S4C turns back the clock to unveil brand new series
30 May 2011
Visitors of the Urdd Eisteddfod in Swansea on Monday 30 May stepped back in time as two of S4C’s most popular presenters launched the Channel’s latest series, Y Goets Fawr (The Stagecoach), on the Eisteddfod field.
Onlookers at the festival were greeted with the unveiling of a replica of the Royal Mail stagecoach as singer Shân Cothi and presenter Ifan Jones Evans revealed details of the series, which is due to be broadcast over a week at the end of June.
Y Goets Fawr takes us back to the nineteenth century when the stagecoach being led by teams of four horses was the best way of transporting the mail from A to B. The old Irish Mail route will be followed during the week as the team passes through towns and villages in North Wales.
Ifan will be on the coach throughout the journey as he learns more about the history and route of the old Royal Mail coaches from London to Ireland. The presenter will also enjoy the food, clothes and entertainment of the period and meet a number of contributors and supporters along the way. At the end of each night, he’ll park up and enjoy a series of special events from the past.
It is at the special events, which will be transmitted live on S4C, where he teams up with Shân to host traditional celebrations, including pub games, country fayres and folk evenings, in various locations along the route.
The stagecoach will leave the centre of London and S4C’s cameras will join them as they enter Wales in Chirk, near Wrexham, on Sunday 26 June.
Along the way, the team will visit Llangollen, Cerrigydrudion, Pentrefoelas, Capel Curig and Bangor before reaching the end of the road in Holyhead on Thursday, 30 June. Ifan will also stop in schools on the route, allowing people of all ages to play a part in re-capturing the history of the old Royal Mail coaches.
The pair are set to be joined by historian and car salesman Gari Wyn, who will take a historical look at old stories from the period throughout the week, and stagecoach owner Gwyn Williams, who has the important task of driving along the route.
Y Goets Fawr will be broadcast on S4C from Sunday 26 June until Thursday 30 June. Viewers can also follow Ifan’s unique journey and find information on how to be attend any of the nightly events via the website, s4c.co.uk/ygoetsfawr.
