He was once best known as a TV funnyman, but these days Griff Rhys Jones is serious about theatre, documentaries and indulging in his passion for sailing

Griff is enjoying treading the boards. After a spate of television shows that have seen him skipper boats, climb mountains and explore the world’s greatest cities, he’s taken to the stage. ‘It’s really full on – I’m enjoying it though,’ he enthuses, speaking to me by telephone from his London home. His role as Fagin in the West End production of OLIVER! involves eight performances a week, each one preceded by intensive physical and vocal warm-ups and 45 minutes of makeup. But he’s relishing the challenge.

The rave reviews for the Cardiff-born 57-year-old’s theatre performances suggest he has added yet another string to his bow: Griff’s now a musical star as well as a TV comedian, actor and presenter. He rose to fame in the 1980s through his performances in the BBC’s Not the Nine O’Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones sketch shows. Since then, he’s presented a host of factual programmes. But what made him step out of his comfort zone and tackle the uncharted territory of singing and dancing?

‘It’s part of the challenge of whether I can do it or not,’ explains Griff. ‘When I was young, my dad was always asking me what I was going to do with my life, how was I going to earn money? So I’ve always said “yes” to things and given them a go. And I didn’t want to lose touch with being a performer after all the outdoor stuff,’ he adds, referring to on-screen marine exploits such as Rivers – a documentary exploring Britain’s ‘routes into the past’ – and a series of programmes with comedians Rory McGrath and Dara O’Briain.

Three Men In … followed the trio’s exploits aboard a variety of craft. ‘I wasn’t so much a TV presenter as a sailing instructor,’ recalls Griff who was the only experienced sailor of the three. ‘That caused a bit of friction because they are middle-aged men who don’t like to be told to do things in a certain way. It led to some comical moments, really – especially with Rory deliberately winding me up.’

One of Griff’s fondest memories of Another Three Men In a Boat was the look on Dara’s face during a helicopter exercise with the Yarmouth all-weather lifeboat off the Isle of Wight. ‘He was so impressed to see the crew member get winched up to the helicopter that he fancied a go himself.’ So, when the trio were reunited for their next show, they were grateful for the chance with the Penlee lifeboat crew off Cornwall. ‘We were in a smaller inshore lifeboat this time and it was quite choppy. I don’t think Dara was prepared for how quickly he was winched up – we all went upwards in the lifeboat with one large wave and he never came back down!’

Privilege, power and prevention

As a child, Griff spent many hours sailing with his father, who encouraged him to support the RNLI: ‘I was always taught to respect the crews and to support the extraordinary work that the charity does. Accidents happen and, as a sailor, you never know when you’re going to be setting off flares and waving on the horizon.’ But, even as an RNLI supporter, nothing could prepare him for the skills of the crew and the capabilities of the lifeboats when he saw them for real. ‘It was a privilege to experience how well equipped and trained the volunteers were. The power of the lifeboats made me feel safe – certainly more safe than I would have done on a rowing lifeboat 150 years ago!’

Griff is also supportive of the RNLI’s preventative safety messages. ‘Whether you’re in a canoe inland or sailing offshore, there’s a chance that you’ll lose control of your boat or get knocked out of it – even on the calmest day. And if you’re wearing a lifejacket, you increase your chances of survival by hundreds of percent. I know they’re cumbersome and can make you look a bit silly, but after doing Rivers and the sailing programmes, I always make sure people are wearing them on my boat.’

So, as someone who’s grown acutely aware of the sea’s dangers, could Griff imagine joining a lifeboat crew? ‘To be honest, no,’ he says without much pause for thought. ‘I was speaking to [Broadcaster, Columnist and RNLI Supporter] Libby Purves about sailing and discovered I’m like her in that, the more I do on the water, the more prone I am to anxiety about it. I don’t think: “I’ve been through big storms and big seas, I can handle anything.” Storms are noisy, and exhausting. The responsibility for your crew and boat weighs heavy. That makes me all the more grateful for and supportive of the RNLI.’