Arthur Smith is an English comedian known for his work in the alternative comedy scene in the early 1980s. He is best known for his own music and comedy show Arthur Smith's Balham Bash, in which he would invite a range of guests into his own Balham home in South London for a night of varied entertainment and laughs. He is also the voice of Arthur Dustcart on TV's Rex The Runt, and has acted in radio sitcoms such as BBC Radio 4's Married.
Year | Production | Role |
---|---|---|
2025 | Arthur Smith & Clare Ferguson-Walker: 2 Poets and a Packet of Crisps Coming Soon | Self |
2025 | Leicester Comedy Festival | Self |
2024 | Lambeth Fringe | Self |
2024 | Arthur Smith and Phil Nice in OOF! | Self |
2024 | Bath Comedy Festival | Self |
2024 | The Chortle Comedy Book Festival | Self |
2024 | Leicester Comedy Festival | Self |
2024 | No Alternative | Self (Archive Material) |
2023 | Harrogate Comedy Festival | Self |
2023 | The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud - Series 3
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|
George Spud (Voice) |
2023 | Leicester Comedy Festival | Self |
2022 | Arthur Smith: My 75 Years at the Edinburgh Fringe | Self |
2022 | Cotswold Comedy Festival | Self |
2022 | Slapstick Festival | Self |
2021 | The Chortle Comedy Book Festival | Self |
2021 | Father Of The Fringe | Self |
2021 | Arthur Smith: Syd | Writer |
2021 | Arthur Smith: Syd | Host / Presenter |
2021 | Bath Comedy Festival | Self |
2021 | Cambridge Comedy Festival | Self |
2021 | Save The Bill Murray
|
Self |
2020 | The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud - Series 2
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|
George Spud (Voice) |
2020 | Now Wash Your Hands
|
Guest |
2020 | Leicester Comedy Festival | Self |
2019 | The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud - Series 1
View episodes
|
George Spud (Voice) |
2019 | Arthur Smith: SYD | Self |
2019 | Guildford Fringe Festival | Self |
2019 | Comedy Club Extravaganza | Host / Presenter |
2018 | Arthur Smith: Syd | Self |
2018 | The Young Ones' 20 Greatest Moments | Self |
2018 | How The Young Ones Changed Comedy | Self |
2018 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 20
|
Guest |
2018 | When Comedy Goes Horribly Wrong | Self |
2017 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 19
|
Guest |
2017 | Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen - The Final Tribute | Self |
2016 | Are You Being Served? | Mr Harman |
2016 | Arthur Smith - Mindlessness: A Beginner's Guide | Self |
2015 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 15
|
Guest |
2015 | Gilded Balloon 30th Anniversary Gala | Self |
2015 | Loving Linda Smith Gala Concert: In Aid of Target Ovarian Cancer | Self |
2015 | Gilded Balloon 30th Anniversary Comedy Walk | Self |
2015 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 14
|
Guest |
2014 | BBC New Comedy Award - 2014
|
Host / Presenter |
2014 | Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen (Vol. 2) | Self |
2013 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 12
|
Guest |
2013 | BBC New Comedy Award - 2013
|
Host / Presenter |
2013 | The Two Ronnies Spectacle
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|
Self |
2013 | Arthur Smith | Self |
2013 | Funny Business
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|
Self |
2013 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 10
|
Guest |
2012 | Bring Me Morecambe And Wise
|
Self |
2012 | This Audio Tour Belongs To Lionel Richie | Self |
2012 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 9
|
Guest |
2012 | Wordaholics - Series 1
|
Guest |
2012 | It's Your Round - Series 2
|
Guest |
2011 | Edinburgh Comedy Live | Host / Presenter |
2011 | Arthur Smith's Pissed-Up Chat Show | Self |
2011 | What's So Funny? - Series 1
|
Guest |
2011 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 7
|
Guest |
2011 | It's Your Round - Series 1
|
Guest |
2011 | Eric & Ernie
|
Self |
2010 | Carpool | Guest |
2010 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 6
|
Guest |
2010 | Arthur Smith's Cobbled Up Shambles | Self |
2010 | Arthur Smith's Edinburgh Bash | Self |
2010 | Aaaaaaaargh! Malcolm Hardee Documentary Preview | Self |
2010 | Arthur Smith's Balham Bash - Series 2
View episodes
|
Host / Presenter |
2010 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 5
|
Guest |
2009 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 4
|
Guest |
2009 | Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 7
|
Guest |
2009 | Arthur Smith's Balham Bash - Series 1
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|
Host / Presenter |
2009 | My Name Is Daphne Fairfax
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|
Writer |
2009 | My Name Is Daphne Fairfax
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|
Host / Presenter |
2009 | Heresy - Series 6
|
Guest |
2009 | The Unbelievable Truth - Series 3
|
Guest |
2009 | Arturart
View episodes |
Writer |
2009 | Arturart
View episodes |
Host / Presenter |
2009 | I've Never Seen Star Wars - Series 2
|
Guest |
2008 | Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 5
|
Guest |
2008 | The Smith Lectures - Series 16 | Writer |
2008 | The Smith Lectures - Series 16 | Host / Presenter |
2008 | Heresy - Series 5
|
Guest |
2008 | Banter - Series 3
|
Guest |
2008 | Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 4
|
Guest |
2008 | The Museum Of Curiosity - Gallery 1
|
Guest |
2008 | The Smith Lectures - Series 15 | Writer |
2008 | The Smith Lectures - Series 15 | Host / Presenter |
2008 | 28 Acts In 28 Minutes - Series 2
|
Guest |
2008 | Arthur Smith's Comedy Club | Actor |
2007 | Alexei Sayle's Alternative Take
|
Self (Archive Material) |
2007 | Does The Team Think... - Series 1
|
Guest |
2007 | Heresy - Series 4
|
Guest |
2007 | Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 3
|
Guest |
2007 | The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups | Self |
2007 | The Smith Lectures - Series 14 | Writer |
2007 | The Smith Lectures - Series 14 | Host / Presenter |
2006 | The Smith Lectures - Series 13 | Writer |
2006 | The Smith Lectures - Series 13 | Host / Presenter |
2006 | I Think The Nurses Are Stealing My Clothes | Host / Presenter |
2006 | Linda Smith Gala | Self |
2006 | Banter - Series 2
|
Guest |
2006 | QI - Series D
|
Guest |
2006 | Banter - Series 1
|
Guest |
2006 | The Smith Lectures - Series 12 | Writer |
2006 | The Smith Lectures - Series 12 | Host / Presenter |
2006 | Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 2
|
Guest |
2005 | Vic Reeves's Best And Worst Of God | Self |
2005 | QI - Series C
|
Guest |
2005 | The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - The Quandary Phase
|
Barman |
2005 | The Smith Lectures - Series 11 | Writer |
2005 | The Smith Lectures - Series 11 | Host / Presenter |
2005 | What A Carve Up!
|
Sid James |
2005 | The Comedians' Comedian | Self |
2004 | The Smith Lectures - Series 10 | Writer |
2004 | The Smith Lectures - Series 10 | Host / Presenter |
2004 | Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 1
|
Guest |
2004 | QI - Series B
|
Guest |
2004 | The Smith Lectures - Series 9 | Writer |
2004 | The Smith Lectures - Series 9 | Host / Presenter |
2004 | The Right Time - Series 4
|
Writer |
2004 | The Right Time - Series 4
View episodes
|
Various |
2004 | Beat The Kids
|
Guest |
2004 | The Smith Lectures - Series 8 | Writer |
2004 | The Smith Lectures - Series 8 | Host / Presenter |
2004 | Britain's Best Sitcom
|
Guest |
2003 | 21 Years Of Just For Laughs | Host / Presenter |
2003 | 4 In A Field - Series 1 | Host / Presenter |
2003 | The Smith Lectures - Series 7 | Writer |
2003 | The Smith Lectures - Series 7 | Host / Presenter |
2002 | Arthur Smith's Last Hangover | Guest |
2002 | The Smith Lectures - Series 6 | Host / Presenter |
2002 | The Smith Lectures - Series 6 | Writer |
2002 | The Motion Show - Series 5
|
Guest |
2002 | The Smith Lectures - Series 5 | Writer |
2002 | The Smith Lectures - Series 5 | Host / Presenter |
2001 | Rex The Runt - Series 2
View episodes
|
Arthur Dustcart (Voice) |
2001 | Married - Series 3
View episodes
|
Arthur Smith |
2001 | The Motion Show - Series 4
|
Guest |
2001 | The Smith Lectures - Series 4 | Writer |
2001 | The Smith Lectures - Series 4 | Host / Presenter |
2001 | Never Mind The Buzzcocks - Series 8
|
Guest |
2000 | Comedians' Comedians - Series 1
|
Self |
2000 | The Motion Show - Series 3
|
Guest |
2000 | Married - Series 2
View episodes
|
Arthur Smith |
2000 | The Motion Show - Series 2
|
Guest |
1999 | The Smith Lectures - Series 3 | Writer |
1999 | The Smith Lectures - Series 3 | Host / Presenter |
1999 | Never Mind The Buzzcocks - Series 6
|
Guest |
1999 | Married - Series 1
View episodes
|
Arthur Smith |
1999 | The Smith Lectures - Series 2 | Writer |
1999 | The Smith Lectures - Series 2 | Host / Presenter |
1999 | Rex The Runt - Series 1
View episodes
|
Arthur Dustcart (Voice) |
1998 | My Summer With Des | Writer |
1998 | The Smith Lectures - Series 1 | Writer |
1998 | The Smith Lectures - Series 1 | Host / Presenter |
1997 | Room 101 - Series 3
|
Guest |
1997 | The Life & Times Of Alf Garnett | Narrator |
1994 | Have I Got News For You - Series 8
|
Guest |
1994 | An Evening With Gary Lineker | Taxi Driver |
1994 | An Evening With Gary Lineker | Writer |
1993 | The Full Monty
|
Guest |
1991 | Hale And Pace - Series 4 (as Nice & Smith)
|
Writer |
1991 | Josie
View episodes
|
Writer |
1990 | Have I Got News For You - Series 1
|
Guest |
1990 | Paramount City - Series 1 | Host / Presenter |
1989 | Red Dwarf - Series III
|
Pub Manager |
1989 | 1st Exposure - Series 2
View episodes
|
Host / Presenter |
1988 | The Unfair Quiz | Regular Panellist |
1988 | The Kate Robbins Show
|
Writer |
1988 | 1st Exposure - Series 1
View episodes
|
Host / Presenter |
1987 | Alas Smith & Jones - Series 4 | Writer |
1987 | Kate And Ted's Show
|
Writer |
1987 | Hello Mum (as Smith/Nice)
|
Writer |
1987 | Hello Mum
View episodes
|
Ensemble Actor |
1987 | Filthy Rich & Catflap
|
Milkman |
1987 | King Street Junior - Series 2
|
Supplies Man |
1987 | The Mausoleum Club - Tales From The Mausoleum Club
|
Policeman |
1987 | Hello Mum | Ensemble Actor |
1986 | Girls On Top - Series 2
|
Delivery Man |
1986 | Alas Smith & Jones - Series 3 | Writer |
1985 | Arthur And Phil Go Off... | Writer |
1985 | Arthur And Phil Go Off... | Self |
1985 | Happy Families
|
Policeman |
1985 | Delve Special - Series 2 | Ensemble Actor |
1985 | The Good Human Guide | Various |
1985 | The Good Human Guide | Various |
1985 | The Good Human Guide | Various |
1985 | The Good Human Guide - Series 1 | Various |
1984 | Weekend In Wallop | Self |
1984 | Delve Special - Series 1 | Ensemble Actor |
1983 | The Fosdyke Saga | Ensemble Actor |
1967 | Just A Minute | Guest |
Live Bed Show | Actor | |
Arthur Smith: Arturart | Self |
Non-comedy TV and film credits may be found here:
Arthur Smith on IMDb
- Born
- Saturday 27th November 1954 (70 years-old)
- Nationality
- English
Born in Berdmondsey, south London, Arthur Smith graduated with a 2:1 in Comparative Literature from the University of East Anglia before beginning his career in comedy.
A regular at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since 1977, he has compered almost every year of the long-running Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition final.
Alongside his work in stand-up, Smith has performed a range of musical comedy shows such as Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen, which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 4. In 2013 he would take a reworked edition of this show to the Edinburgh Fringe, entitled Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen (Volume Too).
From 1998 to 2001 he starred in the BBC Two sitcom Rex The Runt, an Aardman Animations production about the lives of four dogs. Here he gave his voice to the character of Arthur Dustcart.
Around the same time, from 1999 to 2001, he starred in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Married, which followed Robin Lightfoot, a bachelor who wakes up one day to find that he is married - with two children!
One of Smith's comic routines has been set to music by Mark Beazley, aka Rothko, for a CD that was curated by fellow comic Stewart Lee. In 2005, Smith rejected a lifetime achievement award from the Perrier Award, claiming that his ego was already too bloated.
A longtime resident of Balham in south London, he has even jokily self-appointed as the "Night Mayor of Balham" (he doesn't do days), and in 2009 made and hosted a comedy series for BBC Radio 4 about his love for the place, entitled Arthur Smith's Balham Bash. Running for three series from 2009 to 2011, the show consisted of Smith throwing open the doors of his actual house to a live audience, promising music, comedy, and laughter.
Smith has also starred in the episode "Backwards" of the much-loved sitcom Red Dwarf. Here he played a bar manager on backwards Earth who had hired Kryten and Rimmer as a forward novelty act. In 2016 he also made an appearance as mr Harman in the BBC revival of sitcom Are You Being Served.
A regular contributor to books on stand-up comedy and the craft of writing humour, he has also contributed to shows on the history of British comedy, from Britain's Best Sitcom to How The Young Ones Changed Comedy and The Young Ones' 20 Greatest Moments.
- Dave Funniest Joke Of The Fringe Award 2024
- Main Award (Nominee)
- Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2023
- Legend of Comedy (Winner)
- Brighton Fringe Awards 2019
- Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence (Nominee)
- Malcolm Hardee Awards 2016
- Comic Originality (Nominee (Arthur Smith: The Arturart Museum of Socks))
Cunning Stunt (Nominee)
Act Most Likely to Make a Million Quid (Nominee) - Dave Funniest Joke Of The Fringe Award 2016
- Main Award (13)
- Malcolm Hardee Awards 2010
- Cunning Stunt (Nominee)
- Chortle Awards 2008
- Award For Innovation (Nominee)
- Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2007
- Panel Prize (Winner)
- Olivier Awards 1992
- Best New Comedy (Nominee)
- Edinburgh Comedy Awards 1989
- Best Comedy Show (Nominee)
Further contact details are available to BCG Pro members. See below.