By james art The comic was awarded for cancer documentary A Pain In The Neck
Rod Gilbert has won a Bafta for the moving documentary he made about his cancer treatment.
The comic was named Best Presenter at the Welsh Baftas last night for his brutal and honest Channel 4 show A Pain In The Neck.
After the award was announced, the comic took to social media to thank the team that made and commissioned the show, who “kindly and, in my opinion, foolishly, agreed to film my journey with cancer, not knowing what the outcome would be. I hope this award will go some way to justifying our stupidity.
“I regret that I could not be present to accept the award in person. But I am somewhere, alive, thanks to the wonderful love and support of my wife Sian, my friends, family, Agent Charlotte, the amazing care at Velindre Cancer Center and the NHS in general. I owe you everything.
Gilbert’s wife, comedy writer Sian Harris, posted on X: “When Rod started filming this doc (only on his phone to begin with) after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, I thought he was crazy as we had enough things. Then I saw how focusing on letting others know helped him get through it and now I’m so, so proud of him.
The comedian was a patron and lead fundraiser for the Velindre Center in Cardiff and later joked: “Imagine my surprise when I was diagnosed with cancer because I thought I would be immune for life.”
In October, the 55-year-old received his first clear scan following treatment for metastatic head and neck cancer, and he discusses his experiences on his ongoing stand-up show Rhod Gilbert And The Giant Grapefruit.
Three years ago Gilbert won a Bafta Cymru award for presenting Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience, which also scooped the award for best factual series.
Veteran Welsh stand-up Max Boyce also picked up a gong last night when BBC tribute Max Boyce At 80 was named best entertainment programme.
» Our review of Rhod Gilbert: A Pain In The Neck
Published: October 21, 2024