Elis James hails Gareth Bale as the best Welsh footballer ever in new digital series for Euro 2016
Comedian, radio presenter and dedicated Welsh football fan Elis James hails Gareth Bale as Wales’s best ever footballer, ahead of many other great players over the years, in an upcoming BBC Wales series of digital comedy shorts for Euro 2016, Elis In Euroland.
Published: 27 May 2016
This is a landmark moment for the country and we want to follow the team’s journey through the tournament in a fun and engaging way through the eyes of a real fan
“The only other Welsh footballer arguably on a par with Gareth is John Charles,” says Elis in a light-hearted player profile recorded for the new series. Elis In Euroland will see Elis travel to France to follow the Welsh national team on their journey, and will offer a fans’ eye view of Euro 2016 as it unfolds.
He heaps praise on Welsh stars from previous years, such as Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs, but jokes that Bale is different because he’s excelling at a time “where absolutely no defenders smoke”.
The player profile of Bale, one of several filmed about key players in the squad, will feature throughout the tournament, as well as cultural guides to Wales’s opponents and reactive pieces from Elis before and after each Welsh game. The videos will be available on BBC Wales social media accounts including BBC Wales Sport on Facebook and @BBCWales on Twitter. The hashtag #ElisInEuroland will ensure users can easily find the content.
When out in Cyprus last year for one of Wales’s qualifying matches, a tweet that Elis sent in reply to an interview request went viral. With typically tongue-in-cheek humour, Elis states: “The BBC saw this and, in their wisdom, thought ‘we want a piece of him’.”
Elis in Euroland will launch midday on Friday (May 27), with Elis sharing his excitement about Wales qualifying for the Euros. He will also cover topics such as Bobby Gould’s foray into kit design, and the passion and pain endured as a Welsh football fan over the past 58 years.
The digital series will be complemented by a weekly programme on BBC Radio Wales.
Ian Richardson, producer of Elis In Euroland, comments: “This is a landmark moment for the country and we want to follow the team’s journey through the tournament in a fun and engaging way through the eyes of a real fan.”
Wales’s success in the Euro qualifying campaign saw Gareth Bale score seven of their 11 goals in the group, and meant that they reached the finals of a major football championship for the first time since 1958. Their campaign begins on 11 June against Slovakia and they are also joined in Group B by England and Russia.
Elis adds: “Euro 2016 is as much a venture into the unknown for fans as it is for the players. I’m more nervous though, because I’m older than them so have wanted it for longer!”
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