Dumfries Comedian joins BBC Commonwealth Coverage
Written by author on March 20, 2014
Dumfries comedian Mark Nelson is the latest signing for the BBC and it’s coverage of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Mark joins Olympic Gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy
and Susan Calman for the BBC’s Commonwealth output in 2014.
Sir Chris Hoy will present an hour-long documentary How To Win Gold, for BBC One, which will delve into the exclusive world of the elite athlete on their journey towards achieving and sustaining sporting excellence and winning gold medals.
Athletes taking part in the documentary include Sir Steve Redgrave, Lennox Lewis and cyclist Graeme Obree.
Sir Chris will immerse himself in some of the latest sports science and psychology and speak to athletes themselves about their own route to success as he bids to discover whether the elite are born to be medal winners or whether they are made.
Sir Chris Hoy, who has already begun filming, says: “I’ve enjoyed meeting each of the athletes involved with this documentary, and have learnt something myself from my conversations with every one of them.”
BBC Scotland will also be bringing brand-new comedy Don’t Drop the Baton in 2014, presented by comedians Mark Nelson and Susan Calman. This will be a two-part BBC One Scotland series with a mixture of stand-up and sketches. The first programme will be based around the build-up to Glasgow 2014, with the second part reacting to all the action from the Games themselves.
Susan Calman says: “As a Glaswegian I’m hugely excited about the Commonwealth Games happening on my doorstep, and being able to celebrate the city and the Games through comedy is even better. I can’t wait to get started on Don’t Drop The Baton, working with some of the finest talent Scotland, and the Commonwealth, has to offer.”
Bruce Malcolm, Head of Commonwealth Games for the BBC, says: “We are very excited to have attracted such strong talent from the world of sport and comedy. We hope our wide variety of output will mean there is something for everyone in the run-up and during Games time.”
How To Win Gold is due for transmission in summer 2014 – with Don’t Drop The Baton to transmit around the Games.
Sir Chris Hoy’s How To Win Gold and Don’t Drop The Baton are part of the BBC’s year-long contribution to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The BBC is the domestic broadcaster for Glasgow 2014 and in addition to comprehensive sports coverage during the Games in July and August, the Corporation has also unveiled a wide-ranging package of on-air and off-air output and events throughout 2014.
