The Chair of the S4C Authority has welcomed the Welsh Secretary’s visit to the Rownd and Rownd set at Menai Bridge, Anglesey.
S4C Chair John Walter Jones said that Cheryl Gillan had an opportunity to see first hand the high quality of work produced by Rondo, the company responsible for producing the soap series which has been running for 15 years.
John Walter Jones said: “This is an example of pioneering work happening in north Wales. Producing an ambitious, successful soap is very important to S4C. There are 55 people in the cast – more than 20 of them under 18 – and these young people are the talents of the future. They are being given a golden opportunity to develop skills and talents which will be of great benefit to them at an important time in their lives.”
John Walter Jones adds that there are other exciting developments in the pipeline. S4C commissions a wide raft of new programmes from north west Wales. These include a ground-breaking new drama series set in the Llyn Peninsula.
He added that Cwmni Da, which employs over 60 full-time members of staff in Caernarfon and Felinheli, are working on a number of new series for the channel, adding to the many popular series they already produce.
Another local independent production company, Antena, employs 30 people who, according to the company, are young, dynamic and enthusiastic.
“On a personal note, I’m really looking forward to watching a programme which Antena have produced that will be broadcast on S4C next week,” said John Walter Jones. “It follows Barri Griffiths, the six foot six 21-stone wrestler from Tremadog. He has moved to America to make his living as a wrestler under the wings of the WWE, the world’s largest wrestling organisation.
“This is just one example of the range of programming produced by independent companies for the variety of audiences who watch and enjoy S4C,” added John Walter Jones.
