Rob Brydon ‘regrets’ turning down Dolly Parton interview

by | Sep 5, 2026 | Entertainment

Rob Brydon 'regrets' turning down Dolly Parton interview

Rob Brydon, known for his role in the television series Gavin and Stacey, stated in a recent radio interview that he regrets not accepting an offer to interview country music icon Dolly Parton. The opportunity arose while Brydon was filming the BBC documentary series Honky Tonk Road Trip, which explored 100 years of country music history across the American South. During production, he visited Dollywood, the theme park created by Parton, where researchers had traced the family genealogy of the Parton and Owens families back to Wales.

Brydon was informed he could conduct an interview with Parton if he returned after filming concluded, but chose instead to remain on a family vacation in Arizona. Speaking to Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales, Brydon acknowledged the missed opportunity, noting that he never met Parton. Parton died on 25 August following a brief cancer battle after being hospitalized with kidney and autoimmune complications.

During the radio conversation, Owen drew a parallel between Brydon’s work promoting children’s literature and Parton’s Imagination Library, a global book-gifting initiative that distributes free monthly books to children from birth through age five. Brydon acknowledged the connection, agreeing it represented a meaningful alignment of their respective charitable efforts.

Brydon is releasing his debut children’s book, The Cat in The Cupboard, designed for ages five to seven. The rhyming story, set to publish later this month, follows a cat named Crumble through garden adventures. Brydon drew inspiration from tales he created for his own children about their ginger cat, and educators have praised his willingness to introduce unfamiliar vocabulary to young readers. Brydon also discussed his continued connection with fellow Gavin and Stacey cast members Ruth Jones and James Corden, expressing enthusiasm about their upcoming comedy project The Choir.

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