Griff's Story

As well as being a celebrated comedian, actor, presenter and author, Griff Rhys Jones is known for his epic adventures around Wales. Here, he talks about mythical legends and Cadw’s hidden historic gems…

What is your favourite Cadw site and why? I adore Pentre Ifan Chambered Tomb above Newport in Pembrokeshire. Atmospheric, puzzling and rather delicately balanced. Just standing in that shadow provokes questions about our deep past, many of which we may never be able to answer.

You’ve written, produced and starred in an array of successful TV, film and theatre productions. If you could choose one Cadw site to set the scene for a storyline, which one would it be and why? Funnily enough I have already filmed in and around Conwy, but Plas Mawr is one that eluded me. Pity. I glanced in and longed to delve further. I like living places as much as ruins and I love furniture. There are great stories of Welsh riches and success in that place.

Which Cadw site would you most like to visit?

I have actually been to so many, but it is a long time since my godmother took me to Castell Coch as a boy. Time I went again.

In 2017 we celebrated the Year of Legends. Have any Welsh legends captured your imagination on your travels? There was a legend that the holy grail had found its way to a country house not far from Aberystwyth. I went to track it down once and found it had gone when the place became a hotel. I had to content myself with looking at a photo of what was probably a very old drinking cup from Strata Florida when that was a working abbey. But my quest made me feel suitably Arthurian.