Just before Christmas I had a phone call from BBC Wales that went along the lines of…
Producer: “Hi
Chris, would you be interested in doing a funny archive programme to celebrate
50 years of BBC Cymru Wales?”
Korkey: “Yes”
Producer: “It’s an
hour”
Korkey: “Right. To
cover 50 years of BBC broadcasting?”
Producer: “Yes”
Korkey: “But didn’t
the 25 years anniversary get an eight-part series?
Producer: “Yes. Cutbacks”
Korkey: “Would I
get paid?”
Producer: “Yes”
Korkey: “Yes”
Chris Corcoran presents Korkey's TV Gold: BBC Wales at 50
So what started with me and the producer of the show before Christmas, standing around in the office with a handful of old tapes, has ended with an hour-long programme choc-full some of the funniest bits of the last 50 years of BBC Wales TV. It includes an interview with Rhod Gilbert about his Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience series to the first-ever broadcast on 9 Feb 1964 which has to be seen to be believed. Honestly, even if you just tune in for that one clip, it’ll be worth it I promise!
As well as having a good laugh, I’ve learned a lot about us Welsh and BBC Wales. To give you an idea of what is in the show I thought I’d list some of the things I’ve learned:
- In the early
years BBC Wales had a habit of filming some of the most lovable eccentrics this
country has ever produced and most of whom, it appears, came from west Wales
(well let’s cut to the chase – Carmarthen!)
- Since the 1990s
BBC Wales has loved sending current affairs presenters outside. It appears
that, as a nation, we cannot get enough of newsreaders on boats, in fields or
climbing up hills. And contrary to what you might think, Jamie Owen can
make a wet-suit work.
- The biggest star
on BBC Wales by a mile is Derek*. (*Proven by the fact that I didn’t have to
type his surname because you all knew who I was talking about.)
- BBC Wales made
one of the greatest films of all time! Grand Slam and Dewi Pws tells a couple
of brilliant stories - one about Hugh Griffith’s free-loading hotel hospitality
techniques and the other about the possible awkward moments of being the sound
engineer for a naked love scene.
Max Boyce performing on The Singing Barn 1967 BBC Wales
Other programmes featured include Juice, Teliffant, Doctor Who, Scrum 4 and a little bit of Korkey’s Six Nations. I hope you enjoy the programme as much as I have making it.
“Contestant no. 6, Miss Ystradgynlais…”
Comedian Chris Corcoran presents Korkey’s TV Gold: BBC Wales at 50 on Saturday 8 February on BBC Two Wales at 9pm.
