Channel 5 Orders Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball

Wales-based Wildflame Productions has been commissioned to make Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball for Channel 5 in the U.K.

The four-part docuseries sees the singer head to the Rhondda Valley, where his mother was born and his grandfather worked as a coal miner. There, he’ll explore the history, traditions and treasures, cultural heritage and Celtic pride, language and landscape of Wales. He’ll not only learn about his own Welsh ancestry but will hear some untold stories from locals he meets about the country that’s full of myth and legend. He’ll also perform with a choir at the end of each episode.

Llinos Griffin-Williams, executive producer of factual and international co-productions at Wildflame, said: “Michael Ball is the perfect star with which to travel through the ‘Land of Song.’ As well as explore the origins of all the things he thinks he knows about Wales—from castles to coal mines, daffodils to dragons, the valleys to the top of Snowdon—Michael will be uncovering surprising secrets and hidden history. Thanks to our strong existing relationships, we have special access to a wealth of Welsh institutions, landmarks and heritage sites that are perfect for this series. We’re proud to be bringing together a diverse, all-Welsh production team for this series and are very excited to be working with Michael. Pairing high-profile talent with the right kind of storytelling is what Wildflame does best. We hope that this series will be just as popular globally as it promises to be in the U.K.”

Ball added: “I’m so excited about returning to the ‘land of song’, the land of my Fathers…….well, actually my Mothers. Some of my fondest memories growing up were spent in the mining village of Mountain Ash with my gran. Some of the best audiences I’ve ever performed in front of, and some of my most memorable nights out, have been in Wales. It’s a country of staggering beauty, extraordinary history and proud, passionate people. I can’t wait to see my family again, make new friends, visit places I’ve never been to before and share with everyone the glory of Wonderful Wales.”

Adrian Padmore, commissioning editor of factual and factual entertainment at Channel 5, said: “We’re really delighted to have captured Michael Ball the King of Musicals to explore his Welsh heritage and meet the wonderful people of Wales in a glorious romp around the land of song.”