humphrys was born in splott, a poor working class district of central cardiff, and was the younger brother of journalist and television presenter john humphrys. humphrys was one of five children born to winifred mary (matthews), a hairdresser and edward george humphrys, a self-employed french polisher. encouraged to do his homework, he passed the eleven plus exam and became a pupil at cardiff high school, then a grammar school.