Michael Ball’s Wonderful Wales
MICHAEL BALL embarks on a musical journey around Wales NEW TRAVELOGUE Michael Ball’s Wonderful Wales Friday, Channel 5 HD, 8pm
DOCUMENTARY Channel 5 HD, 8pm Michael Ball explores the treasures of Wales, including its stunning scenery. Each episode will end with a performance by a choir.
WEST END PERFORMER and broadcaster Michael Ball gets a welcome in the hillsides this week as he explores Wales and his Welsh roots in a new four-part travelogue.
His first stop is Mountain Ash, the home town of his grandmother, where he spent many childhood holidays, while he also goes down a mine, tries cockle picking in the Loughor Estuary, treads the boards at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre and performs with a choir.
We caught up with the Hairspray star, 59, to hear about his trip…
WHAT ARE YOUR HIGHLIGHTS FROM
THE SERIES? There are so many. I went on a speedboat ride in Cardiff Bay, but I didn’t bring the right gear, so I was soon soaked to my pants! I also rather unsuccessfully drove a boat on Llangollen Canal, which goes over this amazing narrow aqueduct, and I loved cockle picking on the salt marshes of the Gower Peninsula – there’s nothing more stunning than the Gower.
YOUR MUM WAS FROM WALES. DO YOU EXPLORE YOUR ANCESTRY IN THE SERIES? Yes, it was lovely seeing family and friends, going back to the places I know and love, and discovering this incredible country. I’ve always had this connection to Wales, and my singing comes from the Welsh side of my family. My gran, Agnes Lillian Davies, was from the Cynon Valley. She was a fabulous singer and always encouraged me.
YOU DEVELOP A BIT OF A VALLEYS
LILT WHEN YOU’RE IN WALES. CAN
YOU SPEAK WELSH? All I have to do is speak to someone who’s Welsh or go across the Severn Bridge and I can’t help it. It’s such a beautiful accent, so lyrical and musical.
I don’t speak the language, but
I do know a few phrases.
EVERY EPISODE IN THIS SERIES ENDS WITH YOU SINGING LIVE WITH A WELSH CHOIR. DID YOU
ENJOY THAT? We performed in places like Whitesands Bay and Portmeirion, and one of my favourite moments from the whole series was performing Anthem from the musical Chess with the Fron Male Voice Choir – that song always makes me think of Wales. It wasn’t always easy, though, especially with planes going over or people passing by, yelling, ‘Hiya, Mike!’