Author: Rhys Gregory

RISING Welsh pop artist twst will represent both Wales and the UK at the Osaka Expo 2025 in Japan this weekend, joining fellow Welsh broadcaster and BBC Radio 1 DJ Sian Eleri for a celebration of the UK’s most forward-thinking electronic music. twst will perform as part of Selector After Dark, a showcase at the UK Pavilion’s Village Green during the Expo’s final weekend (11–12 October). Curated by the British Council’s Selector Radio, the lineup highlights the diversity and innovation of the UK’s music scene. Barry-born twst will open both days with live performances of her emotionally charged, hyperpop-inflected electronic music…

Much like the rest of the UK, Wales has witnessed a steady shift in how people pay for products and services over recent years. The widespread adoption of smartphones coupled with the improvement of internet speeds across the country has been integral to the rising popularity of pay-by-phone transaction methods, which not only have negated the need for cash, but also credit and debit cards. Contactless mobile payments have already had a significant impact on the Welsh economy, streamlining services across multiple sectors while laying the foundations for long-term digital infrastructure. But how exactly has pay-by-phone altered the landscape in…

Cardiff, here’s what you’ve been waiting for. A brand-new smokehouse has arrived in the city, and we went along for a first look and a taste before it officially opens. Here’s what you can expect when you visit Hickory’s Smokehouse Cardiff. If you remember the Melrose Inn, you’ll be amazed by the transformation. The building has been completely redesigned, and it’s unrecognisable from what it once was. The front has been extended, and there’s now a large outdoor seating area with festoon lighting, perfect for those sunny days and warm evenings. Inside, you’re greeted by Nick, the General Manager, and…

Community groups, schools and organisations who have gone the extra mile to improve their local environment have been celebrated at a national awards ceremony.  Since 1990, the Tidy Wales Awards have given Keep Wales Tidy the opportunity to shine a light on unsung environmental heroes across the country. The 2025 awards ceremony, sponsored by Wales and West Housing, celebrated groups and individuals from across Wales at a prestigious award ceremony held in Llandudno on Thursday (2 October), hosted by S4C presenter Dafydd Wyn. The Tidy Wales Awards 2025 winners are: Landscaping & Eco Construction Team, Gower College Swansea Nature in…

Welsh actor Eve Myles said the quality of roles for women was a factor in her considering leaving the profession after a breakout hit. Best known for her role as Gwen Cooper in Torchwood, before appearing in Victoria, Broadchurch and Keeping Faith, Eve Myles recently starred in BBC One hit The Guest alongside Gabrielle Creevy as well as Acorn TV’s crime drama series The Crow Girl. In a wide-ranging conversation with BAFTA Chief Executive Officer Jane Millichip at the Wales Screen Summit 2025, Eve said she considered giving up acting to go to medical school following her success with Keeping Faith.…

A body that supports school governors has called for a review of education funding in Wales amid significant pressures on school budgets that are affecting pupils and provision. In a national survey by Governors Cymru Services, published today, 54% of the 290 governors who responded identified funding as the most pressing issue currently facing their school. When asked what one intervention would make the biggest difference to their school, 65% said ‘increased funding or grant support’, while 13.5% said ‘more teachers or support staff’. More than 180 governors left comments in the survey, with many expressing concerns about the financial…

House prices continued to edge lower in Wales in September but there were indications that activity might be steadying, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey. A net balance of -36% of surveyors in Wales reported that prices fell over the past three months. This is also below the average UK net balance which sits at -15%. Surveyor expectations for prices also remain in negative territory in the short term. But there were improvements in the data relating to new buyer enquiries and instructions from vendors. A net balance of -8% of respondents said…

What does it really take to grow a business in Wales? A brand-new podcast from Welsh ICE, created in partnership with the British Business Bank, is set to reveal exactly that. How They Funded It is a six-part series that dives into the stories of Welsh entrepreneurs who have unlocked the finance they needed to scale. Hosted by Welsh ICE CEO Lesley Williams, each episode uncovers a different funding journey, from loans and equity, to grants and beyond. The first episode, launching on the 8th of October, introduces listeners to Wizard Eco, a Wales-based company delivering more than 500 sustainable…

BBC Cymru Wales has announced two brand new factual programmes at the Wales Screen Summit; a documentary focussing on one of Wales’ most accomplished artists, Gwen John and a two-part series on the musical revolution the press called “Cool Cymru”. Presented by BBC Radio 1’s Sian Eleri, Gwen John (w/t) delves into the extraordinary life of the trailblazing Welsh artist whose intimate portraits captured women’s lives in a way that few artists of her time achieved. Coinciding with a major exhibition of her work at Amgueddfa Cymru, titled Gwen John: Strange Beauties, the documentary explores the woman behind the work.…

Swansea Arts Weekend audiences will be the very first to experience a special preview of When Pelé Broke Our Hearts, a Theatr na nÓg rehearsed reading of Nick Davies and Brett Davies’ new play, based on Mario Risoli’s much-loved book. Ahead of a future planned tour, an accomplished cast will perform an abridged version of the play; a quirky, heartfelt sports comedy about borrowed kit, lost passports, jumpers for goalposts, and the unbreakable bond of five footballers who all grew up on the same Swansea street. At its core, it also tackles one of society’s most overlooked issues: male mental…