Radio host trying to link everyone in Wales says global fame is 'bonkers'

Comedian Elis James says the global success of a radio feature trying to link him with everyone in Wales has taken him by surprise.

Every week, the BBC presenter tests the stereotype that people from Wales somehow all know each other in The Cymru Connection, a 60-second segment with a stranger on the Radio 5 Live show and podcast he co-hosts with John Robins.

Last month, the New York times featured Elis on their front cover, which he said was "bonkers".

"It has taken me by surprise, the Italian press has covered it as well. It's very strange," he told BBC Wales at the National Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire on Wednesday.

In a country of more than three million people, it may seem impossible that James can find a common connection with anyone.

But in the often highly-stressful game, he has 60 seconds to ask callers a series of questions - with an aim of naming someone they both know.

The idea was inspired by a Welshman living in Japan, who called in to the show in 2024.

He was from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, and James has previously said the conversation was "derailed" as he named about 20 people from the seaside town, with the caller knowing about 18 of them.

James, who was born in Pembrokeshire and brought up in Carmarthen, said the New York Times journalist from Brooklyn found it hard to believe it was possible to find a connection between people in Wales just by asking where they went to school.

"I did it at the Swansea Arena and she [the journalist] was at the gig, I did three in a minute and just her mind was exploding," he said.

"The Irish do it, I don't think its unique to Wales," James added. "A lot of smaller countries tend to do it. The success of it has taken me by surprise."

But while Welsh people think that mutual connection is "normal", the comedian said people's surprise at a successful result was the key to why they find it entertaining.

"You could have a row here of 15 people and I'd try and connect with everyone of them. I love it," he added.

A festival in Wales may seem like the perfect location for me and Elis James to Cymru Connect.

"Walking around the [Eisteddfod] Maes I could Cymru Connect with everyone probably, that's how we are as a nation," he said.

With nearly 50% success rate on connecting, and a year on from finding a mutual connection with my colleague Elinor Rice at BBC Wales, it was my turn to put it to the test.

Elinor and I have the same name, we're the same age and we come from fairly similar areas. The only difference is I speak Welsh, so will this be a deterrent to James?

The clock starts, and we have 60 seconds and go.

Age and school? 30 and Ysgol Llanhari, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, I reply.

He then, like usual, asks where I'm from. Do I know Matt Rees, the comedian from Maesteg? Nope.

He then goes further down the M4 and asks about a couple in Pencoed, near Bridgend. Again, that's a fail.

But then, within 30 seconds, he gets it. "Ryan March?" he asks, the man behind the Alternative Wales football fanzine. Bingo.

Ryan was the same Cymru Connection he found last year with Ellie, and the mutual link I was secretly hoping of.

A Welsh figure who, as James points out, clearly "matters" to the Cymru Connection.