Owain drums up celebrity support for TV challenge
I really hope that together we can raise huge amounts of money for what I think is going to be a monumental challenge. My poor dainty arms! Owain Wyn Evans
DRUMMING royalty have been giving Carmarthenshire’s Owain Wyn Evans some top advice ahead of his 24-hour drumming challenge for Children in Need.
BBC Weatherman Evans, from Ammanford, is a keen drummer and will be joined by musicians from around the UK when he starts his challenge on BBC Breakfast.
His attempts at drumming constantly for 24 hours will begin on the show at 8.35am on November 12. But his charity effort has already been noticed by some of the world’s most famous drummers.
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl was first to give a good luck message – and a few tips – to the popular broadcaster. In the video, Grohl says: “Hey Owain, this is Dave Grohl. 24 hours of drumming? I can’t even imagine. I wish you the best of luck and I hope your hands hold up. Remember posture and keep your back straight, but lay back, lay into the groove. Don’t solo the whole time, but you might want to do a little one now and again.”
Evans was delighted to hear from Grohl – who first found fame as Nirvana’s drummer – saying: “That is amazing. That is incredible and that is great advice.”
Nicko Mcbrain, from Iron Maiden, also had a message saying: “I just want to take this opportunity to wish Owain a wonderful day of
drumming. God bless you mate.”
And Roger Taylor of Duran Duran said: “I can’t imagine drumming for 24 hours. Pace yourself. Don’t give it your all in the first 10 minutes.
“It is a bit like boxing. You hold back and build your way up.”
The challenge will be streamed for 24 hours on BBC iplayer as well as appearing on TV and radio.
Evans will have drum kits placed around Mediacityuk in Salford, with his main stage area in the BBC Philharmonic Studio, where he will be joined by members of the orchestra for special performances.
Special guests joining Evans include Pub Landlord Al Murray as well as Iron Maiden’s Mcbrain.
Evans said: “In preparing for the BBC Breakfast Drumathon I’ve learned first-hand how BBC Children In Need helps children and young people across the UK from a range of different backgrounds and identities. This is quite literally lifechanging and even life-saving stuff.
“I really hope that together we can raise huge amounts of money for what I think is going to be a monumental challenge. My poor dainty arms!”
The broadcaster started his drumming career playing in rugby clubs in the South Wales Valleys, and he went on to delight the nation in April 2020 while working from home, finishing his weather segment by hopping on to his drum kit and playing along to the channel’s well-known news theme. The video he shared to Twitter has been viewed more than six million times.
To launch the challenge, earlier this month BBC Breakfast took him back to his hometown to visit his local rugby club and introduce viewers to his mum and dad.
Mum Cathy brought along some embarrassing baby photos and said: “He was always interested in things you wouldn’t expect. He is just Owain, and we love him to bits.”
Owain said he knew he was gay from a young age, but there was no reference point growing up, and his love of drumming and music helped. “It was a weird time, but drums helped me through that 100%,” he said. “I was playing Blink 182, and Foo Fighters and Jon Bon Jovi,” he said. “I love playing that music because I played it so much.”
The Children In Need appeal show will be broadcast on the BBC on November 19