious tour-de-force”

Telegraph
★★★★★ Metro

“Without doubt one of the best comedians anywhere in the world”

Time Out
★★★★★ Chortle

“In comic terms he looks indomitable”

Guardian
★★★★★ Herald

“Comedy manna from heaven”

Independent
★★★★★ Daily Record

“A joy to behold”

Times
★★★★ Times

“A virtuoso performance…exhilarating, passionate and sparklingly funny”

Chortle
★★★★ Telegraph

“Exhilarating stand-up, misguided rage elevated to a sublime degree of storytelling …unflaggingly brilliant”

Scotsman

“Gilbert’s performance is powerhouse”

Metro
★★★★ Guardian

“Blistering tour-de-force”

Time Out

“Turbo-charged… magnificent”

Evening Standard

  • BEST PRESENTER WORK EXPERIENCE SERIES 9 - BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARDS 2021

  • BEST FACTUAL SERIES WORK EXPERIENCE SERIES 9 -BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARDS2021

  • BEST SINGLE DOCUMENTARY NOMINEE - STAND-UP TO INFERTILITY - BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARDS2021

  • BEST FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMEWORK EXPERIENCE SERIES 9 (CARE WORKER) - CELTIC MEDIA AWARDS 2021

  • BEST TOURTHE BOOK OF JOHN – CHORTLE AWARDS2020

  • BEST PRESENTER & BEST SINGLE DOCUMENTARY NOMINEE - BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARDS2018

  • BEST PRESENTERWORK EXPERIENCE SERIES 5 - BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARDS2015

  • BEST FACTUAL SERIESNOMINEE - WORK EXPERIENCE SERIES 5 - BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARDS2015

  • BEST PHOTOGRAPHYNOMINEE - WORK EXPERIENCE SERIES 5 – BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARDS2015

  • BEST FACTUAL PROGRAMMEWORK EXPERIENCE SERIES 5 - CELTIC MEDIA AWARDS2015

  • BEST FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENTWORK EXPERIENCE SERIES 2 -BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARDS 2012

  • BEST FACTUAL SERIES WORK EXPERIENCE SERIES 1 -BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARDS 2011

  • BEST COMEDYNOMINEE - SONY RADIO ACADEMY AWARDS2011

  • FUNNIEST TV PERSONALITYLOADED LAFTA AWARDS2011

  • BEST PANEL SHOW - ASK RHOD GILBERT LOADED LAFTA AWARDS2011

  • BEST DVDCHORTLE AWARDS2010

  • COMICS' COMICCHORTLE AWARDS2009

  • BEST HEADLINER CHORTLE AWARDS2009

  • BREAKTHROUGH ACT'NOMINEE - THE TIMES SOUTH BANK AWARD2009

  • BEST FULL SHOWNOMINEE - CHORTLE AWARDS2009

  • BEST COMEDY SHOWNOMINEE - IF.COMEDY AWARDS2008

  • COMIC OF THE YEARTIME OUT AWARDS 2008

  • BREAKTHROUGH ACTTIME OUT AWARDS2008

  • BEST SHOWTIME OUT AWARDS 2008

  • BEST HEADLINER NOMINEE - CHORTLE AWARDS2008

  • BEST RADIO PERSONALITY NOMINEE - CELTIC MEDIA AWARDS2008

  • TOP 50 COMEDIANS THE TIMES2006

  • TOP 50 ICONS: THE FACES OF COMEDY ROUGH GUIDE TO BRITISH CULT COMEDY2006

  • BEST NEWCOMERNOMINEE - PERRIER AWARDS2005

  • THE LIST / WRITERS GUILD AWARDNOMINEE2005

  • BEST BREAKTHROUGH ACTCHORTLE AWARDS2005

  • BBC NEW COMEDY AWARD BBC 2003

Edinburgh

  • RHOD GILBERT: THE BOOK OF JOHN10 nights only2019

  • RHOD GILBERT: WORK IN VERY VERY EARLY PROGRESS6 nights only2018

  • RHOD GILBERT: THE MAN WITH THE FLAMING BATTENBERG TATTOO2012

  • RHOD GILBERT & THE CAT THAT LOOKED LIKE NICHOLAS LYNDHURST8 nights only2010

  • RHOD GILBERT & THE CAT THAT LOOKED LIKE NICHOLAS LYNDHURST2009

  • RHOD GILBERT & THE AWARD-WINNING MINCE PIE2008

  • RHOD GILBERT: WHO'S EATEN GILBERT'S GRAPE?2007

  • RHOD GILBERT: KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR2006

  • RHOD GILBERT'S 19842005

  • STEREOCOMICS2004

  • THREE MEN AND A GIANT & THE BEST OF THE HACKNEY EMPIRE NEW ACT OF THE YEAR2003

International

  • MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVALKnocking on Heaven's Door2007

  • THE UN COMEDY FESTIVALJohannesburg, South Africa, UN Comedy Show2007

  • CAPE TOWN COMEDY FESTIVALMain Arena & headlining Best of the Fest2006

  • NEW ZEALAND COMEDY FESTIVALThe Big Show, Comedy Gala' and The Comedy Convoy - Nationwide Tour2006

  • MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVALBest of the Edinburgh Fest2006

  • SYDNEY CRACKER COMEDY FESTIVALBest of the Edinburgh Fest2006

  • BRISBANEBest of the Edinburgh Fest2006

  • ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL Britcom2006

  • KILKENNY FESTIVALIreland2005

  • MONTREAL JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVALincluding the esteemed televised 'Britcom Gala' 2005

  • MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVALBest of the Edinburgh Fest2005

  • SYDNEYComedy Store, 'Best of the Edinburgh Fest'2005

  • ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL Performed in 'Best of the Edinburgh Fest', subsequently touring Australia culminating in a sell-out week at the Sydney Comedy Store2004

  • Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains Series 1 - 4Series Host - Comedy Central2020 - 2022

  • Save The Cinema Sky Cinema - Actor 2022

  • Unforgivable Guest - DAVE2022

  • DIY SOS: The Big Build Children In Need Special Guest Presenter - BBC One 2021

  • Rhod Gilbert: Stand Up To InfertilityBBC Two & BBC One Wales2021

  • Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience Series 1-9BBC Two & BBC One Wales2009 - 2020

  • Would I Lie To You?BBC One2010 - 2022

  • Rhod Gilbert: Stand Up To ShynessBBC Two & BBC One Wales2018

  • QiGuest - BBC Two2016 / 2017 / 2018

  • Have I Got News For You?Guest Host - BBC One2011 / 2017 / 2018

  • The Royal Variety Performance 100th AnniversaryITV / BBC One2008 / 2012 / 2018

  • TaskmasterDAVE2018

  • 8 Out of 10 Cats Does CountdownChannel 42013 - 2017

  • You’re Fired!Series Host -BBC Two & BBC One2016 & 2017

  • UK’s Best Part Time BandSeries Host - BBC Two & BBC Four2016

  • Duck Quacks Don't EchoSky12013 & 2016

  • Never Mind The Buzzcocks Series 28Series Host - BBC Two2014

  • Rhod Gilbert vs KilimanjaroBBC One Wales2014

  • Stars At Your Service: Stand Up To CancerChannel 42014

  • The Matt Lucas Christmas AwardsBBC One2013

  • Was It Something I Said?Channel 42013

  • Channel 4's Comedy GalaChannel 42011 & 2013

  • Live At The Apollo Host - BBC One2009 & 2012

  • Alan Carr: Chatty ManChannel 42012

  • The Graham Norton ShowBBC One2009 / 2010 / 2012

  • Room 101BBC One2012

  • The One and Only Des O'ConnorITV2012

  • Michael McIntyre's Christmas Comedy RoadshowBBC One2011

  • Ask Rhod Gilbert Series 1 and 2Series Host - BBC One2010 & 2011

  • Never Mind The BuzzcocksGuest Host - BBC22009 & 2011

  • World's Most Dangerous RoadsBBC Two2011

  • Lee Mack's All Star CastBBC One2011

  • 8 Out of 10 CatsChannel 42008 / 2009 / 2010

  • Walk on the Wild SideBBC One2009

  • Mock The WeekBBC Two2007 & 2009

  • Live At The ApolloBBC One2008

  • Teen TribesPresenter - BBC One Wales2008

  • Big Welsh ChallengePresenter - BBC One Wales2008

  • TV Gaffes Galore / Football Gaffes Galore / Pranks GaloreScript Writer/Voiceover - BBC Three2007

  • Big Welsh Joke – Series HostBBC One Wales2007

  • Comedy ShuffleBBC Three2007

  • Never Mind The BuzzcocksBBC Two2006

  • The Charlotte Church ShowChannel 42006

  • The Comedy Store – Extended setParamount2004 & 2006

  • Dara O'Briain Talks FunnyBBC One2006

  • The World Stands UpParamount2006

  • Rhod Gilbert Stands Up For WalesBBC One Wales2005

  • Live from the FringeSTV & Paramount2005

  • Edinburgh & BeyondParamount2005

  • Paramount's live stand-up weekendPresenter 2003

  • Getting Better - The Fight to Save the NHSActor 2021

  • The Froth Podcast Host 2020 - 2021

  • Rhod Gilbert on SaturdayPresenter - BBC Radio Wales2007 – 2019

  • Rhod Gilbert's New Year's ResolutionsHost - BBC Radio 22014

  • Steve Wright in The AfternoonGuest Host - BBC Radio 22012 & 2013

  • Graham Norton & Dermot O'LearyGuest Host - BBC Radio 22013

  • The Unbelievable TruthBBC Radio 42009 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013

  • Rhod Gilbert's Bulging Barrel of LaughsSeries Host - BBC Radio 22010

  • Jonathan Ross ShowBBC Radio 22008 & 2009

  • Radio 4 Stand's UpSeries Host - BBC Radio 42008

  • Jest A Minute - Series HostBBC Radio Wales2006 & 2008

  • Sean Lock & Friends at the FringeBBC Radio 22008

  • Just A MinuteBBC Radio 42008

  • Dara O'Briain & FriendsBBC Radio 22006

  • 28 Acts in 28 MinutesBBC Radio 42006

  • Edinburgh NightsBBC Radio 22005

  • Just A MinuteBBC Radio 42005

  • Four at the FringeBBC Radio 42003