Home & Rhys-Ent News Page
.gif){kind=small}
This Web Site is Dedicated to Rhys Thomas A UK Comedy Actor/Writer
Site Updated Feb 7th 2010
"Beyond the Pole" Facebook can be seen on the following link.... Please join, hopefully this may help distribution Nationwide ."Beyond The Pole - Facebook"
Write up in the "Times on Line", follow the link.."The Times On Line"....
Also, another article from "Eye For Film.."Eye for Film with David Williams"
..(Updated 07/02/2010)
Just a Reminder that "Beyond the Pole" Screenings and show times can be found at the "ICA Website, just follow this link. Beyond the Pole - ICA Screen Times....(Updated 06/02/2010)
Bellamy's People is out on DVD April 26th 2010, see the link to the "Merchandise Page"..
(Updated 05/02/2010)
Rhys is appearing on the Ian Wright Show Channel 5, 6.25pm Thurs Feb 4th...
(Updated 04/02/2010)
Website updated with the "links and Merchandise" pages "Links" & "Merchandise"...
(Updated 03/02/2010)
If missed "Bellamy's People" you can catch it again om the BBC I-Player, but you have to be quick as it changes to the most recent episode week to week, follow the link.."Bellamy's People - BBC i-player"..(Updated 31/01/2010)
Rhys is appearing on Channel Five "The Wright Stuff" Tuesday Jan 26th between 09:15 and 10:45 for a "Bellamy's People" interview..Link to Mathew Wright, Channel 5 "The Wright Stuff"..(Updated 23/01/2010)
Another page has been added on the site to capture any Media Articles newspapers or magazines etc, just follow this link or see the page on the left.."Media Articles"..(Updated 20/01/2010)
We have just uploaded the BBC Breakfast News Interview with Rhys & Paul Whitehouse for "Bellamy's People", Hope you like, we did, follow this link " Bellamy's People BBC News Interview" ..(Updated 18/01/2010)
Rhys is appearing on the early BBC Breakfast News on Monday January 18th.Dont forget to watch 'Bellamy's People' on Thursday January 21st,Rhys has created a facebook page, follow this link. 'Bellamy's People Facebook'(Updated 17/01/2010)
There are some Great Reviews in this weeks TV Magazines for "Bellamy's People", below are a few we scanned for the show, Starting in the UK on Thursday Jan 21st (1 on 8) BBC 2 10:00 to 10:30. The original "Down the Line" Radio Show is also being repeated if you want to listen again on BBC Radio 7 the same night right after this show finishes...
We have a "Beyond the Pole" Review, the link will follow but here is a good one from "Variety"..
Beyond the Pole
(U.K.)
A Shooting Pictures production, in association with Polite Storm. (International sales: HanWay Films, London.) Produced by David L. Williams, Andrew J. Curtis. Executive producer, Helen Baxendale. Co-producer, Dean O'Toole. Directed by David L. Williams. Screenplay, Neil Warhurst, Williams, based on a radio series by Paul Barnhill,
Calling itself "the world's first global-warming comedy," cheeky low-budgeter "Beyond the Pole" brings a breath of satirical fresh air to a topic that's rapidly approaching media suffocation. Mockumentary about two fumbling Brit amateurs who want to save the planet by walking to the North Pole plays like a cross between "The Office" and a "Touching the Void" parody set in the Arctic. Sending up earnest documentary cliches as well as eco-warriors, this modest but good-looking item goes out digitally in Blighty in February (following offshore fest screenings last year) and will play equally well on the smallscreen.
Style is rooted in alternative Brit TV comedy, where leads Stephen Mangan ("Green Wing") and Rhys Thomas ("The Fast Show") both made their names. The two team well here: Mangan (channeling Jeremy Clarkson crossed with a young Elliott Gould) takes the lead as the barking Mark Bark-Jones, and the more diminutive Thomas plays his bewildered, more working-class sidekick, Brian Tongue.
Chucklesome intro, with a deadly serious v.o. by docu director Becky (Helen Baxendale, who also exec produced), has the duo sporting "Don't Be Impotent. Be Important" green T-shirts as they tell how they want to be the first carbon-neutral, organic, vegetarian team to make it to the North Pole unsupported (i.e. on foot). They're also unsupported by any sponsorship, apart from packets of vegetarian suet, though they are accompanied by a Scottish cameraman, Steve (Clive Russell), who's an experienced hand. Their "polar HQ" is a tatty caravan in an English field manned by overweight radio ham Graham (Mark Benton).
It's unclear how walking to the pole will save the planet, but it soon becomes clear that Mark is more interested in getting into the Guinness Book of Records. His absent wife (Zoe Telford) and brother (Patrick Baladi) both think he's nuts, while Brian's secretly pregnant partner (Rosie Cavaliero) reckons the whole idea is suicidal.
Pic quickly gets to the main course as the team hits the Arctic, where they only manage to walk a mile and a half on the first day. Three weeks later they bump into two gay Norwegians (Alexander Skarsgaard, Lars Arentz-Hansen) with the same idea and much better equipment, which triggers growing madness in Mark as the expedition spirals into deadly chaos.
With considerable experience in both comedy and genuine docus, helmer David L. Williams ("Flyfishing"), who co-adapted the script from a radio series by Paul Barnhill and Neil Warhurst, knows exactly the filmmaking cliches he's spoofing, as well as the deadpan comic timing needed to stretch this over feature length. Aside from a midway dip and some overextended drama near the climax, the pacing stays alert, with a comically cherishable twist at the end when all seems hopeless.
Mangan and Thomas have to carry the movie on their shoulders, and Williams and editor Rob Miller give them just enough space to convey a sense of comic improv without letting the momentum sag. Further marginal trimming of some of Mangan's rants would further improve the picture.
Supporting roles, notably by Benton and Cavaliero, are spot-on in their reality-program sendups. HD lensing by Stuart Biddlecombe of Greenland and Iceland snowscapes is both photogenic and highly convincing.
Camera (color, HD), Stuart Biddlecombe; editor, Rob Miller; music, Guy Michelmore; production designer, Lisa Marie Hall; art director, Amy Simons; costume designer, Nikkie Alsford; sound, Peter Gaudino; arctic expert, Kristjan Fridriksson; assistant directors, Richard Bird (Greenland), Ken Thompson Marchesi (U.K.); casting, Jenny Duffy. Reviewed on DVD, London, Jan. 8, 2009. Running time: 87 MIN. (English, Norwegian dialogue)..."Variety Link"..(Updated 12/01/2010)
Tickets for "Beyond The Pole" Starring Rhys & Steven Mangan are on sale at the ICA Website.... Follow this link.."Beyond the Pole"...(Updated 10/01/2010)
Rhys has informed us that the January edition of the "Radio Times" (Jan 2nd to 8th) has an article for the "Top 10 for 2010" (see page 19)... it's also below if anyone missed the magazine...(Updated 30/12/09)
Another link and more informatin to the "British Comedy Guide" Website, a few clips of the forthcoming "Bellamy's People" "All about Gary Bellamy" & "All posts on "BBC Comedy Blog" by bellamy's people"...(Updated 26/12/09)....
FULL ARTICLE BELOW....
Bellamy's People will see Gary travel the length and breadth of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, meeting the people of Britain and trying to find out what makes them tick.
But before he sets off in his Triumph Stag 'personality vehicle': what makes Gary tick?
Gary Bellamy: A biography
For as long as he can remember, Gary Bellamy has been obsessed with talking, first on the radio and now on TV. It was listening to the radio, however, that really started him on the career path that has led him to the groundbreaking TV series Bellamy's People (of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).
"I used to pretend to host radio shows in my bedroom when I was meant to be doing my homework," he says. "And I used to record whole programmes on my tinny little cassette recorder."
When other kids were watching television, Gary would be listening to the radio.
"Radio is an amazing format," says Gary. "You can listen to the radio anywhere; while you're cooking, while you're doing the gardening, in bed, in the bath, in your car. As a kid I would tune in my old set to whatever radio stations I could find, the more obscure the better! I'd be listening to radio, literally, from all around the word. Sometimes I'd hear these foreign voices and not have a clue what they were talking about, but it made me think about other people, other cultures, and realize that there was all this amazing stuff going on in the world around us. Radio is a truly democratic medium; anyone, anywhere, can listen to it. And I love talk radio most of all. I grew up listening to the likes of Robbie Vincent, Mike Allen and of course, the great Brian Hayes on LBC. These people were my heroes, not footballers or pop stars. A good phone-in show is like a huge discussion in which anyone in the country can take part. That's what radio should be about - building a community."
Gary Bellamy began his radio career at Basildon Hospital at the tender age of 16, helping out on the hospital radio station - On The Mend - and occasionally filling in for the regular DJ. He went on to do a BA in Media and Communication Studies at Brighton University, where he wrote his dissertation on the history of talk radio.
In Brighton he was very involved in the college radio scene and from there he went straight to the BBC where he served what he has called his 'apprenticeship', as a researcher on the Today programme.
"You can say what you like about the BBC, but the standards are the best in the world. I learnt more in one week at Radio 4 than I did in three years at University."
It was a lucky break in 1995 that really kick-started Gary's career, however. He decided to take a year out and see a bit more of the world.
"So many young kids today go straight from college into broadcasting and they have nothing to bring to the table, no experience of the real world. People in England can be very insular. I guess it comes from living on an island."
His first port of call was Toronto and little did he know that his world tour would start and finish there. He had gone to stay with a friend from his Brighton days who was hosting a show on a small local independent rock station - ZZZFM. Gary stepped in to cover for him one night, taking calls from local rock fans.
"By the end of the show I realized that I hadn't played a single record and I thought I was going to get a rocket from the station manager."
But he was such a hit that instead he was offered his own slot. Thinking he might stay for a few weeks, Gary ended up at ZZZFM for two years, before graduating to Radio 1. No - not BBC Radio 1, but CBC Radio 1 in Canada. His show - The Gary Bellamy Show - won three prestigious Molson awards for talk radio and the Travis Bickle broadcasting silver medal of 1998, transforming him into something of a local celebrity.
Much as he loved Canada, however, his heart was always in England and he wanted to return and prove himself here.
"Canada's a huge country with a small population," says Gary. "Whereas Britain is a tiny country with a huge population (a country like France, I suppose, would be somewhere in between). Everyone wants to be a hero in their own home town. I am no exception."
He soon found, however, that whilst he may have been big in Canada he was completely unknown here. He had to start at the ground floor and climb his way back up again. He went to work for a number of stations in a backroom capacity building up contacts and trying to get his name talked about. (His stints included a short time at Virgin Megastore FM, Heart FM, Melody Radio, and he was at XFM while Ricky Gervais was there.)
But it proved to be a frustrating time for Gary and he was on the verge of quitting radio when he got a call from Radio 4. Matt Weston had been a fellow researcher on Today and was now a radio producer, he remembered Gary as a lively and energetic character who always had something to say. Matt was putting together the first ever phone-in show for the channel and was looking for somebody very experienced who was also a fresh new voice for British radio. Gary seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
Matt said at the time of Gary's appointment "Gary's time in Canada has given him a broader worldview, and we feel that he can look at England and the English almost as an outsider. We think you'll agree that Gary's is a unique and uniquely exciting voice, and that he's a welcome addition to the Radio 4 team. "
Gary himself said, "After a two year break from hosting my own show, I'm literally raring to go!"
Gary's Radio 4 show Down The Line, despite ruffling some feathers, was an instant hit with the listeners and garnered more awards for Gary. And when the BBC was looking for someone to present a television series about the British people Gary was the first person they approached after Adrian Chiles pulled out. Gary's qualities of enthusiasm, fearlessness and curiosity combined with his great rapport with people both great and small and his global outlook make him the perfect guide to modern Britain.
As Gary said when he found out he'd go the job of presenting Bellamy's People (of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) - "After two years hosting my own radio show, I'm literally raring to go!"
Want more Bellamy? Starting this week, Gary and his producer Ben Mycroft will be writing about the making of Bellamy's People here on the Comedy Blog, featuring exclusive video clips you won't see in the show itself.
PROFILE
Born: December 12th, 1975, Billericay, Essex.
Education: Beauchamp's, Wickford, Essex. Sussex University.
Lives: North London.
Favourite Film: Pink Floyd's The Wall. "I saw this at a very impressionable age, and it seemed to sum up a lot of things I was feeling at the time, about people being put in boxes and building walls around themselves. Plus the music is absolutely brilliant."
Favourite TV: Anything with David Attenborough.
Hero: "I have to say Chris Evans. People knock him, but he's a terrific radio broadcaster, and he changed the face of talk radio in this country."
Favourite band: British Sea Power. "They're amazing! I must have seen them at least 3 times live."
My Secret Luxury: Black Cabs. I spend a small fortune on them, but they are fantastic. They can use bus lanes, they always know where they are going and they are legal, you'd never get attacked in one. I always tell my girlfriend, Michaela, "get a black cab", so she does.
Born: December 12th, 1975, Billericay, Essex.
Education: Beauchamp's, Wickford, Essex. Sussex University.
Lives: North London.
Favourite Film: Pink Floyd's The Wall. "I saw this at a very impressionable age, and it seemed to sum up a lot of things I was feeling at the time, about people being put in boxes and building walls around themselves. Plus the music is absolutely brilliant."
Favourite TV: Anything with David Attenborough.
Hero: "I have to say Chris Evans. People knock him, but he's a terrific radio broadcaster, and he changed the face of talk radio in this country."
Favourite band: British Sea Power. "They're amazing! I must have seen them at least 3 times live."
My Secret Luxury: Black Cabs. I spend a small fortune on them, but they are fantastic. They can use bus lanes, they always know where they are going and they are legal, you'd never get attacked in one. I always tell my girlfriend, Michaela, "get a black cab", so she does.
..(Updated 16/12/09)
"Beyond the Pole - Facebook Fans Page" Latest News from Rhys.. He has just finished filming 8 new Brian Pern 'webisodes'
for BBC Comedy Online.This time they have guest stars, Paul Whitehouse, Lucy Montgomery, Tony Way and acting legend and star of Foyle's War - Michael Kitchen as Brian's manager, they are due to air later this year. Beyond The Pole is to show on December 5th at 6.30 pm at the Prince Charles Cinema as part of the London United Film Festival.. (Updated 25/10/09) Another update from Rhys and with his kind permission we have added a teaser for "Above their Stations" written by & staring Rhys see the Link "Above Their Stations" Currently he is editing Bellamy's People and filming a new batch of "Brian Pern" episodes with Simon Day, Michael Kitchen, Lucy Montgomery and Paul Whitehouse in guest star roles.
Also about to start work on Vigilantes - a comedy drama he was working on before Above their Stations.. (Updated 12/10/09)
More news.... There is now a "Facebook" Fan Page set up by "Shooting Pictures" those nice people who Made "Beyond the Pole".. Just follow this Link..(Updated 04/11/09)
We have just come across this article from the "Broadcast" website for "Bellamy's People", hope you like it, follow this link "Broadcast - Bellamy's People" .
(Updated 20/09/09)..
We have just added a promotional DVD clip for Queen, Greatest Video Hits on the "Video Clips" Page, follow this link Queen DVD Advert it's a few years old now but a dream come true for Rhys, as he wrote / co-produced it.
At the moment for Rhys is working on.....
Bellamy's People (Down the Line) still editing, the series begins in January 2010 and runs for 8 weeks
He is writing a BBC 2 sketch show called 'Don't Watch With Mother', a TV adaptation of the radio show that was recorded last year and he is also making a new Queen DVD/documentary 'Live At Hammersmith 1975.'
He has written a forth Above Their Station script. He will know in a few weeks for sure if they get a series (Updated 02/09/09)..
At the moment Rhys is editing Bellamy's People, which is currently due out in Jan 2010. He has also been working on some more "Brian Pern", see new links below (Keep checking as we will add more as they come in)....
(Updated 01/08/09)
[Brian Pern] Attention all Brian Pern fans!
This Web Site is Dedicated to Rhys Thomas A UK Comedy Actor/Writer
We have just moved the Video clips of Rhys to another web host (Vimeo), we hope you will like the new format (Updated 29/06/09)..
Trailer Park is back on the go again, for BBC One Wales,
although it's not official yet and some exciting casting details to come...we plan to film a pilot in the Autumn.
Bellamy's People filming was completed in May and is now editing, due to air in Nov/Dec 2009.
Brian Pern.com is launching very soon, and the BBC have asked for more, so more news on that soon.
Still waiting to hear about Above Their Stations.
Trailer Park is back on the go again, for BBC One Wales,
although it's not official yet and some exciting casting details to come, we plan to film a pilot in the Autumn...(updated 09/06/09)
Episode 2 of Winging It can be seen on this Megavideo link, well done Spin Jackson...(Updated 16/05/09)
Keep watching, coming Soon the next episode of Winging It
If you missed episode 2 of Winging It you can still watch it on the BBC i-Player web site, while it lasts, see the link below.
You may also be interested to know that episode 5 (also with Rhys) will be shown Saturday May16th on UK BBC2 at 12.40pm.. (Updated 14/05/09)
Rhys is starring in 'Winging It' this Saturday on BBC2 at 12.45
At the moment he is filming Bellamy's People.
Brian Pern goes online in May on the BBC Comedy Website..(Updated 20/4/09)
Rhys is currently waiting to hear about "Above Their Stations."
He is about to direct-write "brianpern.com" , a new project for BBC Comedy Website starring Simon Day, this will go online sometime this Summer.
At the moment he is in pre-production on "Bellamy's People", and hopes to start filming in April...(Updated 23/03/09)
Rhys is filming a new thing called 'Winging It' for BBC 2 at present and Bellamy's People in April. That will be hopefully on TV in the Autumn...(Updated 22/02/09)
Just another update for the site, Rhys is recording "Above Their Stations" and next on the horizon is " Bellamy's People"........ See the links...... (Updated....15/02/09)
We have just attended the Pilot Recording of "Above Their Stations" and we really enjoyed the evening. The sit-com is well written and has a brilliant cast, well done to everyone.. (Updated 10/02/09)
We have just been told Rhys will not be making an appearance in Casualty as Dr Doom...(Updated 04/01/09)
All Other Material Has now been moved to the Archive area