In a three part series, Comedian and proud Welshman Elis James meets some of the nation’s best comedy writers and performers to explore the vast Welsh comedy history from pre-wartime to today.

They look at how our relationship with stereotypes has changed over time, how Welsh comedians have moved from the social or working men’s club into the mainstream and the development of comedy on the airwaves from wartime favourites listened by millions to TV sitcoms that we took to our hearts.

In the first episode, Elis delves into the world of Welsh stereotypes from sheep to miners, historically there’s been no getting away from them in Welsh comedy. Discussing his early standup comedy days, Rob Brydon recalls a gig in Greenwich in which he was relentlessly heckled by the English audience with a barrage of sheep noises. Meanwhile, Rhod Gilbert explains how many of his early gigs in London were met with abuse due to his Welsh accent.

The episode looks at the development of the Welsh stereotypes through the years from its first appearance in a 1949 comedy ‘A run for your money’ to the latest generations of comedies that have included authentic Welsh characters such as Gavin and Stacey. Ruth Jones reminisces of her time writing the comedy with James Corden and remembers the pair in hysterics when writing the rape alarm scene which was performed by Uncle Bryn.

We also hear from Sioned Wiliam, the former Controller of Comedy for ITV who shares an unexpected story of when Ruth and James Corden visited her at ITV to pitch the idea of Gavin and Stacey. But when presented to ITV, the series was rejected due to it not being “broadly accessible enough because it was Welsh”.

Elis James: Funny Nation starts on 9th December 10:45pm on BBC One Wales and will also be on iPlayer.