Elis James grew up in Carmarthen and later lived in Cardiff.
27 Facts About Elis James
2.
Elis James is bilingual in Welsh and English and has performed stand-up in both languages.
3.
Elis James's mother worked with the father of Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert and the mother of Welsh musician Euros Childs.
4.
Elis James began his comedy career in 2005, though he had previously won the Maes B comedy award at the 1999 national eisteddfod.
5.
Elis James made the transition to full-time comedy work in 2008.
6.
Elis James commenced his role as Rex Jones, an old caretaker who is a post-Marxist with a health-and-safety obsession, in the live show Chris Corcoran's Committee Meeting in 2009.
7.
Elis James supported Gilbert on his national UK tour, "Rhod Gilbert and the Award-Winning Mince Pie", in 2010.
8.
Elis James performed the "Daytripper" show at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
9.
Elis James was the MC of the Machynlleth Comedy Festival Gala performance at the May 2014 Hay Festival.
10.
Elis James performed alongside partner Isy Suttie, as well as comedians Henry Paker and Mike Wozniak.
11.
At the 2015 Machynlleth Comedy Festival, Elis James performed a new Work in Progress show as well as a set in Welsh.
12.
In late 2015, Elis James recorded a stand-up special in Welsh titled Rhacs Jibiders.
13.
In 2020 Elis James began co-hosting The Socially Distant Sports Bar podcast with sports journalist Steff Garrero and comedian Mike Bubbins, based on their love of sport but lack of live sport due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
14.
Elis James played Rex Jones in the radio spin-off of Chris Corcoran's Committee Meeting, Social Club FM, which was initially broadcast in August 2011 for BBC Radio Wales and ran for two years.
15.
Since 2014, Elis James has co-written and co-starred in the BBC Radio Wales sketch show Here Be Dragons.
16.
In 2020 Elis James became the Champion of Champions in BBC Radio 5 Live's Fighting Talk, defeating one of the big beasts of the show, Steve Bunce.
17.
Elis James makes occasional appearances on The Guardian's Football Weekly podcast, usually to talk about the performances of the Welsh national team.
18.
Elis James presented early episodes of the S4C music television programme Bandit and has appeared in segments of Hwb, S4C's Welsh-learners program.
19.
In 2014 Elis James appeared as Nigel in series 2 episode 3 of Crackanory on the Dave channel, and as Owen in the BBC Three "Comedy Feed" pilot Josh, starring Josh Widdicombe.
20.
In 2018, Elis James took part in BBC Two's game show Richard Osman's House of Games.
21.
In October 2018, Elis James appeared in the Welsh episode of HISTORY's TV series Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate The English alongside host Al Murray.
22.
Also in October 2018, Elis James starred in and narrated 'Greatest Ever Movie Blunders' for Channel 5.
23.
Elis James is the narrator of the BBC Four documentary The Secret Life of Farm Animals, first broadcast in March 2022.
24.
Elis James won the Best Comedy prize at the National Student Radio Awards in 2006.
25.
Elis James is a supporter of Swansea City and Wales, and has an extensive collection of retro shirts of both teams.
26.
Elis James explained in 2010 that the worst thing about being a comedian is when the timing of Swansea City games clash with his live show commitments.
27.
Elis James is engaged to actress, comedian and musician Isy Suttie.