Toby Jones on Pebble Mill 1982

Toby Jones on the Pebble Mill show on the BBC in December 1982 with Rachel Brown and director Jeremy James Taylor promoting Tin Pan Ali as part of the Childrens Music Theatre company, that later changed it's name to the National Youth Music Theatre

[@stevendimmock4791]

A great actor. You can't go wrong with Toby in the cast!

[@augustseptember3503]

Freddie would be so proud!! Toby struck out, not blessed with heartthrob looks or stature, he has stormed the acting world to become one of the busiest British actors in the 21st century!

[@Zoro007]

Great actor, absolutely believable in anything he's in, brilliant.

[@JonJonJonJonJonJonJonJon]

Calm down

[@Zoro007]

@@JonJonJonJonJonJonJonJon Now now !

[@SuddenlyComics]

What a great clip of one of our best actors - if a film or TV show has Toby Jones in it it’s a must watch

[@wokeupandsmellthecoffee214]

Toby along with Michael Sheen are 2 of the UK's finest actors today.

[@herbieshine1312]

Even though so much younger he still sounds very much the same. It's amazing how he seems to be able to play characters across the acting spectrum. A true actor.

[@kikidevine694]

His voice has pretty much broken at that age so it's not going to be changing all that much

[@jamesbomd3503]

HIS DAD WAS AN ACTOR THERE FOR HE HAS COME FROM PRIVERAGE ! THERES THE BREAKS' HOW DO YOU THINK HE GOT INTO THAT SCHOOL

[@herbieshine1312]

@jamesbomd3503 perhaps through showing an interest in his dad's work finding it an interesting occupation asking his dad for advice going to drama groups doing well getting a place in the school working hard, showing a talent. Your projection is very obvious and a little sad

[@fus149hammer5]

I remember me and the missus going into London to see the Morecambe and Wise tribute "The Play What I Wrote" and being sat next to a rather odd looking gentleman who was dressed in what looked like theatrical garb that is clothing that hadn't just came in off the street and also wearing quite obvious stage makeup. About 15 minutes into the performance he suddenly jumped up and started heckling the actors on the stage shouting that they aren't the real Morecambe and Wise. He then ran onto the stage and it became obvious he was part of the show. Yes it was Toby Jones! For such a small and let's admit it not very good looking man he's become one of our greatest character actors. He's appeared in Dads Army, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Stephen King movies, Dr Who and dozens of TV dramas where he simply melds into the character. A great tribute to his father. 😊

[@michaelgregory9929]

Why do you feel you have the right to mention his looks. What does that have ti di with anything.

[@misfit2022]

Toby Jones - Also a great radio actor for those who followed the excellent The Corrupted on Sounds with Toby playing the deliciously deceitful Joey Oldman. I put a lot of miles on my boots listening to that one.

[@clowncarqingdao]

That was fun! Thanks. Love Toby Jones - he plays characters that I feel other actors couldn't do justice to.

[@PussJohnson]

omg! Hard to think of hims as a child! I think he was born at 40 ha!

[@charliekane135]

Like Fred Astaire and Sid James 😆

[@misteral1083]

Amazing that you had this! If not for VHS archivists like you we'd never get to see it! Thanks so much for uploading and sharing :)

[@trevorastley1727]

Both entertaining, Toby been great in everything I've seen him in.

[@graememorrison333]

He comes alive when he acts. Like so many actors

[@bettytigers]

Toby Jones was great in the latest four parter about the decent Sub-postmasters accused of stealing by slanderous Post Office officials! It's like he achieved both his childhood ambitions, a fine actor and journalistic storyteller!

[@mike-myke22]

That kid will go a long way...

[@flufwix]

Toby Jones is one of the best character actors.

[@MrMegan1962]

I’ll watch anything with Toby Jones in it.

[@BobMartinsback]

Great actor, there's no doubt about that, but as an adult he's also been blessed with a very distinctive face which is instantly memorable.

[@MichelleBlessing]

Rachel Bryant is an awarding winning actress, too.

[@finncullen]

Yes, but how about Rachel Brown who is in this clip?

[@leejohnson3209]

Toby Jones is great, I loved him in the detectorists. He got the slightly geeky, prog loving, real ale drinking, MG owning metal detectorist character down to a T. I wonder where Rachel Brown is today?

[@jetblack.7186]

Wasn’t it a TR 5 or 6 not an MG.

[@jayeblagburn2056]

Toby Jones' character, Lance's, car in the brilliant "Detectorists" was indeed a Triumph, but a TR7, rather than one of the much less modern (I'm a 59 year old girl racer, the TR7 was one of most lusted after cars back in my teenage years and still is.) To my very great embarrassment, I like its Inca Yellow colour too. I'm now off to hang my head in shame!😊 Apologies, I must read every other comment before wading in and going all Triumph geek. I can't help it, but a new car does nothing for me at all ,in fact I only ever dated men who owned nice cars, preferably '70s and '80s, no Tesla or other premium brand EV fans please.

[@steveh4873]

The TR7 is owned by Mackenzie Crook who’s also in the detectorists.

[@leejohnson3209]

​​​@@jetblack.7186It was a TR7. I was going to edit my post but didn't think anyone would care or notice. 😂 Edit. He was great in the recent post office drama too.

[@iant9461]

I much prefer the more down to earth, a little more somber mood to these old daytime shows. Much better than the hyped up trash today, gushing all over themselves.

[@johnr6168]

I quite agree. They also used to interview writers and scientists etc. rather than just A and B list celebrities. That programme was done in the huge foyer at BBC Pebble Mill. It wasn't origially meant to be used as another studio but it worked quite well. The whole centre has now all gone of course.

[@charlottelee3727]

The media just seems to be there now to force talentless celebs in our faces. Even game shows are celeb this and that. I wonder if it's part of the dumbing down of society, where they use talentless and over hyped families , but who are also so narcissist they think they deserve the attention and don't realise they're being used to dumb down society, like Kardash ians and Beck hams. Then young people are dumbed down to think their main aim in life is to be a talentless celeb who sell dumb stories to other idiots about their designer handbag they can't pronounce the name of, with trashy style.Then the families used to dumb down society get promoted for more than they're worth.

[@iant9461]

@@charlottelee3727 Nail The Hit Head You On The But not necessarily in that order! 🤣👍🏻

[@kiefersunderland2297]

Toby is truly MARVELOUS.... The best feel.good film i have ever seen

[@jsmith498]

I'd recommend Detectorists. He's great in that.

[@bitchoflivingblah]

Flippin' heck I had no idea Toby's father was Freddie Jones!! Unforgettable turns in The Elephant Man and Dune and a great character actor, much like his son.

[@davedogge2280]

yes, in Dune he was a very sympathetic character. Didn't know he was Toby's dad either !

[@mackaybrown4847]

We should bring back “and so on, and so forth”

[@itsbrilliant-bt8sv]

Wow. What a find! Went on to be one our finest all round actors.

[@jamesparker40]

That's a bit harsh. He can't help having a weight issue😂

[@OldBigCD]

I'm pretty sure that I saw this show in the Edinburgh Festival when I was a kid. I seem to remember that we got free tickets too.

[@rodmorrison47]

That was fantastic. I didn't realise Toby was Freddie Jones's son - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it? Lovely to see Donnie B. there at the end, too. He was my mum's first boyfriend back in the deep and distant past.

[@bronson1392]

Nepotism. Almost every actor is connected.

[@neilthompson7000]

Or you could call it nepotism which is rife in the entertainment world! Yes he is a good actor though. Made the most of what he has.

[@entertherealmofchaos]

I think I bumped into him once whilst out metal detecting.

[@thefonzkiss]

Never seen anyone look 16 and 48 simultaneously before.

[@valerieboots3229]

Possibly the greatest character actor on the planet currently together with Jason Watkins. Brilliant

[@danielthompson6448]

Gary Oldman has entered the chat.

[@charliekane135]

My two favourites 👍

[@John-lp5xh]

​@@danielthompson6448Gary Oldman hasn't done an interesting role since 2000

[@katemate7253]

I would add Tom Burke to that, also plays parts others couldn’t do. They all ply their trad magnificently

[@charliekane135]

@@katemate7253 Burke is *very* tasty. ‘Cormoran Strike’ …… swoon Is he as versatile an actor though?

[@philiphughes3967]

Extraordinarily clean tape given the 40 years age.

[@edwardwilliammorris1340]

Absolutely fantastic actor . Too man 👍

[@smalltown2223]

Love Toby Jones. Detectorists was brilliant. He Big Time now.

[@stevenpremmel4116]

His singing voice sounds like his speaking voice today.

[@hugojames85]

I really didn't know that Freddie Jone was Toby's dad. The fact that Toby is a nepo baby certainly explains a lot about his rise to appearing in absolutely every film and TV show made over the last 20 years, despite being an actual dwarf. Still, I got absolutely arseholed with Freddie in a pub in Stow-on-the-Wold once, so that's something.

[@johnr6168]

Is Toby really a dwarf? He's arounf 5'4" tall whereas dwarfs are usually well below 4'10" and sometimes well below that.

[@hugojames85]

@@johnr6168 You're probably right, John. He is still somewhat short and ugly to have made it as an actor, though, in these days when looks are everything and acting ability counts for fuck-all. Incidentally, Brother Madigan would have given you the strap in English lessons at my school: the plural of "dwarf" is of course "dwarves"....

[@medalion1390]

@@johnr6168He’s the tallest dwarf in the world.

[@ds9642]

@@johnr6168How come he knows so much about midgets?

[@misteral1083]

Spectacularly mean-spirited post. He's been toiling away in little parts and just recently (comparatively) has become more recognised and recognisable. I have yet to see him turn in a poor performance.

[@Gillby47]

I am always amazed at Toby,s versatility and ubiquitous presence in entertainment.Wonderful. 7:39 Wasn't a big fan of Freddy who used to play such odd parts but he became a favourite in later years,especially in Emmerdale.

[@MegMerrilees]

Brilliant

[@duncanpriestley964]

Born to play Donny MacLeod from Pebble Mill

[@stingray4real]

Brilliant in Mr Bates v The Post Office.

[@JONINXBOX]

If you time traveled back and told that young Toby the massive Hollywood films and cult tv series he would be in, he would never believe you..😂

[@gileswalker5870]

Why when I listen to that producer am I reminded of Legz Akimbo Theatre Group from The League of Gentlemen. With the immortal tagline "Put yourself into a child"😂

[@DaraM73]

He made that last Indiana Jones clap trap movie watchable

[@ambidextra_ambidextra]

Journalism's loss a gift to us all🙏

[@matthewknight4318]

I remember Pebble Mill and admittedly it’s 40 yrs old, but I find it striking how posh-sounding the presenter is - accents on TV have changed a lot.

[@bonnie43uk]

He's the spitting image of Toby Jones.

[@FranzSanchez-ky9up]

He looks like singer, songwriter and sometimes actor, Paul Williams, there.

[@FISHINGMINTY]

I wonder if that is the same Rachel Brown that was in the 1990s Cadbury’s flake adverts? 🤔 I was intrigued if she made it as an actor as well as Toby but only results for Rachel Brown seem to be for the flake advert

[@cb4883]

NEVER HEARD OF HIM 😮

[@PasqualeDeRosa-n1v]

I recognize that tune as an old Irish tune, does anyone know the name/origin?

[@johnodonnell4593]

The Irish version of the song is called “Hot Asphalt”. Like you though, was surprised to hear it here.

[@bobbyboko6317]

He's done well for himself 👍

[@xav9258]

It's much easier when your father can break you in...Otherwise, it's a jolly hard profession to get into...

[@thelstanedwardsson4374]

Very good actor is Toby Jones... but I never realised that he was young once.

[@PMS1950]

Toby is such an outstanding actor. Great performance in Uncle Vanya. I clearly recall standing next to his similarly gifted father, Freddie, at the urinal of the Cricketers Arms, Berwick East Sussex, one Summer's evening in the mid 1970s. Certainly more memorable for me than the great actor. Pub is still there but not as basic and memorable.

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

That sounds like the perfect thing for one of those "tell us an unexpected fact about yourself" things. You should try to get them to put a blue plaque above the urinal.

[@mrblueeyes7889]

Wow

[@1e0s]

Toby is so odd looking but totally morphs into absolutely anyone, he's just extraordinary 😍

[@David-mg1yj]

I never knew Freddie Jones was his father.

[@xav9258]

Neopotism is all-pervasive in the arts...

[@David-mg1yj]

@@xav9258 All the nepotism in the world, won't do an actor any good, if they can't actually act. It might get them into the door of the audition, but that alone won't get an actor a role. Luckily Freddie and Toby were both brilliant actors.

[@peachyllama722]

The first time I saw Toby performing was at the Globe, he played Puck and stole the show.

[@jrbs]

He's done remarkably considering he doesnt have dashing looks and is very short. His talent is such, that the above doesnt matter which is a rare thing.

[@charlottelee3727]

British theatre is more about talent and personality than being fake like Hollywood.

[@encoreunefois1X]

There's no doubting his prodigious talent, however, you might argue that these characteristics have been key to his success in many of the roles he has shone in. Could you imagine someone tall and handsome playing Lance in The Detectorists or playing Truman Capote in Infamous?

[@swordscot]

Back when you couldn’t have a regional accent as a BBC Presenter

[@prashsmurdermap]

Nice find. I remember Pebble Mill well. One of the best programs on TV at that time. R.I.P Freddie Jones -great actor.

[@juleswombat5309]

Whatever happened to that young chap? He seemed to have some talent for acting.

[@blastfromthepast-o1d]

Had no idea his dad was Freddie Jones.

[@davidwaddington9414]

the teeth in those days.

[@MabDarogan2]

Who does this appeal to?

[@crezzwell]

Who the hell is Toby Jones????

[@4002corbe]

He’s got a great tache for a 12 year old

[@thethe6232]

Jesus , he hasn’t aged well . He only 57 and he’s playing people older than Harrison Ford . Must be a very good actor 😂

[@rosalam2706]

Lol. Young Lance

[@terencebarrett2897]

Also apart from wonderful Toby Jones,his lady co star is absolutely wonderful, oh yeah

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

I can't find anything about her. There is an actress of that name, but Scottish and born later. Given equity rules on names, that either means she didn't become a performer or changed her name.

[@plweis7203]

‘Its’ fyi… no apostrophe required

[@Ianstonn]

Just watched him in 'Indiana Jones 5' ! .. 😐

[@neilgodfrey2669]

That’s not Tony Jones. He’s much older than that. That’s a child in a moustache

[@Magicalfluidprocess]

It always astonishes me how folks hold the job of acting in such high regard, these people are just pretending that is all , they tell stories, and some adults behave like children putting actors on pedestals, they read a script written for them , they have a director telling them how to act , and they then just pretend 😂😂

[@greentorm5467]

They provide a tonic...a favourite film of mine is Empire Of The Sun for eg. a moving performance by a host of talented actors. Solicitors perform too as do politicians and consultants... salespeople...😄

[@LeTon75]

Frigging heck he never aged well

[@Angela-kc5ui]

I miss the days when the UK was it so dumbed down and stupid.

[@cricketbat09]

DMDC

[@ctwofirst6635]

They were promoting "Tin Pan Alley" not "Tin Pan Ali". A place not a person.

[@themmmarvels]

It is Tin Pan Ali, as in Ali Baba.

[@markbeaver5321]

If you can't see that Toby, as all actors are, gender inverted, then I don't know what to tell you, 'he' was born a 'she'.

[@pcoldlight5631]

Is she wearing dead animals?

[@schanche1965]

I got a donkey jacket, so what?

[@hisalexness8478]

Maybe Netflix isn’t shit actually…

[@DanielMasmanian]

Thank god he's lost the tasch.

[@DAVE121063]

I think it was false (stick on) and just part of the 'costume' for the character he was playing?

[@encoreunefois1X]

Toby showing great ability early on. Rachel's character doesn't make it easy for her to shine here and what a bloody awful song!

[@matthewhendy5785]

Cut the blue wire……

[@spunkychops7484]

Waboc

[@schanche1965]

Dreadful, and I've still never heard of him...

[@AndyBillin]

Everyone spoke frightfully frightful

[@tonylocke1214]

I find it a little sad, that anyone not blessed with what are frequently considered to be “good looks”, are automatically given the nomenclature of “character actors”. Toby Jones is quite clearly a fantastic actor. Something he has proven time after time, during his so often overlooked career. Prettiness is such a dreadful means by which to judge people. And sadly, this is by no means limited to the acting profession.

[@colinrattray816]

OMG how frightfully middle England is this whole clip? Should we yearn for these days gone bye, or think thank god it’s a bygone era?

[@jemmajames6719]

Why is it middle class to you?

[@colinrattray816]

@@jemmajames6719 I said middle England as in the geographical area between the north and the south, now you mention it though is the way of speaking that was so common on the BBC, what was it called RP? I wasn’t thinking of it terms of class as such, it’s just so polite, I can’t quite make up my mind if I yearn for those days and manners to return or if I want to cringe at the the thought! I did find it interesting and it made me think, how far we have come? Not necessarily in a good way?

[@andywatts8654]

We have become more low brow with a continued dumbing down of society

[@androod6211]

@colinrattray816 Pebble Mill was based in Birmingham; one of the few non-London BBC programme studios. Think yourself lucky it's as north as middle-England.

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

​@colinrattray816 Why should we be thankful that an age of politeness, good manners and clear diction (no matter whether RP or clearly spoken regional accents) has gone? There's nothing wrong with something coming from Middle England, most people are fed up of everything revolving around London and the South East.

[@twattyshed]

I love Toby Jones but am experiencing a Sean Lock moment here....