Pobol y Cwm
GenreSoap opera
Created by
StarringPresent cast
Theme music composerEndaf Emlyn[1]
Country of originWales
Original languageWelsh
No. of episodes8,000[2]
Production
ProducerLlyr Morus
Production locationsBroadcasting House, Llandaff (1974–2011)
Roath Lock, Cardiff (2011–present)
Running time20 minutes (excluding advertisements)
Production companyBBC Studios Continuing Drama Productions
Original release
Network
Release16 October 1974 (1974-10-16) 
present
Related
Rownd a Rownd

Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley; Welsh pronunciation: [ˈpɔb.ɔl ə ˈkʊm]) is a Welsh-language soap opera produced by the BBC since October 1974.[3] The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Cymru (now BBC One Wales) and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it opened in November 1982.[3]

The programme typically centres around the residents of Cwmderi – a fictional, Welsh speaking, agricultural community.

Apart from rugby and football specials, Pobol y Cwm is consistently one of the most watched programmes of the week on S4C,[4] and in 1994 was briefly shown across the whole of the United Kingdom on BBC Two with English subtitles.[5]

On 25 September 2019, the soap hit a significant broadcasting landmark when it aired its 8,000th episode.[6]

Setting

The setting for the show is the fictional village of Cwmderi, located in Gwendraeth Valley, which is between Carmarthen and Llanelli in south-west Wales. Whilst much of the show's early activity took place at a nursing home, storylines are currently centred on the village pub, Y Deri,[7] and its adjacent small businesses and houses. Other frequent settings for storylines include the comprehensive school, Ysgol y Mynach, and a local farm, Penrhewl. There are two other fictional villages close to Cwmderi, named Llanarthur and Cwrtmynach.

Originally filmed at Broadcasting House, Cardiff, since 2011 the programme has been filmed at the BBC's drama studios at Roath Lock in Cardiff Bay, other than a few on-location shoots around Cardiff. The exterior outdoor high street of Cwmderi was recreated from scratch, while many interiors are shot inside the Roath Lock Studios.

Broadcast

Three episodes are produced each week, broadcast at 8pm between Tuesdays and Thursdays, a reduction from a fifth episode in 2019, and a reduction from a fourth episode in 2021. In addition, a weekly omnibus with in-vision English subtitles airs on Sunday evenings.

On 18 March 2020 it was announced that filming would be suspended in the light of the spread of COVID-19 until further notice. The number of episodes being broadcast would be also be reduced to two per week "so that we can ensure the audience can continue to enjoy Pobol y Cwm in their homes for as long as possible." The episodes were shown on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the usual time slot.[8] In June 2020, it was announced that Pobol y Cwm would go on a transmission break following the broadcast on 16 June 2020. A behind-the-scenes show, Pobol y Cwm: Y Cymeriadau, aired in the show's place during the transmission break. Every episode featured an exclusive interview with the show's cast, with 12 episodes being shown. The soap also aired a repeat of "iconic" episodes from the past.

Five months later, it was confirmed that there were plans for a return to production. When production recommenced, social distancing measures were utilised and the cast were required to do their own hair and make-up, which is normally done by a make-up artist.[9] Filming recommenced on 10 August 2020, with new episodes airing twice a week from 8 September 2020, increasing to four in January 2021.

Present characters

Regular characters

Character Actor Years
Megan Harries (née Owen)Lisabeth Miles19741996, 20022003, 2011
David 'Dai' AshurstEmyr Wyn19821984, 20012020, 2022
Ieuan GriffithsIestyn Jones19881992, 19951997, 20002011, 2019
Eileen Probert (née Walters)Sera Cracroft19891996, 1998, 2007
Hywel LlywelynAndrew Teilo1990
Cassie Morris (née Nicholas)Sue Roderick19912004, 2018
Sioned ReesEmily Tucker19931996, 2007
Kathleen 'Kath' JonesSiw Hughes19932007, 2014, 2017
Mark JonesArwyn Davies1993
Cai RossiterRhys ap William1996, 20022012, 2021
Rhys LlywelynJack Quick19972001, 20082012, 20142015, 2018
Diane Ashurst (née Hopkins)Victoria Plucknett19982020, 2022
Jason FrancisRhys ap Hywel19982007, 2015
Anita PierceNia Caron1999
Britt Evans (née Monk)Donna Edwards2002
Iolo WhiteDyfan Rees20022005, 2007, 2009
Siôn WhiteJeremi Cockram2002
Kelly EvansLauren Phillips20032005, 2007, 2009, 2015
Ffion Llywelyn (née Roberts)Bethan Ellis Owen2004
Huw "Jinx" JenkinsMark Flanagan20052015, 2021
Dani ThomasElin Harries2007
Gaynor LlywelynSharon Roberts2007
Colin EvansJonathan Nefydd2008
Delyth FieldingCarys Eleri20102012, 2021
Richard 'DJ' AshurstCarwyn Glyn2014
Mathew PriceMark Stuart Roberts2016
Howard OwenEndaf Eynon Davies20182019, 2021
Brynmor Jones (né Richards)William Thomas2019, 2021
Cheryl ThomasRebecca Trehearn2023
Maya CooperSophie Mensah2023

Recurring and guest characters

Character Actor(s) Duration
Arwen WhiteNel Hannah2012
Esther LlywelynRosie Ekenna2016
Ifan FrancisIoan Arnold2017
Greta Davies-WhiteElisa Stevens2017
Seren MonkFlorence Seaman2017
Huwi-John ProbertWil Owen2018
Gabriel ThomasRory Crouch2021

See also

References

  1. "Pobol y Cwm: 40 facts to mark 40 years of the soap on its 40th birthday". WalesOnline. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  2. "TV Show directory - Pobol Y Cwm". Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Menna, Baines; Lynch, Peredur I., eds. (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 688. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
  4. S4C viewing figures
  5. Welsh BBC adds to drama output, The Independent, 9 February 1993
  6. "TV Show directory - Pobol Y Cwm". Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  7. Outdoor filming for the pub used to take place at The Sportsman's Rest Inn Peterston-super-Ely.
  8. "Filming on EastEnders, Casualty, Doctors and more postponed". Wales Online. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  9. "Coronavirus: S4C's Pobol y Cwm and Rownd a Rownd back on TV". BBC News. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
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