BBC Radio Wales has teamed up with the Machynlleth Comedy Festival to host an audio version of the event next month.
BBC Cymru Wales has also announced it will be releasing a new Welsh comedy collection available to stream on BBC iPlayer from today.
Due to the current Coronavirus crisis, this year’s Machynlleth Comedy Festival was cancelled. But now, comedy fans will have something to lift their spirits as the Festival and BBC Radio Wales will bring the event to life on the radio.
Spread across the original dates for this year’s festival, 1-3 May, The Machynlleth Comedy Festival on the Radio will feature stand-up and cabaret. In addition, BBC Radio Wales will also look back on the first 10 years of the festival with a documentary retrospective, talking to some of the acts who have performed at the event. All of the programmes feature Welsh comedy talent, with a mix of performers from the rest of the UK and around the world.
The weekend’s programming is a collaboration between BBC Radio Wales and production companies Little Wander, Rubber Chicken and Turtle Canyon.
Colin Paterson, Editor of BBC Radio Wales, says: “This collaboration with the Machynlleth Comedy Festival is the latest initiative from BBC Radio Wales, during this challenging time, helping to keep listeners entertained as well as informed. We always love working with the team at Mach, so we’re pleased to play our part in supporting independent production companies and the arts community in Wales.”
Henry Widdicombe, Festival Director, says: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to mark Mach Fest weekend in conjunction with BBC Radio Wales, and to be creating new programming from some of our festival regulars. We’re incredibly proud of our long-term relationship with BBC Radio Wales, and the commitment that the station has shown to the Festival at this time proves how valuable this partnership is to both parties. The arts are facing an unprecedented challenge right now, but creatives are rising to the challenge and we believe the programming will reflect that.”
Meanwhile, on BBC iPlayer from today, viewers can enjoy the perfect escape with the very best of Welsh comedy with a new comedy collection.
Featuring hours of content, whole series and bingeable boxsets, as well as starring some of the biggest names in comedy – including Sally Phillips, Elis James and Rhod Gilbert – the collection will be available to stream only on BBC iPlayer from April 21.
From old favourites such as High Hopes and Gavin and Stacey to new series including In My Skin and The Tuckers, the collection will be home to the country’s most loved series, all available in one place.
Paul Forde, BBC Cymru Wales Commissioner for Comedy, says: “It’s fantastic to have all this quality Welsh comedy collected here together under one umbrella and I hope it helps to raise a smile with our audiences during these difficult times.”