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Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC star Phil MacHugh returns to the world of Highland dancing in new documentary
The new one-hour documentary will follow Phil MacHugh as he returns to competitive Highland dancing and is set to air on BBC ALBA in 2026. 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. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 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 @ for commissioning the documentary.'
Edinburgh Reporter
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Phil's off for a Highland Fling
Scottish Fling, Norwegian Fling and now a Highland Fling… Scottish TV personality, Phil MacHugh is off on a new adventure. This time he is going solo with something which is already firmly embedded in his DNA. As a young teenager he became a champion Highland dancer and now he is stepping off with a new BBC documentary programme. Phil said: '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. '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? '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.' Thanks to @mac_television for believing in my vision for this, and @mgalba and @ for commissioning the documentary. In 2022 Martin Compston was commissioned by BBC for a new travel series Martin Compston's Scottish Fling where he travelled the country with longterm friend MacHugh. They have filmed two series to far, in Scotland and in Norway. Phil was also on TV at a younger age on CBBC. Like this: Like Related
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
BBC star takes on epic dancing challenge in ‘intense' new show
'This is the most exciting, physical and personal challenge I've faced to date.' FINAL FLING BBC star takes on epic dancing challenge in 'intense' new show Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BBC presenter is taking on an epic dance challenge for a new TV show. Phil MacHugh, who fronted hit travelogue Scottish Fling with pal and actor Martin Compston, stars in a brand new documentary. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 The new show airs next year 2 Phil starred in telly travelogues with pal Martin Compston It will follow Phil as he embarks on an intensely personal and physical journey back into the world of competitive Highland dancing — a world he once dominated as a young champion. Twenty-five years after winning a Highland Dance Championship title, Phil will swap the studio floor for the competition stage once more, training to re-enter a world he left behind as a teenager. The intimate and uplifting doc, which has been commissioned by BBC ALBA and MG ALBA, will explore Scotland's rich Highland dance heritage through Phil's personal lens. He'll reconnect with the discipline, stamina and artistry that defined his youthful dancing life which saw him represent Scotland at international festivals and global brand events. He said: "This is the most exciting, physical and personal challenge I've faced to date. "I was a competitive Highland dancer from the age of five to 15, and it brought me incredible joy and lifelong memories. "Now, decades later, I'm stepping back onto the competition floor — not just for nostalgia, but to see if I can truly Fling again. "This is a dance journey like no other.' Produced by MacTV and commissioned by BBC ALBA and MG ALBA, the one-hour documentary is set to air in 2026. Glasgow-raised and Edinburgh-based, TV personality Phil is a native Gaelic speaker and comes from a family enriched with Scottish music, heritage and culture. In recent years he has become a regular face on TV anchoring BBC factual entertainment programmes with pal Martin. Hugely popular BBC show starring Martin Compston returns for second series Their first season of Scottish Fling aired in 2022 and won an RTS Scotland award for Best Entertainment and Factual series at the 2023 awards. Series two, Norwegian Fling, aired across BBC networks in March 2024 with four million views and streams across BBC iPlayer to date.
