Young bowler Yaz Hasan is to take centre stage in a new Channel Four series starting next month.
The 19-year-old Egham Bowls Club member will join presenter and comedian Alex Brooker as he tries out a range of the nation’s favourite pastimes in four-part mini-series ‘Hobby Man’ which starts tomorrow (Friday 19th) evening at 8pm.
Special guests join Brooker in each episode with Inbetweeners comedy actor Joe Thomas joining Yaz in episode three which takes in Wiltshire, Berkshire, and London and airs on Friday September 2nd.
Commenting on the exciting project which – coming hot on the heels of the Commonwealth Games – will again put lawn bowls on mainstream TV, Yaz said:
“The main goal for this was to promote the sport and show the country that anyone can play.
“It was an absolute pleasure to film with these two brilliant people – we had such a great time with lots of laughs.
“The most amazing thing is that I have managed to keep this a secret since it was filmed back in April. I was approached to do this while away on holiday in Spain and was really shocked that they asked me!
“After a couple of interviews via Zoom – would you believe I had lost my voice at the time – then signing many legal documents and taking numerous COVID tests, we started filming just a couple days after arriving back in the UK. I can’t wait to see the final product!”
Yaz started bowling at the age of eight in 2011, taking part in a Godalming Staycation junior taster session having regularly passed Godalming and Farncombe BC while walking in the Phillips Memorial Ground.
In 2017, now-teammate Kylie Jenkins put her forward to County Girls manager, Debbie Souter and she was selected for the Amy Rose Squad that reached the semi-finals in Leamington.
Having joined Egham in 2019, following many hours spent with mentor Pam Garden, Yaz was selected for the Bowls England U18 Youth Academy only for the event due to take place in May 2020 to be cancelled due to COVID.
Yaz will shortly compete in the Bowls England National Finals in the Women’s Triples, Johns Trophy, Junior Singles and Women’s Two-Wood Singles and describes her qualification for two senior events and selection by squad manager Caroline Duarte for Surrey’s Johns Trophy squad as “a huge honour.”
Tickets to the National Finals start at just £4 for adults and £1 for Under 21s offer a full day of top-class sporting action. Tickets increase to £5.50 adults and £1.50 Under 21s at weekends. Event passes are available and all tickets are cheaper in advance.
Please note: U16s must be accompanied by an adult. Under 3s enter free of charge.