Entertainment

Will You Be My Friend? BBC series seeks Welsh children

Published

1 week ago

April 4, 2026

NEW six-part BBC One programme is looking for five to eight-year-olds across Wales who are finding it hard to make friends

A NEW BBC television series is looking for children across Wales aged between five and eight who are finding it hard to make friends.

Will You Be My Friend? is a new six-part series for BBC One and iPlayer from Five Mile Films, the makers of Channel 4’s The Dog House. The programme will focus on children who are struggling socially, whether through shyness, feeling left out, or finding it difficult to connect with others their own age.

The series will centre on what producers call The Friendship Centre, where a team of psychologists will help children build confidence and social skills to form real and lasting friendships.

Each child will then be sensitively matched with a potential new friend from their local area for a play date. Six weeks later, the programme will return to see how their new-found confidence has helped them at school, in the playground and beyond.

The production team says the series aims to explore the challenge of friendship in modern childhood, at a time when many families remain concerned about loneliness, social confidence, screen time and the lingering effects of the Covid pandemic.

Emma Loach, Interim Head of Commissioning, Documentaries at the BBC, said: “The longing to connect, to be seen, and to belong is universal.

“Whether you’re five or fifty-five, I defy anyone to watch these children without seeing a little bit of themselves reflected.

“In a world that can feel increasingly disconnected, this series shows that the simplest gestures – a smile, a shared joke, a tentative ‘will you be my friend?’ – still have the power to change everything. Five Mile Films has brought us something very special, and we couldn’t be prouder to give it a home on the BBC.”

Nick Mirsky, CEO of Five Mile Films, said: “I don’t think there’s a commission I could be more thrilled to bring to Five Mile. Will You Be My Friend? will be joyful, warm and funny, but it also does something genuinely new – inviting us to look closely at the challenge and art of making friends.”

Filming is due to take place in July and August, and producers are now inviting applications from families in Wales who feel their child could benefit from taking part.

The series is being made by Five Mile Films for BBC One and iPlayer, with All3Media International acting as international partner.

Parents or guardians who would like more information or wish to apply can visit: bemyfriend.tv

Based on the press release and fact sheet you uploaded.

Entertainment

Welcome to Wrexham renewed for three more seasons

Published

16 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Hit documentary charting Wrexham AFC’s remarkable rise under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will continue as the club closes in on the Premier League

THE HIT football documentary Welcome to Wrexham has been renewed for a further three seasons, extending the story of the Welsh club’s extraordinary revival under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The series, which first aired in 2022, has followed Wrexham AFC’s transformation since the two actors bought the club for £2 million in February 2021. Since then, the team has secured three successive promotions, climbing from the National League to the Championship.

From the beginning, Reynolds and McElhenney made no secret of their ambition to take Wrexham all the way to the Premier League. With the club now just one division below the top flight, that goal is looking more realistic than ever.

Reynolds announced the latest renewal news to his huge Instagram following, telling fans that season five will premiere on May 14 and confirming that the programme has been commissioned for three more runs.

The documentary, produced by FX and available in the UK on Disney+, has proved a major success with audiences and critics alike. It has won 10 Emmy Awards as well as two Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

Wrexham’s rise has become one of the most talked-about stories in British football, with the documentary helping to bring global attention to the club and the city itself.

Last year, manager Phil Parkinson said the presence of Reynolds and McElhenney at the club had helped lift the whole atmosphere around the place, underlining the impact they have had both on and off the pitch.

Entertainment

Medieval warriors return to Pembroke Castle this weekend

Published

16 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Historia Normannis Wales brings combat displays, Norman justice and living history to the famous fortress

PEMBROKE Castle is stepping back into the 12th century this weekend as Historia Normannis Wales returns for two days of living history.

The event, taking place on Saturday (Apr 11) and Sunday (Apr 12), promises visitors an immersive glimpse into medieval Britain, with reenactors recreating the sights, smells and sounds of the Norman age within the castle grounds.

Among the attractions planned are a medieval fashion show, a Shire Court, combat displays and an arming of the knight demonstration, giving families and history enthusiasts the chance to see how people lived, fought and were judged in Norman times.

The weekend forms part of Pembroke Castle’s wider Easter programme and is included with normal admission.

Pembroke Castle said it was delighted to welcome Historia Normannis Wales back for another weekend of “real life medieval experiences”.

One of the best-known historic attractions in west Wales, Pembroke Castle was founded in 1093 and is famous as the birthplace of Henry VII.

The castle remains a major draw for visitors to Pembrokeshire, and this weekend’s event is expected to be popular with families looking for something different during the Easter break.

The event is included with normal castle admission, with standard ticket prices from £13 for adults and £9 for children, while online bookings receive a 10 per cent discount.

Community

Comedy in the Pavilion: Elis James at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las

Published

22 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Richard Lewis

COMEDIAN Elis James will take to the Pavilion stage at the National Eisteddfod for the first time this year, performing on Wednesday, August 5 as part of the festival programme. Entry to the gig is included in the Maes day ticket, and with strong roots in the area, his return promises an evening of laughter and a warm homecoming atmosphere.

Famous for making quick connections with people from across Wales on his podcast ‘Elis & John’ on BBC Sounds, Elis will no doubt receive a warm welcome at the National Eisteddfod, arguably one of the best places in the world to connect with fellow Welsh people. With his observational comedy, often inspired by his upbringing in west Wales, this is expected to be an evening full of humour, marking the halfway point of the Eisteddfod week.

Elis said: “I’m very excited. I’ve never done stand-up in the Pavilion before. Mam will be there, I’m sure other members of the family will be there too, but don’t worry, I’m one of those people who is funny under pressure!”

Betsan Moses, the Eisteddfod’s Chief Executive, added: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Elis back home to the Garreg Las area.

“As a Welsh comedy giant, we’re looking forward to a night of humour in his company, reflecting the true spirit of the Eisteddfod.”

Elis was born in Haverfordwest and raised in Carmarthen. He’s a comedian, podcast presenter, actor and broadcaster. Since 2014, he’s presented a radio show with his friend and fellow comedian, John Robins, originally on Radio X before moving to BBC 5 Live in 2019.

Among the UK’s most popular comedians, Elis toured Wales with his show Derwydd in 2024, recording a performance at Carmarthen’s Lyric Theatre. He has since returned to English‑language stand‑up after a ten‑year break.

Day Maes tickets, which include admission to the gig, are available on the Eisteddfod website.

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Garreg Las will be held in Llantwd, north Pembrokeshire between August 1 and August 8.