"For a generation there was a severe lack of Welsh comics, since the days of Max Boyce and Owen Money and the Workingmen's circuit, which, sadly faded with the demise of Steel and Coal. Thus meant a shortage of venues in Wales for up and coming comics to learn their craft.

So were there any aspiring comics out there?

To answer that question dai4films went to BBC Wales and asked them if they could go forth and film.

The first thing I did was to ask top agent Ian Franklin of the Comedy Club to come to Wales on a mission to search for comic talent good enough to get a professional contract with The Comedy Club.

Ian Franklin responded with an offer of a £30,000 contract for Welsh comics not represented by an agent. In short an amateur, somebody who thought they could be funny and more importantly the nerve, to have a go.

Adverts were placed in newspapers and the challenge was issued on the Radio Wales Owen Money programme. I brought on award winning producer Colin Gotts of dai4films and went on the road filming Ian's search throughout the length and breadth of Wales. And the series took off.

Over the series we journed with Ian and his top comic Rudi Lickwood, as they meet the aspiring comics.

Ian and Rudi were impressed by the standard of performance and comedy writing. It seemed, there was after all, a rich vein of comedy talent in Wales, just waiting for the opportunity.

80 applicants were whittled down to six of the best and then they had to perform for 15 minutes at the final in The Point in Cardiff.

The viewer sees who wins the contract and the series follows them on the UK circuit but are they good enough?

Well you'll find out by the end of the series but myself and Colin Gotts had discovered enough talent that we decided to organize Comedy Workshops and invited professional comedians and writers to come and work with the Welsh talent. St David's Hotel, Cardiff Bay, stepped in and sponsored the workshops which have been running since April.

We discovered the talent was there, what wasn't there were the venues for them to hone their craft. So we set up comedy workshops and have developed some exciting comedy projects for radio and TV. Oh, and yes, there are now Welsh comics on the UK circuit?

It's been an example of how the BBC were willing to take a risk and came up trumps and how a lean mean filming machine have uncovered a gold mine of comedy.

Article by Neil Davies