| Rownd a Rownd | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Soap opera |
| Theme music composer | Jochen Eisentraut[1] |
| Country of origin | Wales |
| Original language | Welsh |
| No. of series | 29 |
| No. of episodes | 1,887 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Bedwyr Rees |
| Producers | Alaw Roberts Manon Lewis Owen |
| Production locations | Menai Bridge Bangor Caernarfon Llangefni |
| Editors | Rhian Evans Geraint Williams |
| Running time | 30 minutes (inc. adverts) |
| Production companies | Ffilmiau'r Nant (1995–2008) Rondo Media (2008–) |
| Original release | |
| Network | S4C |
| Release | 11 September 1995 – present |
| Related | |
| Pobol y Cwm | |
Rownd a Rownd (English: "Round and Round") is a Welsh soap opera created by Rondo Media (formally Ffilmiau’r Nant) and shown on S4C since 11 September 1995. It was claimed to be the first Celtic-related language soap specifically directed at a youth audience. It is set in the fictional harbour town of Glanrafon in Anglesey.
At its inception, the soap was targeted towards an adolescent and young adult audience. It has since broadened its appeal but the main focus remains on the younger characters. Beginning with a small cast of characters, the serial now has upwards of forty cast members.
The soap is consistently in the top 20 most watched programmes of the week on S4C,[2] the show currently averaging around twenty thousand viewers per episode.[3] Two episodes are produced each week; since February 2020 these have been broadcast at 20:25 on Tuesdays and Thursdays (with the previous episode being repeated at 18:30). In addition, a weekly omnibus with in-vision English language subtitles airs on Sunday daytime. Every summer Rownd a Rownd takes a two-month seasonal break, finishing in mid-July and restarting in September to coincide with the new academic year.
Background
Rownd a Rownd was first broadcast in September 1995 and was originally based on young people who did a paper round[4] (hence the programme's title, based on the wheels of a bicycle). It has since grown to include both their daily school life and their family life. Phil Redmond, creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, acted as a consultant to the series on its launch in 1995, and again on its tenth anniversary. Rownd a Rownd also has a presence on social networking sites Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. In 2016, it celebrated its 21st birthday, with S4C broadcasting an anniversary special hosted by Tudur Owen.
The longest-serving cast member was Iestyn Garlick, who played Jim "Gym" Williams. A physical education teacher, he later became headmaster of the local high school. The character first appeared on-screen in September 1995 and left in July 2020 after 25 years. Since then, Angharad Lloyd (Sophie Roberts) has become the longest-serving regular, having appeared since 1997. The character's parents, Glenda Phillips (Elliw Haf) and Terry Phillips (John Glyn Owen) have also appeared since 1997 but are now recurring characters.
Production
The series is filmed in Menai Bridge, Anglesey and Caernarfon, North Wales, and is produced by Rondo Media (previously known as Ffilmiau Nant). When it began, the production company converted a disused garage in Dale Street (Welsh name: "Lôn Cilbedlam") in Menai Bridge into a fake row of shops, which includes a café, a hairdresser, a newsagent, a taxi firm, a pizza place and a bar. There is a sign outside this set informing the public that the shops are not real. School scenes are filmed in Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni and Ysgol David Hughes. Hospital scenes are often filmed in nearby Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, usually in one of the staff hostels. The soap also regularly makes use of incidental music; in keeping with the show's style, this usually consists of indie-pop or synth-pop music sung in Welsh.
On 18 March 2020 it was announced that filming for Rownd a Rownd would be suspended in the light of the spread of COVID-19.[5] Filming resumed in August 2020 with social distancing guidelines in place. Two additional filming sites were also added to Rownd a Rownd's set in Menai Bridge in order to keep people sufficiently apart; these are located in the near-by towns of Caernarfon and Llangefni.[6]
Cast
Regular characters
| Character | Current actor | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie Roberts (née Phillips) | Angharad Llwyd | 1997– | Glenda's daughter. Biological daughter of Stephen King. Step-daughter to Terry. Bitchy, quarrelsome character. Mother to Owain, Mair and Nansi. Wife to Dylan. Has been in numerous relationships - including Martin, Elfyn, Vince, Gavin, Wyn and Mathew. Ex-wife to Eifion Davies (Owain's father). Used to run her own mobile hairdressing business, but lost her driving license after being caught drink driving following a collision with Arthur Thomas. Currently works in Sgram, the local café. |
| Kelvin Walsh | Kevin Williams | 1999– | Local builder. Only son of Ken and Kay. Ex-husband of Mari and Lowri, whom he both divorced following affairs. Father to Kate (born 2007) and Mia (born 2015), and adoptive father to Robbie. Jailed for 18 months in 2017 for unknowingly smuggling drugs after a lads' holiday in Spain. Dating Mel since March 2020. Works with Terry part-time. |
| Kenneth "Ken" Walsh | Idris Morris Jones | 1999– | Owner of the local taxi firm K-Kabs with his wife Kay. Father to Kelvin, Klaire and Kylie. A kind man who often finds himself apologising for his wife's actions. Has also served time in prison in the past. |
| Kay Walsh (née Williams) | Buddug Povey | 1999– | Ken's sharp-tongued wife. A chronic cheater, but eventually always goes back to Ken. Previously had an affair with her college lecturer, Gareth Harries, and family-friend Vince Barclay. Daughter of the late Ron. Sister to Meical and paternal half-sister to the late David. Mother to Kelvin, Klaire (who moved away to become a nurse) and Kylie (who's currently studying at Cardiff University). |
| Dani Keegan–Williams | Ffion Medi Jones | 2002– | The manager of the salon. Daughter of Michelle and the late Wyn Sr, who died on New Year's Eve 2020. Sister to Jonathan (who is living in Australia), maternal half-sister to Britney and paternal half-sister to Gruff, Sioned and Siwan. Maternal granddaughter to Madam Serena. Ex-girlfriend to Rhodri, Barry, David and Iolo. Married Jac Thomas in October 2019, but later separated in January 2020 after she was unfaithful. Mother to Wyn Jr, who is the son of Barry Hardy. |
| Owain Barclay | Gwern Morus Williams | 2005– | Teenage son of Sophie Phillips and Eifion Davies. Adopted son of Vince and stepson of Dylan. Maternal half-brother to Mair and Nansi. Does the paper round. Best friend to Robbie. |
| Jason Hardy | Iwan Fôn | 2005–2015, 2017– | Currently lives in Tŷ Pizza's flat. Has a share in Barry's pizza shop after winning £10,000 on a scratchcard in 2018, although he was often accused by his brother of not taking the business seriously. Used to be in a relationship with Angharad Thomas, Erin Richards and Anest Owen. Good friends with his workmates, Caitlin and Cai. |
| Vincent "Vince" Barclay | Huw Llŷr | 2005– | Caretaker at the school. Former postman and taxi driver. Friend of the Ks. Father to Callum (with former partner Julie) and Mair Phillips. Adoptive father of Owain, though now separated from Sophie. Ex-boyfriend to Cathryn. Lives with Matthew and Iolo. Was previously in prison for burning his own warehouse for insurance money. Currently in a relationship with Gwenno. |
| Siân Richards (née Hughes) | Mari Wyn Roberts | Unknown | Detective Inspector at the local police station. Miscarried her first child in a car accident with Vince. Sister to Alwyn (the owner of the garage prior to her eventual husband) and aunt to Nel (who died on New Year's Eve 2015) and Dafydd. Widow of John Richards, whom she married in July 2019 until his death in April 2023. Viciously stalked by former co-worker Mark Harris in 2020, and was held captive before escaping. |
| Mathew Parry | Robin Ceiriog | 2006– | The oldest son of Phillip. Deputy headteacher and formerly a physical education teacher at the local school. Ex-fiancé to Siân, which ended as a result of an affair with fellow teacher Llio James. Ex-boyfriend to Sophie and Mel. Previously struggled from a gambling and prescription drug addiction. Had an affair with Anest which ended acrimoniously and destroyed her relationship with Jason. |
| Philip Parry | Maldwyn John | 2007– | Owner of the salon, shop and café which he bought against Terry and Glenda. Father of three boys, Mathew, Sion and Dewi (the last two of which now live in Spain with his ex-wife Alwena). His first marriage finished after his wife died of cancer. Husband to Lowri, to the initial surprise of the locals owing to their age difference. |
| Arthur Thomas | Gwyn Vaughan Jones | 2007– | A courier who is obsessed with trains. A comical and scheming man. Unknowingly had a daughter, Angharad, whom Terry and Glenda fostered before her parentage was revealed. Grandfather to Dewi, Angharad's son (to whom she had with Dyfan Llywelyn). Long-time partner to Iris, before her death in December 2021. Has an on-again/off-again relationship with Mel's mother, Gloria. |
| Lowri Parry (née Roberts) | Lowri Gwynne | 2010– | Hard-working hairdresser and mother to Robbie and Mia. Good friends of Dani and Gwenno and often serves as an agony aunt to them. Married Kelvin in 2013 but separated in 2018. Their divorce was finalised in 2020. In a relationship with Philip, whom she married in 2023. |
| Robbie Walsh | Tomi Llywelyn | 2010– | Grumpy but amiable teenage son of Lowri and Griff. His father was abusive, and left when he was younger. Best friends with Owain. |
| Iolo Davies | Tudur Lloyd Evans | 2013– | Philip's nephew and cousin to Mathew, Dewi and Sion. Worker at "Yr Iard" and barman at Copa. Ex-boyfriend to Kim, Llio and Cathryn. |
| Rhys Morgan-Richards | Meilir Rhys Williams | 2016– | Glanrafon's mechanic. Old friend of Barry. Openly gay. Son of John and Delyth Richards. Previously struggled from an exercise addiction when his boyfriend died in a car crash in September 2017. Husband to hairdresser Trystan Morgan. |
| Dylan Roberts | Dafydd Rhys Evans | 2018– | ICT teacher from South Wales. Husband to Sophie, after a long on-and-off relationship. Well liked by the locals, to the chagrin of fellow teacher Mathew. Father to his seven-year-old son, Llew, and newborn Nansi. Widower of Fflur, who died after a short battle with breast cancer in July 2020, whom he married only a month prior to her death. |
| Gwenno Owen | Elen Gwynne | 2018– | Former partner of Carwyn, helps out in the shop and supply teacher at the school. Cousin to Lowri. |
| Anest Owen | Heledd Roberts | 2018– | Daughter of Gwenno and Carwyn who runs Yr Yard. Suffers from epilepsy. Dated Jason before her affair with Mathew was revealed. |
| Iestyn Owen | Josh Morgan | 2018– | The troublesome member of the family. Suspended from his old school for selling drugs, which meant they had to move to the village. Previously a Bangor University student, but left after his first year. Found out that he is biologically not Carwyn's son. His real father, Glenn Jones was discovered to have died prior to his knowledge. Dating Tammy. |
| Elen Edwards | Catrin Mara | 2019– | Headteacher of Glanrafon, the local school. Tough upbringing, with both parents abusing drugs. Elen is strict but kindhearted. Separated from Llŷr after he admitted to killing John in a hit and run. |
| Mali Edwards | Luned Elfyn | 2019– | Environmentally conscious teenage daughter of Elen and Ian; a vegan. In the same school year as Owain and Robbie. Maternal half-sister to Anna and paternal half-sister to Miriam. In a relationship with Efan. |
| Melanie "Mel" Phoebe Roberts | Elain Lloyd | 2020– | Daughter of Gloria. Initially introduced as Mathew's one night stand, later girlfriend. Partner to Kelvin since March 2020. Works at the café. |
| Caitlin Collins | Manw Robin | 2021– | A homeless girl found by Siân living rough in a tent in the woods after stealing from Philip's shop. Fostered by Siân and the late John. In a relationship with Cai. |
| Llŷr Hopkins | Llew Davies | 2021– | Rich business tycoon. Owns many of the town's buildings. Father to Efan and Ioan. Both are spoiled by Llŷr partly because of the mother's absence. Can be underhanded and ruthless. Said that he killed John in a hit and run, but was covering for son Efan. |
| Efan Hopkins | Meredydd Rhisiart | 2021– | Eighteen year old son of Llŷr and Emma. Brother to Ioan. The two are good friends. He enjoys sports, and captains the Gwynedd football team and is a bit of a hero to Robbie and Owain. At school he is a B/C pupil and never tries very hard to get moderate marks. Secretly suffering from PTSD after killing John in a hit and run in 2023. |
| Trystan Morgan-Richards | Gethin Bickerton | 2023– | Hairdresser at Dal i Dorri. Husband to Rhys. |
| Tammy Bentley | Lois Elenid | 2023– | Current girlfriend of Iestyn Owen. Has a dark side. |
Recurring and guest characters
| Character | Actor | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenda Prichard Phillips (née Owen) | Elliw Haf | 1997– | Local gossip. She is married to Terry and is the mother of four daughters; twin girls Manon and Menna, Lucy (who is living in Australia) and Sophie. Former school nurse. Known to the locals as 'Glenda BCG'. Worked at Sgram, the local café for almost twenty years, before leaving to set up her own cake business: 'Becws Cacennau Glenda'. Once a regular, she is now a recurring character. |
| Terry John Phillips | John Glyn Owen | 1997– | Owner of construction company. Boss to Kelvin. Glenda's husband, adoptive father of Lucy and Sophie and biological father to Manon and Menna. Has fostered children over the years with his wife. Once a regular, he is now a recurring character. |
| Edwin Lloyd | Phylip Hughes | 1998– | Resident of Glanrafon for many years. Respectable chapel organist. Known as 'Mr Lloyd' and rarely called by his first name. Widower of Lena, who died in 2014. Retired driving instructor. Once a regular, he is now a recurring character. |
| Britney Keegan | Fflur Davies | 2002– | Michelle and Mal's daughter. Maternal half-sister to Dani and Jonathan. Currently studying nursing at Bangor University, but still living at home. |
| Mair Phillips | Gwenno Llwyd Beech | 2009– | Previously innocuous daughter of Sophie and Vince. She has gone on to become troublesome due to exam pressure placed on her by Sophie. She took this out on former friend Anna in a bullying storyline in 2023. |
| Mia Walsh | Erin Fflur Owen | 2015– | Young daughter of Lowri and Kelvin. |
| Anna Edwards | Gwenlli Dafydd | 2019– | Second daughter of Elen. Maternal half-sister to Mali. Her father died in 2019. Normally a happy-go-lucky, straight-A student, both her schooling and self esteem suffered when former friend Mair bullied her in 2023. |
| Llew Stevens | Gwion Llwyd | 2019– | Young son of Dylan and the late Fflur, as a result of an affair - Fflur was married to another man at the time. His mother died in July 2020 after learning her cancer was terminal. |
| Cai Harris | Noel Davies | Unknown | School friend of Robbie and Owain, now in college. Works part-time at Tŷ Pizza. Dating Caitlin. |
| Ioan Hopkins | Macsen Stevens | 2022– | Initially troubled due to missing his imprisoned mother Emma, he went to live with her for a while in Aberystwyth. However this ultimately did not work out, and he returned to Glanrafon, but happier than before. |
| Nansi Roberts | Cadi Fôn Booth | 2022– | Newborn daughter of Sophie and Dylan. |
| Wyn Hardy | Lennie Taylor | 2023– | Newborn son of Dani and Barry. |
| Lili Richards | Heledd Grug | 2023– | Newborn daughter of Erin. Granddaughter to John. |
Buildings
| Building | Information |
|---|---|
| Bridge | Kebab house |
| Copa | Bar (originally Bob Beics, a bike shop, then Q's, a youth centre) |
| Dal i Dorri | Salon (formerly called Crib Goch, Nikki's and Dani) |
| Ho Wah | Chinese take-away |
| Bythol Wyrdd | Shop (formerly called BJ Cabs and Kay Kabs; originally Bryn Jones, a funeral director's) |
| Llys Menai | Retirement home |
| Menai Bridge | Suspension bridge |
| Menai Bridge Post Office | Post office |
| Parry's | General store (formerly called Mortons) |
| Penrallt | Church |
| Richards' | Garage (formerly Alwyn Hughes a'i Ferch) |
| Sgram | Café |
| Tŷ Pizza | Pizza take-out restaurant (originally Print Man, a print shop, then Fanna, a jewellery and crockery shop) |
| Ysgol Glanrafon | Comprehensive secondary school |
| Ysgol Gymraeg Glanrafon | Primary school |
| Yr Iard | Shop for nautical supplies and kayaks for rent |
Copsan
| Rownd a Rownd | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Soap opera |
| Written by | Greta Sion |
| Country of origin | Wales |
| Original language | Welsh |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 9 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Bedwyr Rees |
| Producer | Will Clowes |
| Production locations | Menai Bridge Bangor Caernarfon Llangefni |
| Editor | Geraint Williams |
| Running time | 9–18 minutes |
| Production company | Rondo Media |
| Original release | |
| Network | S4C |
| Release | 9 February 2022 – present |
In 2022, a spin-off series called Copsan was uploaded to Clic and BBC iPlayer. This was a three-part series chronicling an eventful and comical detention session at Glanrafon high school. It featured several regular characters such as Vince, Dylan and Cai, as well as some new characters not seen in the regular show.
A second series was broadcast in 2023. This was a six-part series about a group of 16-year-old Glanrafon students on an adventure weekend school trip, though none of the characters appear in Rownd a Rownd. Dylan is the only regular character to appear, doing so briefly in the first episode.
Episodes
See also
References
- ↑ "Theme music composer". Jochen Eisentraut. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ↑ "Viewing Figures Archive". S4C. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ↑ "Four-screen dashboard". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.
- ↑ "Pen-blwydd Rownd a Rownd", BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh), 9 September 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ↑ "Coronafeirws: gohirio ffilmio 'Pobol y Cwm' a 'Rownd a Rownd'". Golwg (in Welsh). 18 March 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ↑ "Coronavirus: S4C's Pobol y Cwm and Rownd a Rownd back on TV". BBC News. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
External links
Media related to Rownd a Rownd at Wikimedia Commons- Rownd a Rownd at IMDb