Caerdydd (TV series)

Caerdydd
Caerdydd logo
Created by	Fiction Factory
Country of origin	Wales
No. of seasons	4
Production
Producer(s)	Fizzy Oppè, Catrin Rees, Ed Thomas
Running time	47 minutes (III)
Release
Original network	S4C
Original release	2006 – 2009
External links
Website

Caerdydd is a Welsh language television programme set in Cardiff made by Fiction Factory^[1] for Welsh public service television station S4C. The series is "a stylish, new drama about modern, urban Welsh-speakers living in a bilingual city"^[2] following "a group of modern urban twenty- and thirtysomethings"^[2] with "their complex friendships and relationships [set] against a backdrop of relentless socialising".^[2] First commissioned by S4C's drama editor Angharad Jones in 2005,^[3] as part of a drive by S4C to reach a younger audience,^[4][5] the third series of Caerdydd started its run on S4C on 30 March 2008. A fourth series was commissioned^[6] and went into production in Spring 2008.^[7] It started broadcasting on 14 June 2009.^[8]

Awards and nominations

Caerdydd (2nd series) has received three nominations for the 2008 Bafta Cymru awards: Best Screenwriter for Ed Talfan, Best Design for Hayden Pearce and Best Director of Photography (Drama) for Richard Wyn.^[9][10] The second series was also nominated at the Celtic Media Festival 2008 for best drama series.^[11]

The third series has been nominated for Best Drama Series at the 2009 Bafta Cymru awards; Roger Wiliams as Best Screenwriter, and Ryland Teifi as Best Actor.^[12]

Criticism

Criticism of the series focuses mainly on three topics:

• the series was originally set in Dublin and only transferred to Cardiff when commissioned by S4C.
• the large amount of English spoken, not just as some characters are non-Welsh speakers, but also English words in Welsh dialogue.^[5]
• explicit sex scenes of both a heterosexual and homosexual nature.^[5]

"Sex In The Assembly" controversy

A row started after the broadcast of episode three in series III as it emerged that a sex scene was actually filmed on location in a toilet room of the Senedd, the Welsh National Assembly building, and not in a television studio.^[13][14][15] Officials of the National Assembly for Wales Commission who approved the filming for the Neuadd area, the corridors of the building and for one scene in the baby-changing room, were not made aware of the nature of the scene.^[13][16] The scene itself, filmed on 14 March 2008,^[13] involves Lea Kennedy (played by Alys Thomas) who is working for an unnamed party group and her much older boyfriend Stephen James (Dewi Rhys Williams) having sexual intercourse.^[17] As a result, S4C announced that it was investigating the matter and had contacted producers.^[13][18] One AM, William Graham (Conservative) called for scripts to be vetted more closely in the future.^[13][19]

S4C's investigation came to this conclusion: S4C has looked into the circumstances surrounding the filming of drama series Caerdydd at the Senedd and is satisfied that the production company followed the correct procedures. We are confident that Senedd personnel who dealt with this issue were not misled.^[19]

The National Assembly's investigation came to this conclusion: The National Assembly has carried out a full internal review of the circumstances of the filming of Caerdydd. We can confirm that at no stage of the negotiations about the use of the building for filming, or during the filming itself, was the content of the scene disclosed by the programme makers. Despite this setback, the Assembly is committed to being open and accessible to all, including programme makers, and we sincerely hope that this does not prevent us from working with responsible companies in future.^[19]

Characters and cast

• Peter Marshall (Ryland Teifi)
• Emyr Tomos (Lee Haven-Jones)
• Osian James (Gareth Pierce)
• Lea Kennedy (Alys Thomas)
• Stephen James (Dewi Rhys Williams)
• Elen Aaron (Rhian Green)
• Mike Powell (Julian Lewis Jones)
• Kate Marshall Ford (Mali Harries)
• Non Ellis Jones (Sue Roderick)^[20] III/2-8,10
• Natasha Jenkins (Ffion Williams) III/2-10, IV, V
• Jamie Roberts (Gareth Milton) IV-V (Dyfan Dwyfor) III/4-10
• Danny Ford (Huw Rhys) I, II
• Gareth Pritchard (Matthew Gravelle)
• Ceri Price (Siwan Morris) I, II, III/5-7,9,10
• Paul (Richard Shackley)
• Siân Edwards (Iola Hughes)
• Lleucu (Tara Bethan) II, III/1-3
• Damian Charles (Daniel Hope) I, II, III/1-3
• Mike Thomas (Jâms Thomas) III/2,3,6-9
• Yr Arglwydd (Lord) Delme Richards (Ian Saynor) III/2-4,7,9,10
• Ben (Jonathan Floyd) III/2-5
• Mared (Rhian Jones) III/3,4,6,7,9
• Rhys Johnstone (Rhodri Meilir) I, II
• Philip (Glyn Morgan) III/4,8,9
• Jane (Sharon Roberts) III/8,9
• Kylie Byrne (Jennie Lucey) III/6,10
• Rhodri (Cellan Wyn Evans) III/9,10
• Sara Harris [Lauren Phillips] IV-V

Further cast: Catherine Ayers (Nia, I), Nathan Sussex, Sousila Pilay (II), Lillie Downie (Baby Ela Ford, III/4,6-10), Amelia Wyatt (Baby Ela Ford, III/3,4), Nick Ross (Gwilym, III/3), Lisa Zamira (III/3), Lee Bane (III/3), John Schumacher (III/3), Tomos James (III/3), Tyron Lopez (III/4), Gemma Prosser (III/4), Hazel Condon (III/4), Bethan Cecil (III/7), Charlote Grey (III/8), Poonah Najimohammadi (III/9), Rob Kendrick (actor) (III/9), Martin Glyn Murray (III/9), Elen Florence (I), Charmaine Hibberd (III/10), Kathryn Dimery (III/10), Megan Browne (Ela Ford), Ross O'Hennessy John Davies The Immigration Officer

Production

• The series is produced for S4C by Fiction Factory, a division of Tinopolis.^[1]
• Directors: Ed Thomas (I, II, III/1-5), Dave "D.J." Evans (II, III/6-10), Ed Talfan (I, II)^[1]
• Writers: Tim Price,^[21][22] Ian Staples (var. II, III/2,9), Anwen Huws (III/3,7), Roger Williams (III/4,6,8,10), Catrin Clarke (III/5,6)
• Producers: Fizzy Oppè, Catrin Rees, Ed Thomas (III)
• Line producer: Maurice Hunter (III)
• Series 1 was filmed in the main from January to April 2005. Directors: Ed Thomas, Ed Talfan
• Series 2 was filmed in the main from February to July 2006. Directors: Ed Thomas, Ed Talfan, Dave Evans.
• Series 3 was filmed in the main from January to June 2007. Directors: Ed Thomas, Dave Evans
• Series 2 and 3 were produced in HD format.^[23]
• Series 4 has been commissioned^[6] and is currently in production.^[7]
• Episodes are available (with on-screen English subtitles) on S4C's website for streaming for 35 days after initial broadcast. The first series went online each Saturday following the initial TV broadcast, without any restrictions to availability.^[24]
• All episodes are fully subtitled, in Welsh and English. The Welsh subtitles are available for download.^[25]
• All episodes in series 3 feature audio description.^[26][27]

Broadcasts

Series 1

Ep.	Broadcasts on S4C[28]		Watch	Viewers[29]
	First	Repeats
1	11 January 2006	13 January 2006	yes
2	18 January 2006	20 January 2006	yes
3	25 January 2006	27 January 2006	yes
4	3 February 2006	5 February 2006	yes
5	10 February 2006	12 February 2006	yes
6	17 February 2006	19 February 2006	yes
7	24 February 2006	26 February 2006	yes

Series 2

Ep.	Broadcasts on S4C		Watch	Viewers[29]
	First	Repeats
1	10 January 2007	12 January 2007		70,000[30]
2	17 January 2007	19 January 2007		45,000[31]
3	24 January 2007	26 January 2007		40,000[32]
4	31 January 2007	2 February 2007		<30,000[33]
5	7 February 2007	9 February 2007		<33,000[34]
6	14 February 2007	16 February 2007, 18 February 2007		43,000[35]
7	21 February 2007	23 February 2007, 25 February 2007		<35,000[36]
8	28 February 2007	2 March 2007, 4 March 2007		43,000[37]
9	7 March 2007	9 March 2007, 11 March 2007		<40,000[38]
10	14 March 2007	16 March 2007		<36,000[39]

The second series was repeated in February and March 2008.

Series 3

Ep.	Broadcasts on S4C		Watch	Viewers[29]
	First	Repeats
1	30 March 2008	3 April 2008	yes	44,000[40]
2	6 April 2008	10 April 2008	yes	61,000[41]
3	13 April 2008	17 April 2008	yes	45,000[42]
4	20 April 2008	24 April 2008	yes	46,000[43]
5	27 April 2008	1 May 2008	yes	46,000[44]
6	4 May 2008	8 May 2008	yes	40,000[45]
7	11 May 2008	15 May 2008	yes	43,000[46]
8	18 May 2008	22 May 2008	yes	49,000[47]
9	25 May 2008	29 May 2008	yes	59,000[48]
10	1 June 2008	5 June 2008	yes	49,000[49]

Series 4

Ep.	Broadcasts on S4C		Watch	Viewers[29]
	First	Repeats
1	14 June 2009			<32,000[50]
2	21 June 2009			32,000[51]
3	28 June 2009			38,000[52]
4	5 July 2009			<30,000[53]
5	12 July 2009			<35,000[54]
6	19 July 2009			<38,000[55]
7	26 July 2009			<38,000[56]
8	2 August 2009			38,000[57]
9	9 August 2009			y36,000[58]
10	16 August 2009			<36,000[59]

References

1. "Tinopolis Archive". Retrieved 9 April 2008.
2. David Williamson (22 April 2008). "Row over love scene filmed at Senedd". Western Mail. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
3. Nathan Bevan (22 April 2008). "Glossy drama follows hectic social lives of young professionals". Western Mail. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
4. Anwen Mair Roberts (16 April 2008). "S4C Review of Statement of Programme Policy 2007" (PDF). S4C. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
5. Paul Rowland (4 January 2006). "Storm over S4C's controversial new show". Western Mail. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
6. Anwen Meir Roberts (17 March 2008). "S4C Statement of Programme Policy 2008" (PDF). S4C. p. 4. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
7. "Tinopolis Annual Report and Accounts 2007" (PDF). Tinopolis. 20 February 2008. p. 6. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
8. "Caerdyyd Homepage". S4C. 00 month00 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009. Check date values in: |date= (help)
9. "S4C press release on Bafta Cymru 2008". Retrieved 9 April 2008.
10. "Bafta Cymru 2008 Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 22 April 2008.
11. "Celtic Media Festival 2008". Archived from the original on 23 May 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
12. "Bafta Cymru 2009 Nominations" (PDF). Retrieved 25 April 2009.
13. "Row over TV sex scene at assembly". BBC News. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
14. Simon Reynolds (23 April 2008). "Welsh drama blasted for toilet sex scene". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
15. Polly Corrigan (22 April 2008). "Welsh outrage over Assembly sex scene". Telegraph. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
16. Philippe Naughton (22 April 2008). "Welsh fury at 'Sex and the Senedd' shoot". London: Times Online. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
17. Tom Bodden (22 April 2008). "Sex in the Senedd". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
18. Steven Morris (23 April 2008). "Assembly bitter at TV toilet romp". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
19. David Williamson (24 April 2008). "S4C hits back over Senedd sex scene production". Western Mail. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
20. Jill Tunstall (19 April 2008). "Friends lend Sue a hand". Liverpoll Daily Post. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
21. "Tim Price at David Higham". Retrieved 9 April 2008.
22. Claire Hill (13 July 2007). "Mr. Writer". Western Mail. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
23. "Tinopolis Archive". Retrieved 9 April 2008.
24. "S4C: Worldwide audience for Caerdydd". 6 February 2006. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
25. "Download Welsh Subtitles". S4C. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
26. Eryl Crump (12 February 2008). "Campaign to push audio description on TV". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
27. "S4C launches Audio Description awareness campaign". S4C. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
28. "Ist series website". Retrieved 9 April 2008.
29. Consolidated BARB audience figures
30. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 14/01/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
31. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 21/01/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
32. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 28/01/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
33. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 4/02/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
34. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 11/02/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
35. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 18/02/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
36. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 25/02/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
37. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 4/03/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
38. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 11/03/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
39. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 18/03/2007". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
40. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 30/03/2008". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
41. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 6/04/2008". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
42. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 13/04/2008". Retrieved 9 May 2008.
43. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 20/04/2008". Retrieved 19 May 2008.
44. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 27/04/2008". Retrieved 23 May 2008.
45. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 4/05/2008". Retrieved 2 June 2008.
46. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 11/05/2008". Retrieved 13 June 2008.
47. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 18/05/2008". Retrieved 13 June 2008.
48. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 25/05/2008". Retrieved 21 June 2008.
49. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 1/06/2008". Retrieved 28 June 2008.
50. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 21/06/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
51. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 28/06/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
52. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 5/07/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
53. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 12/07/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
54. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 19/07/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
55. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 26/07/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
56. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 2/08/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
57. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 9/08/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
58. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 16/08/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
59. "S4C Viewing Figures: Top 20 Welsh Programmes: w/e 23/08/2009". s4c.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2012.

External links

• [ Official Website (English)]
• Official Website (1st series)
• Caerdydd on IMDB
• Ruth McElroy: The Local, the Global and the Bi-Cultural: Welsh-Language Television Drama In: Critical Studies in Television, Vol. 2, ed. 2, pp. 77–95 (Autumn 2007). ISSN 1749-6020.