The Gavin and Stacey star is taking on a new challenge presenting Destination X, however he’s faced plenty of challenges in his personal life too
Comedian, actor, presenter and writer Rob Brydon is a man of many talents, and is now taking on a new role as the host of BBC’s new reality TV competition show Destination X. He’s described it as a cross between The Traitors and Race Across the World, where the format is played out over an incredible journey through Europe.
After years on our screens, known for roles like Gavin and Stacey’s Uncle Bryn or his work on The Trip alongside his friend and co-star Steve Coogan, Rob revealed to the BBC that he was surprised at how invested he became in the series after deciding to take on the new challenge.
And Rob seems to have faced plenty of challenges in his personal life too. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
‘Traumatising divorce’
Rob has walked down the aisle twice and is father to five children ranging in ages from 13 to 30.
His first marriage was to Martina Fitchie in 1992, following their chance encounter at a Cardiff pub during his stint with Radio Wales. As Rob’s acting career flourished, the pair relocated to London where Martina worked as a childminder, and together they welcomed three children, Katie, Harry and Amy.
The marriage ended in 2000, leaving Rob feeling “traumatised” by the separation. It took 16 years before he felt ready to discuss the difficult breakdown publicly in a candid interview with The Times.
He confessed: “You lose excitement with marriage.”
Describing how their relationship “just came to an end”, he explained how the heartbreak left him feeling “derailed” and “lost”, leading to depression and dramatic weight loss.
“I’d been married, with three children, then that goes. All the stage posts in your life, the boundaries that there are, they vanish,” he revealed.
During the split, both parties kept things low-key, with the devoted father determined not to let it affect his youngsters. He reflected: “I’d love to know what could be more traumatic than divorce.
“We both wanted it to happen. We had three children, so of course I looked on it as a bloody failure, but I have friends who’ve been through divorces that make my miraculous hair curl.”
Both have since discovered love once more, with Rob remarrying in 2006 to television producer Clare Holland. The couple have welcomed two sons together, Tom and George.
They reside in the Twickenham area. In a 2017 interview with the Daily Mail, Rob revealed his greatest joy comes from being with his family.
He said: “As they get older and start going off and doing their own thing, I find I’m happiest at big family occasions when everyone is there.
“Either that or when I’ve been drinking heavily. I didn’t start drinking until my mid-30s, so I get drunk remarkably quickly.”
Upbringing
The performer was raised in Baglan, situated near Port Talbot, a town that has nurtured talents including Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins, alongside more recent star Michael Sheen.
When The Guardian asked whether this influenced his career choice, he responded: “Oh yes, absolutely. Because you think somebody who’s come from here has done it. You read a lot of stories about people who grew up in Anonymousville who say: ‘Nobody from there had ever done that.’
“Whereas I always had encouragement from my family. I never had: ‘Oh you want to be an actor, ugh!’ I always had: ‘Oh you want to be an actor? Brilliant! Go for it.'”
However, he candidly admitted to being “a bit of a money whore”, as he was known within his family for his relentless work ethic and frequent corporate gigs. He joked: “Because I got divorced, and that had certain financial implications.”
Financially, the actor has no reason to fret. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he’s estimated to be worth around $8 million, approximately £6 million.
This wealth is largely due to his consistent work over the years, featuring in films such as Cinderella (2015), The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016), Holmes & Watson (2019) and Barbie (2023). He’s also a well-known figure in comedy, having hosted the panel show Would I Lie to You since 2007.
You can watch his next venture Destination X on BBC One or BBC iPlayer from 9pm tonight, July 30. You can find more information here.