Griff Rhys Jones

British comedian Griff Rhys Jones will explore Australia via its network of railways in a new travel series "Griff Off the Rails: Down Under." Rhys Jones will travel through the country, discovering the origins of the railroads, the stories of the people who operate them and the communities that rely on them.

British comedian and travel enthusiast Griff Rhys Jones is boarding the trains of Australia to present a very modern look at the land down under. In this six-part series, Griff will criss-cross the vast continent from the west coast to the east coast, north to south, from surf beaches to dusty outback, he'll cover thousands of miles through the heart of this great land. In 2015, Griff took a very successful train journey through Africa. Now he's going to immerse himself in modern Australia, unravel its pioneering history, delight in its indigenous culture, meet some of its more unique characters, and journey through its most isolated towns and spirited cities.  Along the way, Griff will discover the history of the railroads, the people that operate them and the communities that rely on them - because it's the railways that made modern Australia.

With his trademark inquisitiveness and thirst for the eclectic and little-known, Griff sets out to explore eight very disparate kinds of quintessentially British terrain, from downs to highlands, coasts to wolds and everything in between - unearthing some quirky and funny facts en route. Britain is home to a huge variety of landscapes, and their sheer natural abundance takes centre stage as Griff investigates how they have each dictated different ways of living, working and playing - both in the past and as they are now - across the entire country. And as he embarks on each stage of his journey, Griff encounters a unique challenge. It could be posted in a shop window, stuck inside a parking ticket, even emblazoned across a deckchair, and demanding an often bizarre-sounding task, from finding a golden eagle to hunting a vampire.

The cameras follow Griff Rhys Jones as he finds out more about Africa the unhurried way, as he travels on the continent's railways and is sometime frustrated by making his way through a beautiful and beguiling continent, using the most romantic method of transportation.

Part quiz, part panel show which celebrates the UK's unique and fascinating museums.

In a series of thirty-minute adventures, Griff Rhys Jones will roam eight of the most beautiful, magical and remarkable regions in the principality, in search of his Welsh credentials. Griff wants to uncover the true spirit of Wales and the Welsh. To help him achieve this, he gets given "a challenge" at the beginning of every programme. Each new adventure takes Griff on a helter-skelter journey across a beautiful region. He climbs, dives, abseils, rides and canoes through stunning landscape. He meets amazing people. Solving the challenge will test his Celtic credibility to the limit.

National Treasures of Wales follows Griff Rhys Jones as he finds out how the National Trust copes with the complexities and conflicts involved in looking after some of the nation's most-loved treasures.

The actor and comedian explores the influence of waterways throughout history, and how they have shaped people's lives across Britain.

The "British Academy Film Awards" are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Since 1948, it has rewarded the very best in filmmaking shown in British theatres during the preceding year. BAFTA is the leading independent charity in the UK supporting, developing and promoting the art forms of the moving image. Find out how we are inspiring the next generation of talent in the film, television and video games industries.

Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief.

Alas Smith and Jones is a British comedy sketch television series featuring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones that ran on BBC One and BBC Two from 31 January 1984 to 14 October 1998. From series 5 in 1989 the 'Alas' title was dropped and became simply Smith and Jones.