Siadwel

By John Sparkes

Siadwel Returns to BBC Radio Wales

Swansea born John began his working life at Lloyds Bank in Mumbles. After becoming an English teacher, he turned to comedy in the 1980’s. He moved to London and became an established performer in the first years of London’s alternative cabaret circuit alongside Alexi Sayle, Jo Brand, Paul Merton and Rick Mayall.

Around this time he started appearing as Siadwel on BBC 2’s ‘Naked Video’. Finding television a less dangerous environment than comedy clubs, he settled there, writing and appearing in  4 series of ‘Absolutely’ for Channel 4, followed by 6 series of ‘Barry Welsh is Coming’ for ITV Wales and ‘Pub Quiz’ for BBC Wales, both produced by fellow Absolutely writer/performer Pete Baikie. He has also presented and written numerous TV shows including ‘Great Pubs of Wales’and ‘Ghost Story’.

In 2004 John made his debut as the narrator on Peppa Pig and is currently on his 250th episode. The BAFTA award winning show has become a huge worldwide hit and led John into more character voiceover work on a variety of childrens TV shows including  Shaun the Sheep and Fireman Sam. He’s just finished the film version of Shaun the sheep.

John has won 4 Welsh BAFTAS for ‘Barry Welsh’ and ‘Hugh Pugh’s History of Wales’ and last year, believe it or not John was one of Ken Dodd’s ‘Comedy Heroes’ on Channel Five.

Read more about series one of Siadwel

Read more about series two of Siadwel