30 December 2011

 Star of Gavin and Stacey Steffan Rhodri has come top in S4C’s cooking challenge series Dudley: Pryd o Sêr.

The four part series broadcast between 27 and 30 December saw eight familiar faces take on extreme culinary challenges that would make the most experienced chef tremble. You can watch the series again on S4C’s catch up service Clic – s4c.co.uk/clic.

Steffan came out on top in the competition which also featured actress Ffion Dafis; Siân Lloyd, the news broadcaster; model and former Miss Wales Courtenay Hamilton; presenter Rhodri Ogwen Williams; jockey, Hywel Davies; former AM Eleanor Burnham, and one of the Only Men Aloud boys, Wyn Davies.

“I thought that my experience working in kitchens would go against me with the judges,” says Steffan who used to work for a catering company in between acting jobs. “I thought that the award would go to someone who had improved most during the experience. But I was very glad to receive the accolade!”

The Pryd o Sêr title is his second win in an S4C series. He also triumphed on horseback in the series Y 7 Magnifico a Matthew Rhys broadcast in December 2008, where stars were challenged to learn cowboy skills.

“The picture I was given by the Pryd o Sêr team as an award is hanging on the wall next to the spurs I got for winning the series Y 7 Magnifico,” says Steffan. “It was an amazing experience and I learned a lot. I really enjoyed being the captain of my team and the group were such good company. We had a lot of fun!”

Despite his team losing the final challenge, Steffan was awarded the individual title for his performance throughout the series.

“The Pryd o Sêr award was given to the star who shone throughout the series,” said judge and series presenter Dudley Newbery. “Steffan is an excellent leader and was very organised in the kitchen. He worked hard and pushed himself by preparing meals that were outside his comfort zone. He is obviously highly skilled and was always happy to help his fellow team members.”

Steffan has just finished a role in the play The Kitchen Sink at Bush Theatre in London which received rave reviews from the critics. He is currently in rehearsals for a production of Alan Ayckbourn's comedy Absent Friends which opens at The Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End in February.

The all star cast features former EastEnder Kaira Tointon, Reece Shearsmith of the comedy The League of Gentlemen, Katherine Parkinson of The IT Crowd and Elizabeth Berrington who has starred in dramas such as Waterloo Road and The Bill.

Ends