06 April 2010

   A new, exciting and highly innovative service for children aged 7 – 13 years, Stwnsh, has been launched by S4C.

The new Stwnsh service will reflect the lives of children in Wales and offer original and ambitious programmes. Stwnsh will launch on screen on Monday 26 April and will be on air for two hours every weekday between 4.00pm and 6.00pm.

A brand new Saturday morning show Stwnsh Sadwrn, is one of the highlights of the new service. The programme will be a fun-filled mixture of sketches, comedy and competitions.

Anni Llŷn, Eleri Griffiths and Owain Gwynedd are S4C’s new faces and they join current presenters Geraint Hardy, Lois Cernyw and Tudur Phillips to present Stwnsh during the week. Lois will also team up with children’s favourites Ant ac Al – Anthony Evans and Alun Williams –on Stwnsh Sadwrn.

Stwnsh also boasts an innovative interactive service for its viewers – s4c.co.uk/stwnsh – which will play a key role in the service. Applications on the website will include games, series information and downloading, as well as the chance to watch Stwnsh and other children’s series online.

Rhian Gibson, S4C’s Director of Commissioning, says: “S4C believes that children’s services play an important role in its function as a public service broadcaster and I’m delighted that we can demonstrate our continuing dedication to our younger audiences.

“Stwnsh will provide creative and imaginative programmes made in Wales. Ambitious and adventurous productions will be at the heart of the service – programmes to challenge and inspire,” says Rhian.

“Stwnsh is the second stage of S4C’s strategy to expand and strengthen its service for children of all ages,” adds Rhian. “This launch follows the success of the pioneering pre-school service, Cyw, which started in 2008. Cyw has had a great reception from toddlers and their families from all over Wales and beyond. Later this year, we’ll be expanding Cyw’s hours into the weekends.”

The developments will continue after Stwnsh is launched as S4C plan ahead to the third stage – a service for children and young people over 13 years.

Rhian adds, “The three services will provide programmes for children of all ages throughout Wales – programming that reflects their culture and experiences.”

Here’s a taster of some of the new series Stwnsh has to offer:

Seren am Swper

In this series, two families from the same area will be challenged to prepare a special feast for a famous face in entertainment or sport. The children will decide the menu as the celebrities visit the two families before deciding which evening was the best. The winning family will receive the Gold Seren am Swper Trophy, as the losing side will put on their rubber gloves and wash the dirty dishes.

I’r Eithaf

Tudur Phillips volunteers to take part in a range of experiments in the extreme science lab – under the guidance of scientific experts. How quickly can our hearts beat as we exercise hard? For how long can we stand temperatures of minus 10?

Ti’n Gêm?

The viewers are responsible for this new sporting series with different sports clubs in the limelight each week. Members of these clubs will offer training tips to those who want to learn about the new skill as well as putting different kinds of tools to the test – from Frisbees to surfboards.

Anifeiliaid a Fi

From mountain sheep to hamsters and goldfish, three children from the Bala, Aberystwyth and Swansea areas take a look at animals that live among us. Each week the trio will be visiting children who either keep pets or live on a farm. We’ll also follow children who compete with their animals, and pay a weekly visit to vet Kate Thomas at work in the Aberystwyth area.

Stwnsh ar y Ffordd

The viewers and the Stwnsh pod will play a central role in this series. The series travels to schools all across the country to give Wales’ children the chance to show their skills in interesting games – from the silly and funny to the creative and imaginative. The teachers are the team mascots and one unlucky teacher will end the day in the Stwnsh ar y Ffordd tank.

Stwnsh Sadwrn

Ant, Al and Lois present two energetic hours every Saturday morning full of comedy, interactivity, competitions, fun and mischief. It will reach anarchic and silly heights with the help of a team of young people, studio guests, contributors and anyone who is unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.