WELSH comedian Rhod Gilbert has revealed he is suffering from cancer and will ‘disappear’ while undergoing treatment.
He’s been a professional comedian and TV presenter for more than two decades – here’s everything to know about him.
Who is Rhod Gilbert?
Rhod was born in Carmarthen, Wales, on October 18, 1968 in a family of two teacher parents.
He studied languages at Exeter University and spent eighteen months travelling around Australia and Asia after graduating.
Initially, he worked as an admin assistant and a market researcher before getting into comedy.
Rhod didn’t start performing stand-up until 2002 after “constant nagging” from his girlfriend.
Starting at the age of 34, within a year and a half he had already won a number of different talent competitions and was nominated for the Perrier Newcomer award for his first solo show in 2005 at the Edinburgh Fringe.
In 2006, he was placed in The Times’ Top 50 comedians.
Rhod bases most of his stories on real-life events and his life in the fictional Welsh village of Llanbobl.
He even wrote a sitcom about Llanbobl which featured on BBC Radio 2.
In 2014, Gilbert began presenting the BBC2 panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
What is Rhod Gilbert’s illness?
In July 2022, the comedian revealed he is suffering from cancer.
He did not disclose what type of cancer he has as he shared the news, but revealed he is getting treatment at a cancer centre in Wales.
He said: “So while I never imagined that I would be a patient here, I know better than anyone that I am in the best possible hands.
“The NHS care I’m receiving is incredible. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone…but who knows, maybe I’ll come out the other end with a new stand-up show and a 40 minute rant about orange squash.”
In a message posted on his official Facebook page he continued: “As a proud patron of Velindre Cancer Centre, I’ve trekked the world, hosted chaotic quizzes and star-studded comedy nights.
“I’ve met and made friends with so many inspirational staff, patients and their families. It has been a huge part of my life for the last ten years.
What TV shows has Rhod hosted?
The comedian is a TV regular.
He has appeared on Mock The Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Have I Got News For You and was the permanent presenter of Never Mind The Buzzcocks for its final series.
Rhod appeared on the 80th Royal Variety Performance in 2008.
The Welshman has also hosted his own shows, Ask Rhod Gilbert, Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience and Rhod Gilbert’s Teen Tribes.
Work Experience saw the comedian try out different jobs across Wales, such as mining, being a news reporter and a paranormal investigator.
Teen Tribes explored teen tribal worlds of “Emos”, “Chavs” and “Goths”, whereas Ask was a return to his comedic roots.
Between 2004 and 2005, Rhod was a continuity writer for Paramount Comedy and also provided end-of-credit voice overs on their prime-time shows.
He’s also been a panellist on BBC One show Would I Lie To You.
In 2016, Rhod took over as host on The Apprentice: You’re Fired which saw him grill the axed candidates from the main show.
Rhod starred in series seven of Dave’s hit show Taskmaster alongside James Acaster, Jessica Knappett, Kerry Godliman and Phil Wang.
In 2020, he became the presenter of Comedy Central’s Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains.
The year after, in 2021, Gilbert was a guest presenter for BBC’s DIY SOS: Children in Need 2021.
Is Rhod Gilbert married and does he have any children?
Rhod has been married to his wife Sian Harries since 2013.
Sian is an award-winning comedy writer whose credits include Man Down and Tourist Trap.
She wrote and directed short film Neckface.
Sian and her husband Rhod were both executive producers on the film.
In June 2020, Harries and Rhod Gilbert launched a joint podcast The Froth.
They also co-own a production company Llanbobl Vision.
The couple have no children and Rhod has been open about his infertility.
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