PIC BY ROB NORMAN.THE WESTERN MAIL.270905 Gary Slaymaker who has written his debut novel.

Gary Slaymaker is the author of GERAINT WYN: ZOMBIE KILLER. He has been a television & radio presenter since 1988, and has worked for BBC One Wales, BBC Radio Wales,BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Live, S4C, and Channel 5 amongst others. He has also performed as a stand-up comedian since 1992, working in both Welsh and English.

Gary is also Wales’ foremost film reviewer – he is BBC Radio Wales’ resident film critic on Thursday afternoons. He’s been doing this for so long he’s gone from being known as “the Welsh Barry Norman”, to “the Welsh Jonathan Ross”. And he’s looking forward to punching the first person who calls him “the Welsh Claudia Winkleman”.

Gary presented his own show (cleverly called ‘Slaymaker’) for over 6 years and 12 series on S4C, Wales’ fourth channel where he would channel his inner geek on the subjects of film, video games, music and interviewing celebrities such as Rhys Ifans, Vinnie Jones, and rugby deity, Gareth Edwards. More recently he was presentled and head scriptwriter on the satirical radio news quiz ‘Bwletîn’ on Radio Cymru for 5 years.

As well as specialising in film and comedy, he has also been involved in sports productions involving football, rugby union, rugby league, and boxing.

A published author, Gary is also an in-demand after dinner speaker, who can tailor his stories of meetings with the rich and famous, to cater to any type of audience.

Gary is long time Cardiff City supporter, and an authority on American comic books and Welsh swear words. He enjoys a good pub quiz, although he admits he’s far too competitive. He also won S4C/BBC’s ‘celebrity’ Mastermind in 2006.

He has been lucky enough to meet his two greatest heroes in the world of sport and cinema – Pele and Clint Eastwood. Less impressive is when he said “Alright, luv?” to Charlize Theron at the 2000 Oscars, after failing to recognise the stunning actress. (She did forgive him, though)

Gary cites his main inspirations as Billy Connolly, Dave Allen, Phil Silvers (Sgt. Bilko), Jameson’s Irish Whisky, and his mam.

Read an interview with Gary about working on the YEAR OF THE ZOMBIE project here.

Keep up to date with this author:
www.slaycorp.com
Facebook
@TheSlay