Four Welsh companies awarded funding to develop factual entertainment show

The BBC and Creative Wales have awarded four Wales-based production companies funding to develop ideas for a new factual entertainment series.

Nick Andrews

Boom, Curve Media, South Shore and Tŷ’r Ddraig will each receive £10,000 (US$14,000) in funding, with development starting in the coming weeks.

The total £40,000 has been provided by BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Network and the Welsh government via Creative Wales, which announced the fund at the Wales Media Summit last year.

Production companies with a substantive base in Wales were invited to pitch “bold, original ideas” that celebrate Welsh creativity while entertaining audiences across the UK.

Nick Andrews, head of commissioning at BBC Cymru Wales, said: “We were really impressed by the variety and volume of the submissions we received; companies really responded to our call for ideas for an ambitious, returnable format, that surprises, unites and captivates. We’re so excited to be working with the four successful companies and we’re looking forward to seeing how their ideas develop further.”

Catherine Catton, head of commissioning, factual entertainment and events, at the BBC, added: “Made in Wales is a collaboration to find a major new factual entertainment series that will harness the best of Welsh creativity and resonate across the UK. We are really looking forward to working with brilliant Welsh talent to come up with the next big thing.”

The announcement follows a recently published and updated memorandum of understanding between Creative Wales and the BBC that will see the two organisations work together to support Welsh screen industries.

Joedi Langley, interim head of Creative Wales, said: “This new development funding will do just that: create new opportunities for Welsh-based production companies to develop exciting, original ideas for factual content.”