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Home , BBC Cymru Wales, BBC One Wales, Clwb Rygbi, Dai Jones, Hartswood Films, Jason Mohammad

Wales Management review 2010/11

a 01 ntroduction 14 Looking ahead 19 Contacts 02 Two minute summary 18 Key priorities for next year 20 management 04 Service performance

‘‘Our commitment is to deliver a wide-range of high quality output for our audiences reflecting modern Wales, its culture and society.’’ Keith Jones, Director, BBC Cymru Wales

Cover image Snowdonia 1890. Introduction

It was a momentous year in so many ways. From the Ryder Cup in Newport to the National Referendum on law-making powers, from the UK General Election to the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review, BBC Cymru Wales’ journalistic mettle was tested again and again. And each and every time our production teams responded with their customary flair and commitment. While the role of a national broadcaster is laden with responsibilities, there is also the privilege of working with editorial teams who are steeped in a commitment to delivering a wide-range of high quality output for our audiences reflecting modern Wales, its culture and society. This year we said goodbye to Menna Richards, after 11 years at the helm of BBC Wales. It is hard to overstate Menna’s contribution to broadcasting. Her ambition and unfailing determination to show that Wales could make its mark, not just in the UK but globally too, was an inspiration for all. Menna’s legacy is perhaps best embodied in the new drama production studios, , which will open in later this year.

Keith Jones Director, BBC Cymru Wales

1 Two minute summary 1 million 570,000 Average number of viewers Adults in Wales who listened each week to BBC Cymru Wales’ to either BBC Radio Wales English language programming and/or BBC Radio Cymru i n 2010 /11. each week in 2010/11. 8,720,000 23% The average BBC UK Percentage of adults in Wales audience for Sherlock in who access the internet from summer 2010. their mobiles.

Approval of the BBC in Wales (mean score out of 10) Source: PBTS/Kantar

General impression of the BBC Value for money of the licence fee 08/09 6.68 08/09 4.93 09/10 6.86 09/10 5.08 10/11 6.96 10/11 5.29

Television weekly reach Source: BARB (based on 15-minute consecutive reach)

BBC Cymru Wales English language programmes BBC Cymru Wales on 08/09 856,000 08/09 166,000 09/10 947,000 09/10 167,000 10/11 1,000,000 10/11 190,000

2 Top ten series and top five individual programmes 2010/11 Source: BARB BBC Cymru Wales English BBC Cymru Wales series language series on S4C Snowdonia 1890 309,000 (Fri/Sun/Mon) 98,000 Baker Boys 294,000 Pobol y Cwm (Wed/Thu/Sun) 92,000 at 6.30pm 273,000 Pobol y Cwm (Thu/Fri/Sun) 91,000 Coming Home 242,000 Pobol y Cwm (Tue/Wed/Sun) 90,000 Weatherman Walking 229,000 Pobol y Cwm (Mon/Tue/Sun) 84,000 Rolf on Welsh Art 222,000 Y 75,000 Rhys to the Rescue 205,000 Y Clwb Rygbi: Gemau Rhyngwladol dan 20 40,000 Wales Today at 10.25pm 195,000 Genedlaethol: Mwy o’r Maes 34,000 Hospital 24/7 181,000 Y Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol 27,000 Iolo’s Secret Life of Birds 180,000 Pawb a’i Farn 25,000 BBC Cymru Wales English language BBC Cymru Wales programmes programmes on S4C : Live at …Again 442,000 Eisteddfod Genedlaethol: Cyngerdd 63,000 Agoriadol: Only Men/Boys Aloud The Making of Snowdonia 1890 320,000 Eisteddfod Genedlaethol: Cyngerdd Cloi 47,000 Max Boyce: The Road to Treorchy 298,000 Plant y Paith: Pobl Cwmhyfryd 25,000 BBC (Wales) 212,000 Cyngerdd Cymry’r West End 25,000 Scrum V Six Nations Preview 202,000 Eisteddfod Genedlaethol: Y Gymanfa Ganu 23,000

Radio weekly reach (adults) Source: RAJAR/RSMB/Ipos-MORI

BBC Radio Wales BBC Radio Cymru 08/09 435,000 08/09 155,000 09/10 411,000 09/10 147,000 10/11 468,000 10/11 150,000

Website weekly unique users Source: BBC

BBC Cymru Wales English language sites BBC Cymru Wales sites 08/09 1,325,000 08/09 30,500 09/10 1,423,000 09/10 26,500 10/11 1,386,000 10/11 33,000 Further facts and figures available at www..co.uk/wales/info 3 Service performance

In 2010/11, BBC Wales English language and Gary Owen, starring television programmes produced the best star Eve Myles – told the timely performance figures for several years. Our story of the closure of a Valleys bakery and content was watched by a million viewers its subsequent takeover by the workers. each week, our appreciation figures were Rolf on Welsh Art saw explore above average and eight series attracted the work of four famous Welsh artists and over 200,000 viewers. produce his own paintings in their style. Throughout the year, we continued our Major documentaries included Secret strategy of broadcasting a greater range Life of Birds presented by ; of programming on BBC One Wales – Hospital 24/7 – a series featuring human programming that reflects modern Wales, stories and ground-breaking surgery; its culture and society. and the Tonypandy Riots which marked Three landmark series were cornerstones the 100th anniversary of the event. For of the schedule. Snowdonia 1890 took St David’s Day Max Boyce returned to two Welsh families back in time, bringing Treorchy, where he launched his career the history of mountain farming and slate nearly 40 years ago, for a special concert. quarrying in to life. The drama series, Baker Boys – written by

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1. Rolf on Welsh Art. 2. Baker Boys. 3. Max Boyce: Live at Treorchy…Again. 4 PLEASE NOTE: USE APPROPRIATE COLOUR REF FOR COLOUR MODE AND APPLICATION

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General Election coverage included a Our sport output throughout the year was Welsh party leaders’ debate, with Huw enriched by a number of documentaries Edwards presenting our Election Night leading up to the Ryder Cup in Newport. 2010 programme. In February 2011 we Club and international rugby was again covered the campaign leading up to the the backbone of our sporting coverage, Assembly Referendum, with Jamie Owen with Sport Wales providing a platform for presenting the daytime results programme. coverage of football and a wide range of Wales Today’s in-depth special programmes other sports. included the Referendum, the Assembly budget and the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review. Elsewhere in the schedules, ’s Weatherman Walking, archive series Welsh Greats and the consumer advice programme X-Ray continued to appeal.

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5 Service performance continued

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BBC on S4C about issues of importance. Several special The renewal of the Strategic Partnership programmes focused on topics of particular Agreement between the BBC and S4C significance including the General Election, for a further three years underpins our the Comprehensive Spending Review and continuing commitment to supply a range the Assembly Referendum. of distinctive and high quality television Pobol y Cwm retains its position as one of programmes in Welsh. the most watched programmes on S4C, Our programmes continue to be amongst emphasising its importance at the of the most-watched on S4C and the weekly the BBC programme supply. New characters reach of the BBC’s contribution to the and compelling storylines have continued to channel increased to 190,000 in 2010/11, engage and attract new audiences. up 14% year-on-year. Rugby at regional, club and international The foundations of our programme supply level is provided in our flagship sports to S4C were news and current affairs, programme Y Clwb Rygbi with its high coverage of the National Eisteddfod in production standards and authoritative Ebbw Vale, and the daily commentary and punditry continuing drama Pobol y Cwm. to attract strong audiences. In a year of major political and economic Our coverage of the National Eisteddfod stories, provided thorough is a major annual outside broadcast. analysis of Welsh, UK and international Programmes from the Ebbw Vale event stories. , the daily news programme for featured all of the stage competitions as children, complemented this core provision. well as giving viewers a greater sense of The current affairs strandTaro Naw the breadth and energy of the festival. reaffirmed its reputation for tenacious For younger children on the S4C investigation in its reporting from Wales service, the captivating Plant y Byd and a and beyond. CF99 provided weekly political further run of the colourful storytelling analysis with a focus on the National series Un Tro, took advantage of Assembly while Pawb a’i Farn engaged collaboration opportunities with communities across Wales in debates BBC network productions.

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1. Emily Tucker (Sioned Rees in Pobol y Cwm). 2. Upstairs Downstairs. BBC Cymru Wales on the networks documented the experiences of the wives, It was another year of real achievement in girlfriends and mothers of Royal Welsh BBC network production from Wales, with Regiment soldiers. Sherlock, Human Planet, Upstairs Downstairs, Drama saw Matt Smith become the Being Human, Eric and Ernie and new Doctor Who, with latest companion all making an indelible mark with audiences Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), and a new editorial in Wales and across the UK. BBC Wales and production team led by . also welcomed the team to The Doctor Who Christmas special starred Cardiff – with the show broadcasting Welsh singer , alongside live on BBC One from Wales. Michael Gambon. The landmark anthropology series Human The team also brought a new production Planet – a collaboration with BBC of Upstairs Downstairs to our television Features and the Natural History Unit – screens. Independent drama productions was a stunning story of human endeavour made through BBC Wales included Sherlock and survival, and won international plaudits. starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Elsewhere, Between Life and Death followed ; Merlin which returned the extraordinary work of doctors in on a magical scale to Saturday nights; Being the intensive care unit of Addenbrooke’s Human, and The Nativity – a moving retelling Hospital, Cambridge, while The One Show of the well-known story by Tony Jordan. team in Wales continued to deliver a range BBC Two’s Christmas schedule saw Eric of high-quality output for the magazine and Ernie starring Victoria Wood and When programme. Bruce Parry’s Arctic and Griff Harvey Met Bob – a celebration of the Rhys Jones’ Hidden Treasures also performed anniversary of Live Aid. well on BBC Two. The Radio drama team also contributed In music, highlights included the Doctor Who many successful programmes to Prom on BBC Three, the Young Musician BBC Radio 4 including the powerful of the Year competition on BBC Two and serial The Song House, and Uncle Gwyn’s BBC Four, and Choir of the Year. Over on Posthumous Curse, the late Margaret BBC Radio 4, Robert Winston’s Musical John’s last radio drama. Analysis examined the medical conditions which composers have suffered, whilst the powerful series While the Boys Are Away 7 Service performance continued

BBC Radio Cymru News and current affairs programmes In 2010/11, BBC Radio Cymru retained are the backbone of the schedule with its position as the most popular station an extended Post Cyntaf, Taro’r Post, Post amongst fluent Welsh speakers ahead Prynhawn, Dau o’r Bae and Manylu all of all BBC network and commercial radio providing analysis and insight into Welsh, UK stations. On average, 150,000 listeners and global stories, including comprehensive tuned in each week for an average of coverage of the General Election and the 13 hours (2009/10: 147,000). Assembly Referendum. Its strong performance coincided with Three new series this year featured well- changes made to the 8:30am breakfast known singers as presenters, including the show, which Caryl Parry Jones now co- station’s first ever talent show, Cyfle Cothi presents with Dafydd Du. Station stalwart presented by Shan Cothi; music session Dai Jones has maintained his high audience series Trac, presented by rock singer Elin share for Ar Eich Cais on Sunday evenings. Fflur, and Geraint LØvgreen with his entertaining Geraint LØvgreen ar Enw’r Gân. Welsh music remains a priority, with the innovative Sesiwn Unnos commissioning and broadcasting new music.

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1. Garry Owen and Nia Thomas – Post Cyntaf. 2. BBC Cymru Wales at the National Eisteddfod. 8 Other highlights included our coverage of Y Rhyfel Oer, Beti George and BBC Radio major cultural and sporting events such as Cymru were nominated for Celtic Media the Urdd and National eisteddfodau. We awards. Beti George was nominated for her provided live commentary on all of Wales’ outstanding contribution to broadcasting, Autumn Internationals and Six Nations including over 25 years presenting matches, City and Cardiff City’s her renowned interview programme exploits in the football Championship Beti a’i Phobol. promotion battle and extensive coverage of the Ryder Cup in Newport. The C2 team extended their outreach work with Welsh schools and experimented successfully, with the weekday web broadcasts Dodd Com often featuring guest presenters from the schools.

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3. Caryl Parry Jones and Dafydd Du – Dafydd a Caryl. 4. Beti George – Beti a’i Phobol. 9 Service performance continued

BBC Radio Wales Street – a street in Cardiff straddling In 2010/11 the station continued to offer both Conservative and Liberal Democrat audiences a distinctive Welsh perspective constituencies. The Assembly Referendum on local, national and international matters. results were broadcast live by Felicity Evans As well as increasing its audience, the station and . was also nominated for Station of the Year During the year, the station also introduced at the prestigious Sony Awards. a new weekend political programme. But it was also a year tinged with tragedy, Sunday Supplement’s remit is to explore with the death of so soon decision-making from local to international after his return to the station. level. It also marked a very welcome return Journalism was at the heart of our offer. to the station for Vaughan Roderick. Good Morning Wales, Good Evening Wales and the Radio Wales Phone-In toured the country during the General Election campaign. The station also covered the implications of the Comprehensive Spending Review through the eyes of voters in Coalition

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1. Oliver Hides, Felicity Evans, and Bethan Rhys Roberts from Good Morning Wales. 2. Karl Morgan – live for Radio Wales Music Day 2011. 10 Coverage of events that bring the nation The station has also reflected Wales in its together forms a core part of our entirety through its feature content – telling programming. When the UK’s Armed the history of Wales’ slate mines alongside Forces Day focused on Cardiff, BBC Radio the Snowdonia 1890 series for example. Wales was the only broadcaster covering Frank Hennessy won Radio Personality the parade and Drumhead Service live. of the Year at the Celtic Media Festival Our Sport team was in Delhi to bring for Celtic Heartbeat, his folk and roots listeners news of Welsh success in the programme, and it was another successful Commonwealth Games. And when year for our Religion team with success at the golfing world turned its attention to the Sandford St Martin Awards for All Newport for the Ryder Cup, the station Things Considered. was there telling the sporting story, and exploring what hosting one of the world’s largest sporting events meant to its people.

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3. Jason Mohammad 4.  with BBC Radio Wales Community Reporter Huw Jenkins. 11 Service performance continued

Interactive A new Welsh language interface for the During the year, News Online broke a BBC iPlayer was launched and interactive range of exclusive stories, covering subjects productions were delivered for Rolf on ranging from police sickness to classroom Welsh Art, Weatherman Walking and violence. Newyddion Arlein also increased Snowdonia 1890. Network productions coverage of news from across Wales and included the groundbreaking Doctor about abroad. For the first Who Adventure Games, Human Planet time, we ran a live text page for the day of Explorer, Sherlock, The Sarah Jane Adventures, the Assembly Referendum incorporating Crimewatch and Ashes to Ashes. commentary, extracts from output, blogs, Looking ahead, a new pan-BBC Online e-mails and social media. Strategy is being delivered to increase Expanded football coverage increased the quality and distinctiveness. This will lead to Sport Online audience and innovations such a Wales Edition of bbc.co.uk automatically as Twitter helped the audience to stay in offering the user a tailored version of the touch with the unfolding action at the Ryder main bbc.co.uk site. Cup in Newport. BBC Wales’ New Media and Education & Learning teams merged during the year to enable a seamless editorial offering. Learning delivered the first round of Welsh language curriculum resources along with sites for Bitesize, youth citizenship and primary-level languages. The ‘First Click’ learning campaign presented by encouraged viewers and listeners to go online for the first time.

12 BBC National Orchestra of Wales Over the winter, our contemporary The BBC National Orchestra of Wales gave music concerts have given Welsh 69 concerts during the year, 58 of which audiences a unique opportunity to hear were in Wales. The BBC National Chorus new music from the European mainland of Wales had a bumper year: ten concerts and the excellent facilities at Hoddinott with the Orchestra, and a collaboration Hall have allowed us to stage large-scale with the National Dance Company of workshops, for example on the work Wales, providing live music for Stephen of contemporary Welsh composers. Petronio’s new ballet By Singing Light. Concert work continues throughout Further afield, the Orchestra gave five BBC Wales with two subscription series at Proms at the Royal Albert Hall (including St David’s Hall in Cardiff, Brangwyn two for Doctor Who) and visited Italy and Hall in Swansea, two tours to North Amsterdam, where one of our concerts Wales, and appearances in mid- featured three young Welsh soloists: Llŷr Wales at Welsh music festivals. Williams, and Huw Williams. The range of outreach work undertaken We continue to exploit the benefits of BBC by the Orchestra and Chorus continues Hoddinott Hall as a performance, recording to touch and enrich the lives of many and education space. Our afternoon concert thousands of Welsh children and families. series explores seldom-heard repertoire Our performance mentoring projects for and continues to draw good audiences. We players of all levels increasingly conclude also experimented with shorter lunch-hour with an opportunity to perform alongside concerts during BBC Radio 3’s Mozart the Orchestra. On St. David’s Day 2011, Festival in January 2011. the Orchestra and Chorus were joined by massed County Youth Choirs in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana – live on BBC Radio 3.

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1. BBC NOW for BBC Radio 3. 2. BBC NOW outreach event. 13 Looking ahead

Following last autumn’s Licence Fee This work will be guided by the editorial settlement, the BBC is currently considering priorities set out in the BBC’s Putting Quality how it can best deliver its programmes and First strategy in 2010. The five pillars of this services up to 2017. strategy are: The financial challenges posed by the • The best journalism in the world settlement will require the BBC to think • Inspiring knowledge, music and culture radically in order to meet the demands • Ambitious UK drama and comedy of our audiences: not just now, but in six years’ time. • Outstanding children’s content BBC Cymru Wales, along with every other •  Events that bring communities and part of the organisation, must therefore the nation together reassess its priorities and consider how best to meet the needs of audiences in Wales: in English and Welsh, across TV, radio and online.

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1. BBC Roath Lock studios. 2. Eddie Butler at the National Eisteddfod. 14 Our mission in a changing Wales Enriching Wales’ public space Despite the funding challenges, our Our heritage and relationship with mission is clear. BBC Wales is the nation’s audiences across Wales places a unique most trusted and valued broadcaster. and significant responsibility on us to enrich We exist to help audiences discover and and sustain Wales’ public space. make sense of Wales by championing the Our audiences expect BBC Wales to be best talent and the boldest ideas. And we a wholly reliable source of accurate and do this on a canvas big enough to make impartial news; a supporter of originality, a difference – not just to our audiences, creativity and excellence; an investor in but to Wales itself. Welsh talent; and an upholder of the First and foremost we focus on our unique highest standards and values. national role as a creator and promoter At a time of unprecedented challenge of quality. We prioritise investment in for the media, our audiences want us content that most clearly builds public to remain central to their own lives and value, enhancing the distinctiveness to the life of Wales and the wider UK – and uniqueness of our programmes a constant companion. and services. Despite the significant challenges of the We are driven by our commitments to Licence Fee settlement BBC Wales will build and sustain a trusted public space for continue to focus on: Wales, and to support our nation’s creative • high-quality, agenda-setting journalism economy. BBC Wales must be a catalyst that reflects every part of Wales and connector within these spheres – we must make a difference. • building the distinctiveness of our factual and knowledge-building output across radio and television, with an increased commitment to challenging content that illuminates the diversity of Welsh life

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3. Merlin (Shine). 4. New BBC Cymru Wales studios at in partnership with Glyndŵr University. 15 Looking ahead continued

• reflecting and reporting contemporary management teams had agreed to explore culture and music new ways of working together that could • developing Wales’ reputation as a help reduce any operational duplication, world-class centre of drama and factual potentially safeguarding investment in production, and working with partners programme making. to improve the portrayal of Wales across We have also partnered with S4C and the BBC’s network output the Welsh Language Board to undertake • providing expert coverage of major events a major review of Welsh language audiences and sports that bring the nation together – and the way their use of the media is evolving. BBC Cymru Wales and the Closer collaboration has also produced very Welsh Language direct benefits for audiences. The decision The future of Welsh language broadcasting by S4C to enable viewers to access its was rarely out of the headlines over the programmes via the BBC iPlayer underlines last 12 months, and the UK Government’s the potential value of greater collaboration. decision to ask the BBC to provide the majority of funding for S4C from 2013 While the new arrangements for the has prompted genuine concern in future funding of S4C will undoubtedly some quarters. pose challenges for both broadcasters, BBC Wales remains convinced that partnership While the BBC Trust and and collaboration remains the surest route continue their important discussions, BBC to securing the future health and success Wales stands ready to strengthen our of Welsh language broadcasting across long-standing partnership with S4C. all platforms. We are already making real headway. Before the Government’s announcement last autumn, BBC Wales and S4C’s

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1. Crimewatch. 2. Sherlock – . 3.  presenting Election 2010 for BBC One Wales. 16 A BBC for the whole of Wales Wales on the BBC networks Over the past year, BBC Wales has Despite the significant funding challenges, underlined its commitment to serve we remain confident that Wales can and every part of the nation. Our extensive must continue to grow its contribution to coverage of the Assembly Referendum in the BBC’s networks. March touched every part of the country, Over the past year, both our own in-house and this determination to fully reflect the teams and the independent sector have local picture will drive our coverage of the demonstrated their ability and determination Assembly Elections in May. to shine on the UK stage. We have also worked hard to strengthen Alongside the continued success of our coverage of north Wales in particular. our in-house teams, The Indian Doctor The success and impact of Snowdonia (produced by Rondo), Merlin (Shine), 1890 was a particular highlight, and it Sherlock (Hartswood Films), and Being was enthusiastically welcomed by local Human (Touchpaper Wales) all communities in the area. Each programme demonstrated the talent that now exists attracted more than 300,000 viewers. within the wider creative sector in Wales. Alongside our programming, we have also As part of the BBC’s continued laid new foundations for future success commitment to increasing network in the north. In March 2011, BBC Wales production from the devolved nations, the opened its new studios at Glyndŵr opening of the Roath Lock studios in , Wrexham. As well as underlining Bay later this year will provide a new and our strong commitment to serving north dynamic focal point for the creative east Wales, the centre will enable the industries in Wales. BBC to partner with the University on Covering almost 175,000 sq ft, and including educational projects and to offer vocational nine studios, Roath Lock will provide state- placements to students. of-the-art facilities for drama production in Wales. Alongside this major infrastructure development, we will continue to work 3 with the independent sector as well as education and training institutions to ensure that Wales maintains its position as a real creative force in network production.

17 Key priorities for next year

• ew will increase the public value of our • ew will work to deliver our national national services for Wales, focusing on programming in High Definition and distinctive content and programming that continue to build our contribution to BBC reflects and reports modern Wales network services, working with others to • ew will review our portfolio of improve portrayal of Wales on the BBC’s programmes and services in light UK services. As part of this strategy, we of the Licence Fee settlement will open the new Roath Lock studios on time and on budget. • ew will implement the findings of the BBC Trust’s Service Licence Reviews of BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru and will work with others to improve access to BBC Wales’ national radio services

18 Contacts

If you have a question, comment or Lines open weekdays 9.30am-7.30pm complaint about BBC Cymru Wales (except bank holidays). Calls to the 0370 programmes or services, or any other UK-wide rate are charged at no more than aspect of the BBC’s work, please contact 01/02 geographic numbers. Calls may be our Audience Services unit. recorded for training. All feedback is carefully registered and Website: regularly distributed to editorial teams www.bbc.co.uk/wales/info and management. Write to: Telephone: 03703 500 700 Audience Services, BBC Cymru Wales, Bangor LL57 2BY Complaints: for more information about the BBC’s complaints process and to submit a complaint online please visit www.bbc.co.uk/complaints

19 Wales management

Keith Jones, Director, Wales

Clare Hudson, Head of Programmes Mark O’Callaghan, Head of News Cathryn Allen, Head of Broadcast (English Language) and Current Affairs Development

Gareth Powell, Chief Operating Jude Gray, Head of Human Resources Rhodri Talfan Davies, Head of Officer and Development Strategy and Communications

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