See and hear more about what we do. Written by He fulfilled an ambition to direct films with his hit British comedy The Tall Guy, scripted by Richard Curtis and starring Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson. 1989-10-19 Photo size: He died in his sleep at his home in St John's Wood, his agent Michael Foster announced yesterday on behalf of Smith's wife, Pam. Griff Rhys Jones talks about his shock at the news of his former comedy partner's death from a heart attack at home, Mel Smith photographed at home in 1998. The series is one of my favourites. Despite his good intentions, everything seems to go wrong when he's around, despite the best efforts of the center staff and his long-suffering wife, Helen. "We never had an argument, in fact," he added. The actors are just amazing. Gordon Brittas is the manager of the Whitbury-Newtown Leisure Centre. "We did know he was ill," said Lloyd, creator of QI. Unusual to see Jimmy Nail in such a role. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Competing for audiences with the Cambridge Footlights one year in the city, he met director John Lloyd, who was later to ask Smith to join the young cast of a new satirical television show, to become Not the Nine O'Clock News. The long-awaited DVD release of the very best material from all four series of Alas Smith & Jones, including Granny News, In At The Deep End, the Businessmen Babies … God knows a lot of it won’t bear repeating, but when it was good it was sheer bliss … Joined 5 May 2010 Messages 503 Location S. Dorset. Bust of Mel Smith donated by Mel's Estate . The "Three Men In A Boat" series showed Griff Rhys-Jones in his true light I think - a recovered drinker, and a thoroughly competent yachtsman, persistently driven to the verge of fury by his drunken, cheerful novice passengers. Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith were comedy icons (Image: Universal Pictorial Press). Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers. Griff Rhys Jones has paid a moving tribute to his longtime comedy partner Mel Smith after his sudden death aged 60.. For anyone who loved the Alas Smith and Jones comedy series in the 80s this would be right up their street, but with a sci-fi twist. "I still can't believe this has happened. You seemed like a married couple in Alas Smith And Jones – … This FAQ is empty. While fellow performers Rowan Atkinson and … 21 Nov 2020 #1 S. STATUE Member. 4 of 7 people found this review helpful. In the autumn of the same year he starred in a tour of his own adaptation of the comedy An Hour and a Half Late by French playwright Gérald Sibleyras. Griff Rhys Jones says his comedy partnership with the late Mel Smith was "not exactly a marriage made in heaven". And the scetch they were by the pool with their "swimming costumes" on... That's really something. The show spawned a slew of spin-off series and films. Comedy panel game show hosted by anarchic surrealist comic duo Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. Well - you could say they are "tasteless" not tasteless. Comedy panel quiz show on the theme of sport. Thread starter STATUE; Start date 21 Nov 2020; 1; 2; 3; Next. 0 comment. I will look back on the days working with him as some of the funniest times that I have ever spent. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Online auction: Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith's bust. Most sketches involved both men, but ... See full summary ». Use the HTML below. We probably enjoyed ourselves far too much, but we had a rollercoaster of a ride along the way. Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones first found fame together on the massively successful Not the Nine O'Clock News. Griff Rhys Jones (Actor), Mel Smith (Actor), Michael Tuchner (Director) Griffith Rhys Jones OBE is a Welsh comedian, writer, actor, and television presenter. Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones were both unwell during a live special and were both sick with food poisoning and Mel Smith fell off his chair and vomited backstage and got some vomit on his tie and both Smith and Jones were unable to continue with the live special. "Life was always exciting around Mel. British sketch comedy starring the likes of Rowan Atkinson and Mel Smith. To everybody who ever met him, Mel was a force for life. Supporting Content. He was a very generous and supportive actor. Wikipedia. In 1981, Smith and Griff Rhys Jones founded TalkBack Productions, a company that has produced many of the most significant British comedy shows of the past two decades, including Smack the Pony, Da Ali G Show and I'm Alan Partridge. I've seen a lot of that series but I've never seen a tasteless scetch! Mel Smith, the British comedian, writer, actor, producer and film director, known for his long and popular television partnership with Griff Rhys Jones… Add the first question. Mel Smith, the British comedian, writer, actor, producer and film director, known for his long and popular television partnership with Griff Rhys Jones, died on Friday at the age of 60. In 1989 Smith starred in a ITV adaptation of Tom Sharpe's novel Wilt, having played the lead in the space comedy film Morons from Outer Space, which he co-wrote with Jones. The series Smith and Jones followed in 1989. Bought as a gift for a 58 year old male friend, and thoroughly enjoyed by him. Very funny, but I feel for his frustration. ", Smith was described as having "extraordinary natural talent" by Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV, who was a business partner of Smith and Jones at their former television production company Talkback Productions. He and Jones later scripted a series of face-to-face dialogues in the character of two bar-room pals that became one of their trademark acts. Smith shot to fame along with his partner-in-comedy Griff Rhys Jones in "Not the Nine O'Clock News," whose take-down of earnest BBC newscasts, talk … The son of the owner of Chiswick's first bookmakers, Melvin Kenneth Smith grew up above a chip shop and was a pupil at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. No, not an 'Alas Smith & Jones' production, but a one off by them, lasted about 20 mins. Tonight sees the comedian explore Australia in his travel series Griff… The star rose to fame in the early 1980s … He suffered a heart attack at his London home. Have you seen their clothes: red shoes and green ties. Go. This weekend Lloyd told Sky News of his sorrow at the death of an "amazingly talented" man. Six hours of classic, timeless comedy from legendary double act Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. The auction includes a controversial script from the only episode of Hi … Last seen on television this year in Steven Poliakoff's BBC2 drama serial Dancing on the Edge, Smith had been suffering from ill health for some time, according to friends, having previously had an addiction to prescription painkillers. He then directed a West End revival of Charley's Aunt starring Stephen Tompkinson and from October 2007 to January 2008 played Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre. "We loved performing together. Next Last. It reached No 3 in the charts. A CELEBRITY auction has raised more than £53,000 for East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) so far. From the stars of "The Good Place" to a pair of "Pretty Little Liars," check out our gallery of celebrity besties. Classic comedy: Mel with his comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones in Alas Smith and Jones from 1985 Smith, who died in his sleep from a heart attack on Friday, at the age of 60, grew up in a … Rhys Jones came to national attention in the 1980s for his work in the BBC television comedy sketch shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones. On iPlayer. About EACH - East Anglia's Children's Hospices. Short Yachty Parody - Griff Rhys Jones & Mel Smith ? Mel Smith and Griff Rhys-Jones present a series of short (often tasteless, always scathing) sketches about modern life and the stupidity and gullibility of those who believe in it. Jones, his friend for 35 years, said he had lost "a gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit" and that he was in a state of shock. All quite silly, but fun. He starred as property dealer Tom Craig in ITV's drama Muck and Brass and played the title role in the sitcom Colin's Sandwich. Photograph: Eleanor Bentall/Corbis. Smith worked on the sketch comedy shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones with his comedy partner, Griff Rhys Jones. View production, box office, & company info, Characters Featured In Empire And Premiere's Best Characters Lists, Face-Off: Most Anticipated British Heroines. One of the least likely of Smith's many achievements was his cover version of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, made with Kim Wilde for Comic Relief in 1987. Long running BBC comedy show consisting of sketches and humourous musical routines involving the large Ronnie Barker and the small Ronnie Corbett. Typical Mel Smith humour. He went on to direct Atkinson in the lucrative film Bean in 1997. Search for "Alas Smith & Jones" on Amazon.com, Title: Murray Chapman . Griff Rhys Jones says his comedy partnership with the late Mel Smith was "not exactly a marriage made in heaven". ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less Born and raised in Chiswick, west London, Smith was one of the original members of the Not the Nine O'Clock News comedy programme, the sketch show that ran on BBC2 from 1979 to 1982 and made the names of fellow cast members Jones, Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson and Chris Langham. Seven years ago Smith returned to the stage after some 20 years, appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in Allegiance, Irish journalist and author Mary Kenny's controversial play about Churchill's encounter with the Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins in 1921. Mel Smith And Griff Rhys-Jones Profile: British comedy duo, known for their appearances … Smith and Jones. EACH - The Delf Family's Story. Griff Rhys Jones is best known for his work alongside his late comedy partner Mel Smith. BBC sketch show that while continuing to show the misadventures of a series of popular characters now also introduces a slew of new oddballs and misfits for us to enjoy including Tory Boy and The Lovely Wobbly Randy Old Ladies. Comedian Mel Smith dies of heart attack at 60 – Channel 4 News Smith appeared on television screens in a comedy duo with Bob Goody, but it was as one half of Smith and Jones that he became pivotal to the BBC's light entertainment output. A satire show using puppets that are caricatures of major public figures. The star, 59, told the Radio Times that the pair were completely different. Griff Rhys Jones, who became a household name in the 1980s with Not The Nine O’Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones, will receive an OBE. Mel Smith and Griff Rhys-Jones present a series of short (often tasteless, always scathing) sketches about modern life and the stupidity and gullibility of those who believe in it. Griff Rhys Jones on his comedy soul mate Mel Smith "I think we made some 50 hours of TV together. Smith & Jones: head to head by Mel Smith; Griff Rhys Jones Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Smith's deadpan style, along with his lugubrious manner and large build, quickly established him as one of the country's favourite television performers in the early 1980s. "He inspired love and utter loyalty and he gave it in return. The adventures of a crazy trio, whose motto is "we do anything, anytime, anywhere". (1984–1998). Janet Lives With Mel and Griff book. Was this review helpful to you? Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. He had a relish for it that seemed utterly inexhaustible. "So although it is the most awful news – I mean, it's a tragedy, it's a great loss not just as an amazingly talented guy in all sorts of areas but also as a friend – I think he was not in good shape, so in some ways we try and put a good spin on it by saying it's a relief for him.". Pages are unmarked. The comedy partners had never argued about their roles or lines. Popular BBC sketch show that introduces a whole host of memorable characters such as Tim-Nice-But-Dim, Wayne and Waynetta Slob, The Old Gits and teenagers Kevin and Perry. Rhys Jones described his … 1 of 3 Go to page. GRIFF Rhys Jones is a Welsh comedian, best loved for his work with his comedy partner, the late Mel Smith. Not available. Zany antics and sketches by the anarchic camp comic. He starred in a number of television series with his comedy partner, Mel Smith. ", Jones said that Smith was a brilliant actor who had never taken himself or showbusiness too seriously. I just don't understand why they stopped doing it? The plot summary said that S&J is sometimes tasteless... Whatta? Mel Smith Bust Auction Item. The Morecambe and Wise Show was a comedy sketch show originally broadcast by BBC television and the third TV series by English comedy double-act Morecambe and Wise. The star, 59, told the Radio Times that the pair were completely different. Accident-prone Frank Spencer fails to navigate the simplest tasks of daily life, while also trying to look after his wife and baby. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Comedy sketch show starring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. Mel Smith: w/ Griff Rhys Jones Melvin Kenneth Smith was an English comedian, writer, film director, producer, and actor. He developed a love of the stage and comedy while studying at New College, Oxford, and performed at the Edinburgh fringe with the university dramatic society. Mel and Griff were one of the great comedy acts and it's hard to imagine that one of them is no longer with us.". Alas Smith & Jones With Smith, he co-founded the television production company Talkback Productions, now part of RTL Group and later in 2005, he started the production company Modern Television. Jones played the slightly more intellectually challenged of the pair, while Smith's anger and frustration typically mounted to explosive levels during their regular exchanges on their BBC1 show Alas Smith and Jones, (its title a pun on the name of the American western series Alias Smith and Jones), a comedy fixture in the 1980s. Griff Rhys Jones African Folk Art bespoke coffin. Your generosity can help support more of … Smith formed a lasting partnership with co-performer Griff Rhys Jones with whom he set up the independent television company, Talkback Productions. In America he was best known for his role in the film comedy Brain Donors, a 1992 update of the Marx Brothers classic A Night at the Opera, which starred Smith as a cheeky cab driver.