Rhys Thomas

Biography

RHYS THOMAS BIOGRAPHY

Rhys Thomas was discovered by Bob Mortimer and Charlie Higson at the age of 17 when he was a runner on Shooting Stars. At the end of the series, Rhys gave the pair a copy of some sketches he had written and filmed at 6th Form College with some friends. They were so impressed that within a few months Rhys was writing and performing in The Fast Show, It's Ulrika and Shooting Stars/Fast Show Live.

After a stint as one of the regular team writers on The 11 O'Clock Show, appearances in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Bang Bang It's Reeves and Mortimer! and hosting the XFM Breakfast Show, at 21 he established himself by becoming the youngest person ever to write and star in his own sitcom, Fun at the Funeral Parlour which ran for two series on BBC Choice.

Rhys has co-written and starred in 2 series of the sitcom Swiss Toni for BBC Three, toured with The Fast Show, script edited the last two series of Shooting Stars, starred in Nathan Barley and co-written and starred as Gary Bellamy in Radio 4's Down The Line.

in 2006 Rhys wrote and starred a new sketch show called Blunder and starred in the 6 partcomedy series Star Stories,which returned last year for a second series, both for Channel 4.

Rhys is currently hosting The Wall, a new live comedy show for BBC3.

He has recently finished work on the feature film Bono, Bob, Brian and Me which will be out later this year.

He is also developing a number of projects including an action adventure series for ITV called Raven starring Michael Kitchen.

In his spare time he produces DVDs for rock legends Queen.


Reviews for Fun at the Funeral Parlour include:

Eagle Eyed viewers will recognise Rhys Thomas as Swiss Toni's assistant from The Fast Show. Now the 21 year old comedian has graduated to writing and starring in his own series. This raucous new sitcom may well make an impact. Script edited by Charlie Higson it is a riotous comedy set in a Welsh funeral parlour •think Father Ted crossed with The Young Ones
The Independent (01.01.01)

Pick of the Day: Looks like a sure fire hit - ****
The Daily Mail (01.01.01)

Strewth, a digital only sitcom that's actually quite good. . .there's hardly a line of dialogue without a quip or a quirk • at last, proof that swearing can be funny - the performers are all highly accomplished. . .Inspired.
The Guardian (19.1.02)


DON'T MISS • Bizarre behaviour and League-of-Gentlemanesque surreality abound once more as we join the firm of Thomas, Thomas, Thomas and Thomas for a new series. Highly amusing and very, very odd!
The Evening Standard (22.1.02)


This very broad sitcom is never going to win any awards for tastefulness • it is a dead cert to offend somebody somewhere. But for all that Rhys Thomas' 'Fun at the Funeral Parlour' boasts a liveliness that is often absent in more high-profile sitcoms.
The Independent (22.1.02)


****
Heat (23.01.02)


It's a mark of the popularity of the first series of this amusingly morbid sitcom that it is now able to draw in guests of such quality …****
The Daily Mail (12.02.02)


Very Funny
The Observer (01.03.02)