Rhys Thomas

Radio Times review

"In part two of this revealing but convoluted documentary," says narrator Rhys Thomas, our man Brian (Simon Day) enters the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This prompts a retrospective. In the 1970s and 80s, Brian enjoyed mainstream success, pitched here somewhere between Peter Gabriel and Dire Straits; meanwhile, Thotch carried on without their departed talisman, regrouping as an outfit very similar to Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac.

This is the funniest Pern yet. Every line of Thomas and Day's script brings a laugh, and even the editing and archive shots are carefully loaded with absurdity. Scorching guest turns come from Christopher Eccleston as the producer of Brian's awful Madchester LP, and Jane Asher as an apoplectic ex-wife.

Anybody who saw the faux documentary presented by Brian Pern (Simon Day) on BBC4 knows that the frontman of Genesis-esque prog rock band Thotch is a great comedy creation.

Director Rhys Thomas, who co-wrote the series along with Day, brilliantly portrays the life of an ageing rocker as he tries to keep himself relevant with a modern audience. The stories of Pern refusing to be in a room with his former bandmates (played brilliantly by Paul Whitehouse and Nigel Havers) were perfectly pitched. The creation of a Thotch jukebox musical was an equally enjoyable subplot especially when the show's director Kathy Burke decided to cut all of the overly long Thotch songs from the show.

I personally enjoyed the final few moments of the comedy as Pern was dragged into the police station in a manner that would suggest he was part of a Yewtree-type investigation. But the punchline itself was brilliantly delivered as was the reaction from Pern's manager John Farrow (Michael Kitchen).

Part of the charm of Brian Pern is the fact that everyone is willing to go that extra mile and, in the case of those playing themselves, send up certain elements of their characters. Martin Freeman is a prime example of this as he tries to capture Pern's mannerisms in order to correctly portray him in the musical.

Meanwhile, a cameoing Tim Rice perfectly sums up his feelings about the Jukebox musical and how they've taken away from his type of musical theatre.

Although some of the jokes don't hit the mark, Brian Pern: A Life in Rock is a perfectly constructed mockumentary that owes a massive debt to the work of Christopher Guest. The fact that the sitcom is only three parts means that it won't outstay it's welcome and at the same time will leave the audience craving for more from Day's egotistical prog rocker.

Radio Times review

The gloriously silly spoof documentary from Down the Line star Rhys Thomas may have grown up with a move from BBC Four to BBC Two - even if its lead character, played by Fast Show alumnus Simon Day, certainly has not. There's also a slight format change. Pern, former front man of fictional prog rock band Thotch, no longer narrates and this opener is more of a spoof arts doc fronted by Thomas and focusing on Stowe Boys, a West End rock musical about the band directed by Kathy Burke. What could go wrong? Well, everything of course.

Yes, it clearly owes a debt to Spinal Tap, Christopher Guest's 1984 masterpiece, but Thomas (who won a Rose d'Or for a Freddie Mercury documentary) has a scalpel-sharp eye for rock-star foibles. And there are joyous contributions once again from Michael Kitchen as Pern's fantastically arrogant and unpleasant manager John Farrow, Paul Whitehouse as the band's guitarist Pat Quid and Nigel Havers's priapic Tony Pebblé (pronounced "Peblay").

Simon Day & Rhys Thomas on life with Brian Pern

This week sees the launch of Brian Pern: A Life in Rock on BBC Two. The mockumentary focuses on prog-rock singer Brian Pern, as he attempts to adapt to life after fronting one of rock's biggest bands. Featuring a host of big name guest stars, the show is an absolute treasure, and TVO was lucky enough to talk to its creators, writers and stars, Simon Day and Rhys Thomas about the life of Brian.

Rhys Thomas and Simon Day interview

Rhys Thomas and Simon Day on Brian Pern: A Life In Rock.

Simon Day and Rhys Thomas plan new sitcom

Fast Show star Day is set to reprise his character of Deptford armed robber Tony Beckton, who previously appeared on Bellamy's People and on Radio 4's The Simon Day Show, in a sitcom that Thomas is developing about divorced men living in a caravan park.

The Life of Rock with Brian Pern review

This is an absolute gem of a comedy series, reminding us why Simon Day is such a well-regarded performer, and will enhance Rhys Thomas' reputation as a comedy writer/director to watch.

BBC Four frequently wheels out ageing tunesmiths for rock retrospectives, but nothing on as grand a scale as this. Brian Pern of prog pioneers Thotch, more commonly known as The Fast Show's Simon Day, takes us through a three-part history of all things rock in this spoof series, featuring contributions from Jools Holland and Roger Taylor, as well as Vic and Bob's folk monsters Mulligan and O'Hare. Day and director Rhys Thomas have created an absolute treat for musos and comedy fans alike.

This comedy panel show often comes off as a pale imitation of Room 101 but Matt Lucas has scored a coup tonight: he's signed up puppet legends Sooty, Sweep and Soo as guest judges. Genius!

Guests Rhys Thomas, Susan Calman and Andy Parsons may as well resign themselves to playing second fiddle as they ponder categories including Most Deluded Group Of People.

England fans? Talent show singers? The list is endless...

Sirens series one review: dial 999 for comedy

Fusing drama and comedy in the same way that the EMTs' experience combines the surreal with the devastating, Rhys Thomas reveals that the show will go on to push the boundaries more and more as it develops.