BBC Cymru Wales on S4C 1 O Flaen Dy Lygaid 2 Jonathan: Guest Bryn Terfel 3 Gwynfor:Yr Aelod Dros Gymru? 4 Pobol Y Cwm
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Highlights across our Services 2 Dragon’s Eye has continued its scrutiny of the political Pawb a’i Farn, the current affairs debate programme, scene, with the programme finding strong new lines is an important forum for discussion for audiences in on key stories such as the Arts Council of Wales different parts of the country. It began a seven week funding row, the availability of the breast cancer drug run in March with a visit to Penygroes, followed by News and Current Affairs Herceptin, and the latest chapter in the debate on Trimsaran.The special programme on the Welfare the Welsh quangos. State to coincide with S4C’s week of programmes on the topic, Er Lles Pawb, resulted in lively debate. In January the Radio Wales business programme In April 2005 the deaths of two distinguished politicians, Wales@work took the Best Regional Broadcast award Both English and Welsh language online news services Lord Callaghan of Cardiff and Plaid Cymru’s first MP at the annual Work Foundation Work World Awards, have continued to attract growing numbers of users, and party president, Gwynfor Evans, were covered which celebrate UK excellence in journalism on work, with an increase of 72 per cent in unique users of extensively. Later in the year BBC Cymru Wales business, management and economics issues. English language online news (comparing March 2005 produced a two-part programme on Gwynfor Evans with March 2006) and 14.7 per cent in unique users for S4C. Gwynfor:Yr Aelod dros Gymru? was critically Radio Wales’ Good Morning Wales reporter Jessie of Welsh language online news. acclaimed and in April 2006 won the Gwyn Alf Swinburn won the radio reporter prize at the 1 Williams BAFTA Cymru prize for the programme annual Race in the Media Awards, organised by the Developments in broadcast technology are bringing which had made the biggest contribution to the Commission for Racial Equality.The judges praised about changes to the way in which BBC Cymru Wales BBC Cymru Wales’ News and Current Affairs understanding of Welsh history during 2005. her profile of a young asylum seeker who’d been gathers and broadcasts its news output and interacts services provide audiences throughout Wales with racially abused on arrival in Wales. with its audiences. No less important are the basic 3 a comprehensive and trusted source of news and The General Election in April 2005 brought the journalistic skills which underpin BBC Cymru Wales 5 4 analysis on television, radio and online, in both extraordinary story of the late Peter Law, who Comprehensive coverage of UK and world events news services, and in collaboration with the BBC 3 Welsh and English. succeeded as an independent candidate in winning for Newyddion on S4C included the death of Pope College of Journalism, new courses are being devised Blaenau Gwent – one of the safest Labour seats John Paul II, the wedding of HRH The Prince of Wales and piloted to support and develop those skills. One of the biggest events of the year was the royal in the UK. and Camilla Parker Bowles and the earthquake opening of the National Assembly’s Senedd building in Pakistan. In the run-up to the General Election 1 Taro Naw:Aled Huw reporting from New Orleans on 1 March 2006.Throughout the day BBC Cymru During the year BBC Cymru Wales reported on Newyddion provided extensive coverage of the 2 Huw Edwards bringing coverage of the royal opening of the Senedd Wales provided extensive coverage across all output stories which were of concern to communities across campaign, whilst the Pawb a’i Farn team produced and on S4C, with live broadcasts from the specially Wales, including the E.coli outbreak in the Valleys, the four election debate programmes from various parts built studios floating on pontoons in Cardiff Bay, an cryptosporidium bug which affected people in north of Wales.The special programme by Ffeil aimed at extended Wales Today, and reports which reflected west Wales, the Welsh Rugby Union and the Wales introducing the election and its issues to young people, the views of audiences across the country. coach controversy and concerns over the intention to Ffeil a’r Ffactor X, generated considerable interest in build a liquefied natural gas terminal in Milford Haven. the Netherlands and Germany via the Youth News Exchange organised by the European Broadcasting Union. Television 1 High Hopes 2 Owain Glyndwˆ r:The Last Welsh Prince BBC One Wales, 3 On Show: Jan Morris at 80 BBC Two Wales and BBC 2W 2 3 1 On St David’s Day BBC Cymru Wales took over the BBC One Wales schedule almost entirely in peaktime, with uninterrupted programmes from Wales from 6.30pm to 10.00pm and two programmes covering the royal opening of the Senedd building at lunchtime and late evening. Programmes ranged from Iolo Williams Flying with Kites and Cilla Black Coming Home to the landmark documentary Owain Glyndwˆ r:The Last Welsh Prince (presented by Huw Edwards), as well as the BBC Cymru Wales brought programmes of distinction and relevance to culmination of The Big Welsh Challenge, the entertaining audiences in Wales throughout the year. Landmark series included Wales at War series in which celebrities teamed up with mentors 3 with John Humphrys and Wales: the Making of a People presented by Sian Williams. to learn Welsh.Viewing figures demonstrated the 7 6 Natural history presenter Iolo Williams delighted audiences with two series, value placed by audiences on this day of special 3 Canals of Wales with Iolo Williams and Iolo’s Welsh Safari, as well as the award winning programming, with almost a million people seeing programme Iolo Williams Flying with Kites. Comedy series High Hopes attracted an at least some of the day’s output. ever-growing audience, and the return of Belonging for its sixth series demonstrated the enduring appeal of this highly-charged drama. The arts strand On Show brought a range of documentaries to BBC Two Wales during the year, Weston’s Forgotten Army was an important film, in which Simon Weston conveyed focusing on subjects as diverse as author Jan Morris harrowing testimony from veterans of the Second World War in the Far East.Two in her eightieth year, the Brangwyn Panels in Swansea, documentary series resonated in particular with audiences: Teenage Mams provided the 2006 Artes Mundi prize and entertainers Ryan insights into the lives of young Welsh mothers; Valleys, narrated by Huw Edwards, and Ronnie. was an eye-catching and thought-provoking series. X-Ray tackled a range of consumer issues which engaged a broad audience. BBC Cymru Wales on S4C 1 O Flaen Dy Lygaid 2 Jonathan: guest Bryn Terfel 3 Gwynfor:Yr Aelod Dros Gymru? 4 Pobol y Cwm The series O Flaen Dy Lygaid continued to produce powerful documentaries, with the programme on the Second World War, Y Byd yn Fflam, resonating particularly strongly with the audience. Jonathan, the chat show with the unique Welsh rugby club atmosphere returned for a New Year’s Eve special from the Pop Factory, Porth. Jonathan Davies, Eleri Siôn, Rowland Phillips, Nigel Owens and their guests celebrated an unforgettable year for Welsh rugby in Grand Slam style. In its 31st year the ever popular Pobol y Cwm tackled some challenging storylines. At the beginning of 2006 1 the subject of an attempted suicide was treated with sensitivity and produced powerful performances The National Eisteddfod was once again one of BBC Cymru Wales’ most complex from the cast. In March the focus switched to Owen operations across all media. Coverage of the week’s events for S4C was more Morgan, the local minister who has been a part of comprehensive than ever, with the team of presenters bringing competitions and the Cwmderi community for the past two years and features to both analogue and digital viewers. By special arrangement with the whose behaviour becomes increasingly erratic Eisteddfod two live concerts were added to the output.The first was the opening following the murder of a prostitute. ceremony and concert featuring Catrin Finch and local male voice choirs.The second featured Bryn Terfel and the Eisteddfod youth choir performing a new work by Robat Arwyn, Er Hwylio’r Haul. Over Christmas S4C broadcast the Bryn 3 Fôn concert which had received an enthusiastic response from the almost capacity audience in the pavilion on the Monday night of the Eisteddfod. 3 A highlight of the year was the award-winning two-part documentary on the life 9 8 and work of the late Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru’s first MP and party president. 3 Gwynfor:Yr Aelod Dros Gymru? was based on the research of Rhys Evans for his biography of the subject and in the programmes Gwynfor Evans’ party colleagues and political opponents spoke frankly about his ambitions and his character. Of particular value were the contributions of his family and the unique archive footage they were able to provide. 2 4 Radio Radio Cymru It was a very successful year for Radio Cymru.The station not only attracted more listeners but also won the Radio Station of the Year award at the Celtic Film and Television Festival. Radio Cymru broadcast from major events including the National Eisteddfod, the Urdd Eisteddfod and Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau and, in collaboration with S4C, visited several agricultural shows and carnivals around Wales. Radio Cymru’s public events such as Mawredd Mawr, where listeners get the opportunity to choose their favourite songs, and Gwobrau RAP, the award ceremony for Welsh rock and pop groups, went from strength to strength.The station was also fully involved in the Here for You! initiatives throughout the year.