Arthur Smith
Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith (I)

  • 69 years old
  • English
  • Actor, writer and stand-up comedian
Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith is an English comedian known for his work in the alternative comedy scene in the early 1980s. He is best known for his own music and comedy show Arthur Smith's Balham Bash, in which he would invite a range of guests into his own Balham home in South London for a night of varied entertainment and laughs. He is also the voice of Arthur Dustcart on TV's Rex The Runt, and has acted in radio sitcoms such as BBC Radio 4's Married.

Year Production Role
2024 Bath Comedy Festival Self
2024 The Chortle Comedy Book Festival Self
2024 Leicester Comedy Festival Self
2024 No Alternative Self (Archive Material)
2023 Harrogate Comedy Festival Self
2023 The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E11 - Warbling Weeds From Space!
  2. E12 - The New Kid
  3. E1 - Olden Days
  4. E2 - Ski Week
  5. E3 - Get Knitted
  6. E4 - Lawnmower Land
  7. E5 - Gorgeous George
  8. E6 - Moonbreaker
  9. E7 - Robo-Betty
  10. E8 - Mind The Gap
  11. E9 - The Deep End
  12. E10 - Dave, Dave And Dave
George Spud (Voice)
2023 Leicester Comedy Festival Self
2022 Arthur Smith: My 75 Years at the Edinburgh Fringe Self
2022 Cotswold Comedy Festival Self
2022 Slapstick Festival Self
2021 The Chortle Comedy Book Festival Self
2021 Father Of The Fringe Self
2021 Arthur Smith: Syd Writer
2021 Arthur Smith: Syd Host / Presenter
2021 Bath Comedy Festival Self
2021 Cambridge Comedy Festival Self
2021 Save The Bill Murray
  1. E7 - Arthur Smith
Self
2020 The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Moth Gran
  2. E2 - The Beast Of Grimsby
  3. E3 - Chow Wow
  4. E4 - The Throne
  5. E5 - Grimmest Face
  6. E6 - Breaking Gran
  7. E7 - Two Toots Spud
  8. E8 - The Grimsby Mermaid
  9. E9 - Venice Of The North
  10. E10 - Zombie Apocalypse
  11. E12 - Magic
  12. E13 - Delivery Dave
  13. E14 - Barry
  14. E15 - Funnyfins
  15. E16 - Waterworks
  16. E17 - Do Zombies Dream Of Banana Custard?
  17. E18 - Space Fabric And Time
  18. E19 - Cheesy Dreams
  19. E20 - Krustee Sloth
  20. E21 - Cheer Grimsby
  21. E22 - A Wig Improvement
  22. E23 - Tiny Problem
  23. E24 - Electrogran
  24. E25 - Fit Is Fun
  25. E26 - Lucky Sausage
  26. E27 - Happy Birthday Gareth
  27. E28 - King Of The Dump
  28. E29 - Journey Into Fuzzypeg
  29. E30 - Top Town Of The North
  30. E31 - The Whippets
  31. E32 - Grimsby Fairy Tale
  32. E33 - Spud Railways
  33. E34 - Be More Unicorn
  34. E35 - Grim Fest
  35. E36 - Old Dave
  36. E37 - An Honest Face
  37. E38 - Little Fluffy Cloud
  38. E39 - Spud Island
  39. E40 - Trucking American Dreams
George Spud (Voice)
2020 Now Wash Your Hands
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Guest
2020 Leicester Comedy Festival Self
2019 The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E3 - A Whaley Good Time
George Spud (Voice)
2019 Arthur Smith: SYD Self
2019 Guildford Fringe Festival Self
2019 Comedy Club Extravaganza Host / Presenter
2018 Arthur Smith: Syd Self
2018 The Young Ones' 20 Greatest Moments Self
2018 How The Young Ones Changed Comedy Self
2018 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 20
  1. E3 - Episode Three
  2. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
2018 When Comedy Goes Horribly Wrong Self
2017 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 19
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
Guest
2017 Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen - The Final Tribute Self
2016 Are You Being Served? Mr Harman
2016 Arthur Smith - Mindlessness: A Beginner's Guide Self
2015 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 15
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E5 - Episode Five
Guest
2015 Gilded Balloon 30th Anniversary Gala Self
2015 Loving Linda Smith Gala Concert: In Aid of Target Ovarian Cancer Self
2015 Gilded Balloon 30th Anniversary Comedy Walk Self
2015 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 14
  1. E3 - Episode Three
  2. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
2014 BBC New Comedy Award - 2014
  1. E8 - London Heat 2
Host / Presenter
2014 Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen (Vol. 2) Self
2013 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 12
  1. E1 - Episode One
Guest
2013 BBC New Comedy Award - 2013
  1. E7 - Heat 7
Host / Presenter
2013 The Two Ronnies Spectacle
View episodes
  1. E2 - The Sketches
  2. E3 - Songs & Serials
Self
2013 Arthur Smith Self
2013 Funny Business
View episodes
  1. E1 - Gags To Riches
  2. E2 - Deal Makers
Self
2013 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 10
  1. E3 - Episode Three
  2. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
2012 Bring Me Morecambe And Wise
  1. E1 - From Stage To Screen
  2. E2 - The Guest Stars
  3. E4 - The Plays Wot Ernie Wrote
  4. E5 - Christmas
Self
2012 This Audio Tour Belongs To Lionel Richie Self
2012 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 9
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E4 - Episode Four
Guest
2012 Wordaholics - Series 1
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E4 - Episode Four
Guest
2011 Edinburgh Comedy Live Host / Presenter
2011 Arthur Smith's Pissed-Up Chat Show Self
2011 What's So Funny? - Series 1
  1. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
2011 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 7
  1. E3 - Episode Three
  2. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
2011 It's Your Round - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
  2. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
2011 Eric & Ernie
  1. Special - Behind The Scenes
Self
2010 Carpool
  1. E2 - Chris Addison & Arthur Smith
Guest
2010 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 6
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E5 - Episode Five
Guest
2010 Arthur Smith's Cobbled Up Shambles Self
2010 Arthur Smith's Edinburgh Bash Self
2010 Aaaaaaaargh! Malcolm Hardee Documentary Preview Self
2010 Arthur Smith's Balham Bash - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
Host / Presenter
2010 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 5
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E5 - Episode Five
Guest
2009 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 4
  1. E3 - Episode Three
  2. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
2009 Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 7 Guest
2009 Arthur Smith's Balham Bash - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
Host / Presenter
2009 My Name Is Daphne Fairfax
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
Writer
2009 My Name Is Daphne Fairfax
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
Host / Presenter
2009 Heresy - Series 6
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Guest
2009 The Unbelievable Truth - Series 3
  1. E5 - Episode Five
Guest
2009 Arturart
View episodes
  1. E1 - Classical Civilisation and Arturantiquities
  2. E2 - The High Summer Of The Arturart Renaissance
  3. E3 - Modern Arturart - Post-Modern Then Email-Modern
Writer
2009 Arturart
View episodes
  1. E1 - Classical Civilisation and Arturantiquities
  2. E2 - The High Summer Of The Arturart Renaissance
  3. E3 - Modern Arturart - Post-Modern Then Email-Modern
Host / Presenter
2009 I've Never Seen Star Wars - Series 2
  1. E2 - Arthur Smith
Guest
2008 Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 5 Guest
2008 The Smith Lectures - Series 16 Writer
2008 The Smith Lectures - Series 16 Host / Presenter
2008 Heresy - Series 5
  1. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
2008 Banter - Series 3
  1. E2 - Episode Two
Guest
2008 Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 4 Guest
2008 The Museum Of Curiosity - Gallery 1
  1. E3 - Meeting Three
Guest
2008 The Smith Lectures - Series 15 Writer
2008 The Smith Lectures - Series 15 Host / Presenter
2008 28 Acts In 28 Minutes - Series 2
  1. E2 - Episode Two
Guest
2008 Arthur Smith's Comedy Club Actor
2007 Alexei Sayle's Alternative Take
  1. E4 - Episode Four
Self (Archive Material)
2007 Does The Team Think... - Series 1
  1. E4 - Episode Four
  2. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
2007 Heresy - Series 4
  1. E4 - Episode Four
Guest
2007 Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 3 Guest
2007 The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups
  1. E1 - The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups 2007
  2. E2 - 100 Greatest Stand-Ups 2010
Self
2007 The Smith Lectures - Series 14 Writer
2007 The Smith Lectures - Series 14 Host / Presenter
2006 The Smith Lectures - Series 13 Writer
2006 The Smith Lectures - Series 13 Host / Presenter
2006 I Think The Nurses Are Stealing My Clothes Host / Presenter
2006 Linda Smith Gala Self
2006 Banter - Series 2
  1. E1 - Episode One
Guest
2006 QI - Series D
  1. E2 - Discoveries
Guest
2006 Banter - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Guest
2006 The Smith Lectures - Series 12 Writer
2006 The Smith Lectures - Series 12 Host / Presenter
2006 Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 2 Guest
2005 Vic Reeves's Best And Worst Of God Self
2005 QI - Series C
  1. E2 - Cummingtonite
Guest
2005 The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - The Quandary Phase
  1. E1 - Fit The Nineteenth
Barman
2005 The Smith Lectures - Series 11 Writer
2005 The Smith Lectures - Series 11 Host / Presenter
2005 What A Carve Up!
  1. E6 - Episode Six
Sid James
2005 The Comedians' Comedian Self
2004 The Smith Lectures - Series 10 Writer
2004 The Smith Lectures - Series 10 Host / Presenter
2004 Clive Anderson's Chat Room - Series 1 Guest
2004 QI - Series B
  1. E7 - Biscuits
Guest
2004 The Smith Lectures - Series 9 Writer
2004 The Smith Lectures - Series 9 Host / Presenter
2004 The Right Time - Series 4
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
Writer
2004 The Right Time - Series 4
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
Various
2004 The Smith Lectures - Series 8 Writer
2004 The Smith Lectures - Series 8 Host / Presenter
2004 Britain's Best Sitcom
  1. E1 - The Launch
  2. E11 - Dad's Army
Guest
2003 21 Years Of Just For Laughs Host / Presenter
2003 4 In A Field - Series 1 Host / Presenter
2003 The Smith Lectures - Series 7 Writer
2003 The Smith Lectures - Series 7 Host / Presenter
2002 Arthur Smith's Last Hangover Guest
2002 The Smith Lectures - Series 6 Writer
2002 The Smith Lectures - Series 6 Host / Presenter
2002 The Smith Lectures - Series 5 Host / Presenter
2002 The Smith Lectures - Series 5 Writer
2001 Rex The Runt - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E2 - Wendy's Hot Date
  2. E4 - A Crap Day Out
  3. E11 - Art Of Cooking
  4. E13 - Hole In The Garden
Arthur Dustcart (Voice)
2001 Married - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E5 - Episode Five
  5. E6 - Episode Six
Arthur Smith
2001 The Smith Lectures - Series 4 Writer
2001 The Smith Lectures - Series 4 Host / Presenter
2001 Never Mind The Buzzcocks - Series 8
  1. E2 - Episode Two
Guest
2000 Comedians' Comedians - Series 1
  1. E3 - Peter Cook
Self
2000 Married - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E6 - War Of The Worlds
Arthur Smith
1999 The Smith Lectures - Series 3 Writer
1999 The Smith Lectures - Series 3 Host / Presenter
1999 Never Mind The Buzzcocks - Series 6
  1. E1 - Episode One
Guest
1999 Married - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E4 - Episode Four
Arthur Smith
1999 The Smith Lectures - Series 2 Writer
1999 The Smith Lectures - Series 2 Host / Presenter
1999 Rex The Runt - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E13 - Carbonara
Arthur Dustcart (Voice)
1998 My Summer With Des Writer
1998 The Smith Lectures - Series 1 Writer
1998 The Smith Lectures - Series 1 Host / Presenter
1997 Room 101 - Series 3
  1. E6 - Arthur Smith
Guest
1997 The Life & Times Of Alf Garnett Narrator
1994 Have I Got News For You - Series 8
  1. E2 - Episode Two
Guest
1994 An Evening With Gary Lineker Writer
1993 The Full Monty
  1. E6 - Episode Six
Guest
1991 Hale And Pace - Series 4 (as Nice & Smith)
  1. E2 - Episode Two
Writer
1991 Josie
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
Writer
1990 Have I Got News For You - Series 1
  1. E4 - Episode Four
Guest
1990 Paramount City - Series 1 Host / Presenter
1989 Red Dwarf - Series III
  1. E1 - Backwards
Pub Manager
1989 1st Exposure - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
Host / Presenter
1988 The Unfair Quiz Regular Panellist
1988 The Kate Robbins Show
  1. E1 - Episode One
Writer
1988 1st Exposure - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
Host / Presenter
1987 Alas Smith & Jones - Series 4 Writer
1987 Kate And Ted's Show
  1. E3 - Episode Three
Writer
1987 Hello Mum (as Smith/Nice)
  1. E5 - Episode Five
Writer
1987 Hello Mum
View episodes
  1. E5 - Episode Five
Ensemble Actor
1987 Filthy Rich & Catflap
  1. E1 - Episode One
Milkman
1987 King Street Junior - Series 2
  1. E1 - Priorities
Supplies Man
1987 The Mausoleum Club - Tales From The Mausoleum Club
  1. E1 - The Inaudible Man
Policeman
1987 Hello Mum Ensemble Actor
1986 Girls On Top - Series 2
  1. E6 - Lower The Donkey
Delivery Man
1986 Alas Smith & Jones - Series 3 Writer
1985 Arthur And Phil Go Off... Writer
1985 Arthur And Phil Go Off... Self
1985 Happy Families
  1. E4 - Joyce
Policeman
1985 Delve Special - Series 2
  1. E1 - The Archibald Gallery Robbery
Ensemble Actor
1985 The Good Human Guide Various
1985 The Good Human Guide Various
1985 The Good Human Guide Various
1985 The Good Human Guide - Series 1 Various
1984 Weekend In Wallop Self
1984 Delve Special - Series 1
  1. E4 - The Shifton Scandal, Part 4
Ensemble Actor
1983 The Fosdyke Saga Ensemble Actor
1967 Just A Minute Guest
Live Bed Show Actor
Arthur Smith: Arturart Self

Non-comedy TV and film credits may be found here:
Arthur Smith on IMDb

Born
Saturday 27th November 1954 (69 years-old)
Nationality
English

Born in Berdmondsey, south London, Arthur Smith graduated with a 2:1 in Comparative Literature from the University of East Anglia before beginning his career in comedy.

A regular at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since 1977, he has compered almost every year of the long-running Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition final.

Alongside his work in stand-up, Smith has performed a range of musical comedy shows such as Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen, which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 4. In 2013 he would take a reworked edition of this show to the Edinburgh Fringe, entitled Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen (Volume Too).

From 1998 to 2001 he starred in the BBC Two[/z] sitcom Rex The Runt, an Aardman Animations production about the lives of four dogs. Here he gave his voice to the character of Arthur Dustcart.

Around the same time, from 1999 to 2001, he starred in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Married, which followed Robin Lightfoot, a bachelor who wakes up one day to find that he is married - with two children!

One of Smith's comic routines has been set to music by Mark Beazley, aka Rothko, for a CD that was curated by fellow comic Stewart Lee. In 2005, Smith rejected a lifetime achievement award from the Perrier Award, claiming that his ego was already too bloated.

A longtime resident of Balham in south London, he has even jokily self-appointed as the "Night Mayor of Balham" (he doesn't do days), and in 2009 made and hosted a comedy series for BBC Radio 4 about his love for the place, entitled Arthur Smith's Balham Bash. Running for three series from 2009 to 2011, the show consisted of Smith throwing open the doors of his actual house to a live audience, promising music, comedy, and laughter.

Smith has also starred in the episode "Backwards" of the much-loved sitcom Red Dwarf. Here he played a bar manager on backwards Earth who had hired Kryten and Rimmer as a forward novelty act. In 2016 he also made an appearance as mr Harman in the BBC revival of sitcom Are You Being Served.

A regular contributor to books on stand-up comedy and the craft of writing humour, he has also contributed to shows on the history of British comedy, from Britain's Best Sitcom to How The Young Ones Changed Comedy and The Young Ones' 20 Greatest Moments.

Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2023
Legend of Comedy (Winner)
Brighton Fringe Awards 2019
Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence (Nominee)
Malcolm Hardee Awards 2016
Comic Originality (Nominee (Arthur Smith: The Arturart Museum of Socks))
Cunning Stunt (Nominee)
Act Most Likely to Make a Million Quid (Nominee)
Dave Funniest Joke Of The Fringe Award 2016
Main Award (13)
Malcolm Hardee Awards 2010
Cunning Stunt (Nominee)
Chortle Awards 2008
Award For Innovation (Nominee)
Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2007
Panel Prize (Winner)
Olivier Awards 1992
Best New Comedy (Nominee)
Edinburgh Comedy Awards 1989
Best Comedy Show (Nominee)

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