Machynlleth Comedy Festival to go ahead - on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Sounds
Machynlleth Comedy Festival will go ahead this year… on the radio.
Published: 21 April 2020
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.
- A partnership between BBC Radio Wales and The Machynlleth Comedy Festival will bring the festival to life on radio with a range of programmes between May 1-3
- And to whet the appetite, from today the very best of Welsh comedy will be available only on BBC iPlayer including hit series High Hopes
BBC Radio Wales has teamed up with the Festival to host an audio version 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."
Full schedule of content on BBC Radio Wales:
10 years of Mach Fest
Friday 1 May, 6.30pm
A look back at a decade of the Machynlleth Comedy Festival. Exploring the stories and legends that have made MachFest such an important fixture in the comedy calendar as artists and performers recall their favourite memories of the festival from its humble beginnings to its tenth anniversary in 2019. The programme includes contributions from Stewart Lee, Bridget Christie, Rhod Gilbert, Josh Widdicombe, James Acaster and more.
Live from Lockdown: The Machynlleth Comedy Festival on BBC Radio Wales
Saturday 2 May, 1.30pm
Welsh acts who have performed at MachFest over the years have spent lockdown devising new material for a 30 minute comedy cabaret show. And here it is... with songs from Carys Eleri, sketches from Tarot and stand-up from Lolly Adefope and Jordan Brookes, it's all held together by host Kiri Pritchard-McLean. A comedy compendium for the isolation generation.
Stand up…in my house
Sunday 3 May, 1.30pm
The Machynlleth Festival may have been cancelled, but the stand-up show must go on. We've three of the UK's finest comics broadcasting stand up from the comfort of their own homes. Presented by the weekend’s host, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, and featuring stand-up from Mark Watson
BBC Radio Wales also has a collection of comedy boxsets available on BBC Sounds that includes The Unexplainers, The Musical Life Of… and Relocation as well as stand up from Kiri Pritchard-McLean.
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.
Full list of programmes available to stream:
- High Hopes
- Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience
- The Tuckers
- Tourist Trap
- Elis James: Funny Nation (new episodes available weekly - boxset available May 1)
- Tudur’s TV Flashback
- Gavin and Stacey
- In My Skin
- Age of Outrage
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.”
JH3
