05 August 2013

This September eighteen brave individuals will get ready to step back in time to the Wales of 1910; to live, dress, work and play like people of the period in the Llanerchaeron Country House as part of S4C's first ever living history series.

Y Plas kicks off on S4C on Sunday 15 September at 8.30. How will they cope with life as landed gentry or lowly servants in this 18th century grand Welsh mansion? We can follow their ups and downs, up and down stairs in four programmes a week on S4C, all with English subtitles.

Today S4C can reveal the names of the eighteen who will appear on the series Y Plas:

Settling into the luxurious surroundings of y Plas will be the Quick family from Carmarthenshire; Dean and Mandy Quick assuming the roles of Lord and Lady of the Manor, their three children, 9 year old Elicia, 7 year old Macsen and 3 year old Betsan as the children of Y Plas, and Mandy's mother, Margaret Tobias will also be joining the family in the landed gentry's living quarters upstairs.

Gwilym Lloyd Davies from Anglesey will be in charge of the workforce as he steps into the Butler's boots; Elin Ifan from Bangor will assume the role of Housekeeper, and Jasmine Wilson from Pontrhydfendigaid will be responsible for feeding everyone as she becomes the house Cook.

Joining them to make up the work force downstairs will be Fiona Haf Jones from Abergele; Aled Morgan Hughes from Llangadfan; Dewi Preece from Cardiff; Ruth Evans from the Gwendraeth Valley who now lives in Glangwili; Dan Skyrme from Carmarthen who now lives in Cardiff; Anna Jones from Oswestry; Gary Jones from Bala; Rowan Sarah Davies from Carmarthen and Cathryn Davies from Kidwelly.

But what exactly will their role be within Y Plas? Well, they will have to wait until the start of the series in September to find out exactly what lies ahead.

Dafydd Rhys, Director of Content at S4C said:

"We're always looking for series which will challenge our audience, entertaining on the one hand and educating on the other, and Y Plas will certainly do this."

"There is an enthusiastic crew of colourful characters ready to step into Y Plas – individuals raging from 3 to 69 years old – and we'll learn about a special period in history while we watch them live, work and play like people would have done in a grand Welsh mansion in 1910.

"Next year will be the centenary of the start of the First World War, and Y Plas will bring the period just before the war to life for us as viewers. So instead of opening a dusty old book the history will be there in front of us to see, and the challenges of the time will definitely make for good television!"

Rachel Evans, producer of the series said:

‘Each person entering Y Plas is excited about the big challenge that lies ahead. But imagine life in 1910; no washing machine or tractor; no computer or television. The family living upstairs will have it easy but life below the stairs will be quite different. The inhabitants themselves and the viewers will soon find out if actually living in this period - the heat of the kitchen and the hard labour on the farm -will prove to be all too much."

The series is sponsored by Discover Ceredigion.

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