Stand-up star Lloyd Griffith returns to theatres in 2023 with a brand-new show. One Tonne of Fun will see the comedian who has appeared on TV shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, Question of Sport, Not Going Out and Richard Osman’s House of Games play Cardiff’s New Theatre on January 31.
Featuring a unique bag of stand up, dubious impressions, and a sprinkling of singing, Lloyd recently explained to Bruce Dessau the title of One Tonne of Fun. ‘The primary reason for the title I’m a big lad and I want to make people laugh. I’ve been wanting to use that title for years and I’ve finally managed to win my agent round. There’s actually two reasons. My mum and aunties were big girls. They were nicknamed The Weather Girls [the pop duo who sang It’s Raining Men]. And The Weather Girls’ original name was actually Two Tonnes Of Fun.
“Then one year after the Edinburgh Fringe me and Rob Beckett went on a lad’s holiday to Menorca. We’d basically go to the Irish bar every day. Drink a pitcher of lager, watch the football. And entertainment in the bar was a lady called A Tonne Of Fun. Ever since then I wanted to be a tonne of fun like her. She was up there just enjoying herself. I just want to be a fat bloke telling jokes.’
Lloyd was recently one of the first national anthem singers to sing the new anthem (with ‘King’ instead of ‘Queen’) at various football matches around the country. As a boy he always wanted to play for Grimsby Town FC, but instead he was able to perform on the pitch before the Grimsby v Crewe Alexandra match, to a packed crowd.
Lloyd will soon be appearing in Nolly, an ITV Studios drama about the 1960s/70s soap opera Crossroads, playing the part of Paul Henry – the actor who portrayed Benny in the series. Starring Helena Bonham Carter, the mini-series was written by Russell T Davies, directed by Peter Hoar (It’s A Sin) and executive-produced by Nicola Schindler.
Lloyd explains: ‘It’s about Noele Gordon, the star of the soap Crossroads. I play Paul Henry, who in turn played Benny in Crossroads. It’s written by Russell T Davies, who wrote It’s A Sin. It also stars Mark Gatiss as comedian Larry Grayson.
“It was interesting because you’re playing two characters that people know about. I’ve watched a lot of Crossroads in the last year. A lot. When you mention Crossroads to people Benny is the character they always remember.
“I worked with Russell T Davies and director Peter Hoar when I had a small part in It’s A Sin. It was only two days, but I was aware that this was going to be something special. It was just a joy to be involved. Peter won a BAFTA with It’s A Sin and I’m the only returning person. So, if Nolly does well, then essentially I have to work with him for every project. I’ll be the lucky mascot.”
- For tickets of Lloyd Griffith’s One Tonne of Fun visit Cardiff New Theatre’s website.