Six projects to be pitched to C4 and S4C commissioners

Six Welsh comedians have been picked for a scheme to help develop projects with Channel 4 and S4C.

Mel Owen, Cerys Bradley  and Carwyn Blayney, have been chosen for the C4 side, with Harri Dobbs, Fflur Pierce and Gruffudd Owen on the Welsh-language S4C side.

Welsh production company Little Wander runs the Comedy Lab Cymru project , which as paired the e chosen comicswith mentors. The results will be to be showcased to commissioners at the Machynlleth and Aberystwyth comedy festivals, which Little Wanderruns.

Here are the biographies of the participants:

Mel Owen, pictured, created the podcast Mel Mel Jal and co-presents the Welsh politics podcast For Wales See Wales. She said: ‘ I am so excited to be a part of this project, having seen the excellent work produced through it last year. I am keen to elevate my written projects and this is the ideal programme through which to do so!’

Cerys Bradley  is an autistic and non-binary alternative comedian who uses improv, audience participation, and props to explore queer and neurodivergent experiences. They have performed on Dave and BBC Wales and Comedy Central Live. They said: ‘I'm looking forward to meeting the other artists and seeing the things that they create and I'm hoping that this opportunity will help me get a little closer to making my sitcom.’

Carwyn Blayney grew up in rural Ceredigion, but has been living in London for the past three years after graduating from the National Film and Television School’s Comedy writing diploma. As a stand-up, his achievements include reaching the final of So You Think You're Funny? doing tour support for Elis James and winning Welsh Unsigned Stand Up of the Year. Carwyn returns to the programme, having stepped in at the last minute last year after another participant dropped out. He now has the opportunity to complete the full year programme. He said: ‘I got so much out of just that short spell, so to have the opportunity now to do the full year is very exciting. I'm looking forward to diving back in’

Harri Dobbs is a bilingual comedian and podcaster  from Caerphilly.  He said: ‘I can’t wait to make my work into something real through this programme. I’ve been messing about for long enough and am ready to be more like the comedians I look up to.’

Fflur Pierce is a Welsh stand-up comedian who began performing in 2022, sharing her  perspective as an autistic, LGBTQ+ working-class woman. She said: ‘I’m extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to develop my skills as a comedian, and work with like-minded people to do comedy in the Welsh language. I believe projects like this have the opportunity to propel our language forward into the future by giving people the opportunity to have their voices heard and to be listened to.'

Gruffudd Owen is a Cardiff-based poet, playwright and scriptwriter originally from Pwllheli. His debut comedy drama ‘Parti Priodas’ (A Wedding Party) toured Wales with Theatr Cymru in 2024. He said: ’I’m thrilled to be taking part in this programme! I’ve always loved writing and performing comedy, and this is a perfect opportunity to gain more experience and (hopefully) make people laugh!’

Published: 17 Mar 2025