Owen Money is one of the best-known entertainers associated with Welsh comedy, music, radio and television. Born Lynn Mittell in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, he built a career that has stretched across several decades and entertainment formats. From his early days as a musician with The Bystanders to his work as a comedian, broadcaster, television presenter and theatre producer, Owen Money has remained closely connected with Welsh popular entertainment. His career also includes a long association with BBC Radio Wales and recognition with an MBE for his contribution to entertainment in Wales.
Quick Bio of Owen Money
| About Him | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Lynn Mittell |
| Known As | Owen Money |
| Born | 16 May 1947 |
| Birthplace | Merthyr Tydfil, Wales |
| Profession | Comedian, musician, singer, actor and broadcaster |
| Known For | Comedy, radio presenting, television and live entertainment |
| Early Music Group | The Bystanders |
| Comedy Group | Tomfoolery |
| Radio Programme | Money for Nothing |
| Television Work | Including Down the Social With Owen Money |
| Honour | MBE |
| Nationality | Welsh |
Early Life and Introduction to Entertainment
Owen Money was born Lynn Mittell on 16 May 1947 in Merthyr Tydfil and grew up in the South Wales valleys. His connection with entertainment began at a relatively young age, eventually taking him into professional music before comedy and broadcasting became major parts of his career.
Music provided his first significant route into show business. He became a bass guitarist and lead singer with The Bystanders, a Welsh pop group that recorded during the 1960s. The group released music on the Pye label and developed a reputation for its vocal harmonies. This early experience gave Owen Money an important foundation in live performance and helped establish the skills that would later become central to his career as an entertainer.
From Music to Comedy
During the 1970s, Owen Money expanded his work beyond conventional music. He formed the comedy band Tomfoolery, combining musical performance with humour. According to his production biography, the group became a successful comedy show band and regularly performed at venues including Blackpool South Pier.
This period was important because it demonstrated the combination of music and comedy that would eventually become a defining feature of Owen Money’s public persona. Rather than following a single entertainment path, he developed an ability to move between different forms of performance.
In 1980, he began his solo career. His work as a comedian quickly brought further opportunities, and he received the Club Land Comedian of the Year award. His live career also put him on bills alongside major performers including Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones, according to his official production biography.
Owen Money and BBC Radio Wales
One of the most important chapters in Owen Money’s career began in 1987 when he made his BBC Radio Wales debut with the programme Money for Nothing. The programme developed into an important part of his broadcasting career, mixing music, humour and his distinctive presenting style.
BBC programme records show Money for Nothing continuing as a BBC Radio Wales programme for many years. For example, BBC schedules from 2009 and 2015 list Owen Money presenting the programme with a mixture of music and humour.
His production biography states that the programme’s success led to two Sony Gold Awards in 1997: one for Regional Broadcaster of the Year and another for Best Music Sequence Programme of the Year. These awards represented significant recognition of his broadcasting work.
His radio career also illustrates how strongly his style was connected with Welsh audiences. Rather than relying solely on scripted comedy, his broadcasts combined conversation, music, humour and interaction with listeners.
Television Career
Owen Money also developed an extensive television career. His work has included presenting and appearing in a variety of Welsh television programmes. One notable example is the BBC One Wales series Down the Social With Owen Money.
The four-part series was broadcast in 2019. In the programme, Owen Money visited social and community clubs around Wales, meeting people and exploring the role these venues played in their communities. The first episode took him to the Merthyr Borough Ex-Servicemen’s Club, where he revisited a place connected with his own earliest performance experience. Other episodes featured visits to clubs in Resolven, Neath and Newbridge.
BBC Wales’ management review recorded Down the Social With Owen Money among its top ten English-language broadcast series for 2019/20, with an average audience of 181,000 across its four episodes.
His television work has therefore allowed him to combine entertainment with stories about Welsh communities and the people who live in them.
Theatre and Pantomime Work
Another important part of Owen Money’s career has been theatre. After appearing in pantomimes at venues such as the Grand Theatre Swansea and New Theatre Cardiff, he established his own production company in 2000.
The aim was to provide affordable, family-friendly pantomimes for theatres, including smaller venues around Wales. Productions associated with the company have included Cinderella, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk, Robinson Crusoe, Dick Whittington, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Peter Pan.
His production company continues to have a presence in Welsh theatre. Its current programme information includes productions such as Peter Pan, Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty scheduled for venues in Wales during 2026.
Owen Money’s Connection With Welsh Music
Although comedy and broadcasting became major parts of his career, music has never disappeared from Owen Money’s work. He has continued performing and has been involved with The Travelling Wrinklies, a five-piece band in which he serves as lead singer.
The group revisits popular music from the 1960s, drawing on the sounds associated with acts such as The Four Seasons, The Beach Boys and The Hollies. His Jukebox Heroes theatre productions have similarly combined live music, comedy and tribute performances. The fourth edition was described as the final instalment of the series and toured Welsh theatres in 2024.
This continued musical involvement connects his later career with the work he began as a young performer with The Bystanders.
Owen Money and the Aberfan Tragedy
Another serious chapter in Owen Money’s life is connected with the Aberfan disaster of 1966. BBC material about a programme examining Wales in the 1960s records that Owen Money, who was then playing with The Bystanders, recalled being one of the rescuers following the tragedy. He also discussed the effect that the traumatic experience had on his life.
The experience forms an important part of the broader story of his connection to the South Wales valleys and its communities.
MBE Recognition
In 2007, Owen Money was recognised in the New Year Honours List and awarded an MBE for services to entertainment in Wales. His own production biography describes the honour as a particularly proud moment after his long career in Welsh entertainment.
The honour reflects the breadth of his career rather than a single role. By that point, he had already worked as a musician, comedian, radio broadcaster, television personality and theatre producer.
What Is Owen Money Known For?
Owen Money is particularly associated with Welsh comedy and broadcasting. His long-running relationship with BBC Radio Wales, especially Money for Nothing, helped make him a familiar voice to generations of listeners. His television appearances and community-focused programmes brought another dimension to his career, while his live shows and pantomimes kept him connected with theatre audiences.
What makes his career distinctive is its variety. He has moved from pop music to comedy, radio, television and theatre without abandoning his roots in live performance.
Conclusion
Owen Money’s career is a story of longevity, versatility and a strong connection with Welsh entertainment. Beginning as a musician with The Bystanders, he moved into comedy with Tomfoolery before establishing himself as a solo performer. His work with BBC Radio Wales, television programmes, theatre productions and live shows helped him become a familiar figure in Welsh popular culture. His MBE in 2007 added official recognition to a career spanning many decades. For readers interested in Welsh entertainers and broadcasters, Owen Money remains an interesting example of a performer who successfully combined music, comedy, radio, television and theatre. For more biographies and detailed stories about notable personalities, Mating Press continues to provide readers with engaging English-language content.
FAQs About Owen Money
Who is Owen Money?
Owen Money is the professional name of Welsh entertainer Lynn Mittell. He is known as a comedian, musician, singer, broadcaster, actor and television personality.
When was Owen Money born?
Owen Money was born on 16 May 1947 in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
What was Owen Money’s real name?
His real name is Lynn Mittell.
What was Owen Money’s radio programme?
One of his best-known BBC Radio Wales programmes was Money for Nothing, which combined music and humour.
Was Owen Money a member of The Bystanders?
Yes. He worked as a bass guitarist and lead singer with The Bystanders during the 1960s.
What is Owen Money’s connection with Tomfoolery?
He formed the comedy band Tomfoolery during the 1970s before beginning his solo career in 1980.
Did Owen Money receive an MBE?
Yes. He was awarded an MBE in 2007 for services to entertainment in Wales.
What television programme did Owen Money present in 2019?
He presented Down the Social With Owen Money on BBC One Wales, visiting social and community clubs around Wales.
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