BBC star Phil MacHugh returns to the world of Highland dancing in new documentary
BBC presenter Phil MacHugh is set to take audiences on an intensely personal journey as he returns to the world of competitive Highland dancing in a brand new documentary. The one-hour film, commissioned by BBC ALBA and MG ALBA and produced by MacTV, is due to air in 2026.
Phil, who previously fronted the hit travelogue Scottish Fling alongside actor Martin Compston, will revisit the discipline and stamina that once defined his life as a young champion. Twenty-five years after claiming a Highland Dance Championship title, he will swap the studio floor for the competition stage once more, training to compete again in a world he left behind as a teenager.
Taking to social media to share the news, Phil wrote: 'Scottish Fling, Norwegian Fling and now a Highland Fling.
"I'm so excited to reveal a brand new TV project I am filming this Summer, where I'll be reminiscing about my youth as a Highland Dancing Champion. 25 years after winning a Championship, I'll be training once again to go back and compete on the stage and dance again at a competition!'
He added: 'It's the most exciting, physical and personal challenge I've faced to date, but I am ready, and determined to Fling again in this beautiful dance culture and explore the world of competitive Highland Dancing as a man who adored it as a boy.
"This dance world brought me so much joy as a competitive dancer from the age of 5-15, and then I travelled the globe representing Scotland at festivals, embassies and concerts for years after.
"Today, I get to dance all over again BUT the question is, can I still dance and will I be able to compete again?'
The documentary will offer an intimate and uplifting perspective on Scotland's rich Highland dance heritage, seen through Phil's personal lens.
Viewers will witness him reconnecting with the artistry, athleticism and precision that marked his early career, while exploring the broader cultural significance of Highland dancing.
Glasgow-raised and Edinburgh-based, Phil is a native Gaelic speaker and comes from a family steeped in Scottish music, heritage and culture.
In recent years, he has become a familiar face on television, anchoring BBC factual entertainment programmes alongside Martin Compston.
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Their first season of Scottish Fling aired in 2022 and earned an RTS Scotland award for Best Entertainment and Factual series in 2023.
The follow-up, Norwegian Fling, aired across BBC networks in March 2024, amassing four million views and streams on BBC iPlayer to date.
Phil expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to revisit a formative chapter of his life, writing: 'This is a dance journey like no other and I can't wait to share with you how it goes when it's broadcast on the BBC in 2026.
"Big thanks to @mac_television for believing in my vision for this, and @mgalba_ and @bbc.alba for commissioning the documentary.'
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