Caerdydd

infobox television
show_name = Caerdydd


caption = Caerdydd logo
format = Drama
runtime = 47 minutes (III)
creator = Fiction Factory
producer = Fizzy Oppè, Catrin Rees, Ed Thomas
starring =
country = Wales
network = S4C
first_aired = 2006
last_aired = currently in third series
num_episodes =
list_episodes =
imdb_id = 0498330
website= http://www.s4c-caerdydd.co.uk/

Caerdydd is a popular Welsh language television programme made by Fiction Factory [cite web|title=Tinopolis Archive |accessdate=2008-04-09 |url=http://www.tinopolis.com/News/Archive/?pid=10&id=38&nid=63] for Welsh public service television station S4C. The series follows a group of "modern urban twenty- and thirtysomethings in their stylish lives and loves, work and play" in Cardif, the capital of Wales. First commissioned by S4C's drama editor Angharad Jones in 2005, [cite web|title=Glossy drama follows hectic social lives of young professionals |author=Nathan Bevan |publisher=Western Mail |accessdate=2008-04-22 |date=2008-04-22|url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/04/22/glossy-drama-follows-hectic-social-lives-of-young-professionals-91466-20797821/] as part of a drive by S4C to reach a younger audience, [cite web| title=S4C Review of Statement of Programme Policy 2007 |author=Anwen Mair Roberts |publisher=S4C |accessdate=2008-05-12|date=2008-04-16|url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/abouts4c/authority/pdf/c_progpolicy_review2007.pdf |page=] the third series of "Caerdydd" started its run on S4C on 30 March 2008. The fourth series has been commissionedcite web| title=S4C Statement of Programme Policy 2008 |author=Anwen Meir Roberts |publisher=S4C |accessdate=2008-09-20 |date=2008-03-17 |url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/abouts4c/authority/pdf/e_progpolicy2008.pdf |page=4] an went into production in Spring 2008.cite web| title=Tinopolis Annual Report and Accounts 2007 |author= |publisher=Tinopolis |accessdate=2008-05-23 |date=2008-02-20 |url=http://www.tinopolis.com/pdf/8.pdf |page=6]

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. [cite web|title=S4C press release on Bafta Cymru 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-09 |url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_press_level2.shtml?id=173] [cite web|title=Bafta Cymru 2008 Nomineees |accessdate=2008-04-22 |url=http://www.bafta-cymru.org.uk/english/awards/pdf/2008_Final_Shortlist.pdf3] The second series was also nominated at the "Celtic Media Festival" 2008 for best drama series. [cite web|title=Celtic Media Festival 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-09 |url=http://www.celticfilm.co.uk/shortlist-details/?entrantId=347&rowId=7]

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 of the characters are non-Welsh speakers, but also English words in Welsh dialogue.cite web|title=Storm over S4C's controversial new show |author=Paul Rowland |publisher=Western Mail |accessdate=2008-04-22 |date=2006-01-04 |url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=16544598&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=storm-over-s4c-s-controversial-new-show-name_page.html]
* explicit sex scenes of both a heterosexual and homosexual nature.

"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.cite web|title=Row over TV sex scene at assembly |date=2008-04-22 |publisher= BBC News |accessdate=2008-04-22 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7359846.stm] cite web |title= Welsh drama blasted for toilet sex scene |author=Simon Reynolds |date=2008-04-23 |publisher= Digital Spy |accessdate=2008-05-10 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a94441/welsh-drama-blasted-for-toilet-sex-scene.html] cite web |title=Welsh outrage over Assembly sex scene |author=Polly Corrigan|date=2008-04-22 |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=2008-05-10 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/04/22/btvwales122.xml] Apparently 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.cite web|title=Welsh fury at 'Sex and the Senedd' shoot |author=Philippe Naughton |publisher= Times Online |date=2008-04-22 |accessdate=2008-04-22 |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3795750.ece] The scene itself, filmed on 14 March 2008, 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.cite web|title=Sex in the Senedd |author=Tom Bodden |publisher= Liverpool Daily Post |date=2008-04-22 |accessdate=2008-04-22 |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/04/22/it-s-sex-and-the-senedd-55578-20797772/] As a result, S4C announced that it was investigating the matter and had contacted producers.cite web |title=Assembly bitter at TV toilet romp |author=Steven Morris |publisher= The Guardian |date=2008-04-23 |accessdate=2008-05-10 |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/23/television.wales?gusrc=rss&feed=media] One AM, William Graham (Conservative) called for scripts to be vetted more closely in future.cite web |title=S4C hits back over Senedd sex scene production |author=David Williamson |publisher= Western Mail |date=2008-04-24 |accessdate=2008-05-10 |url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/politics-news/2008/04/24/s4c-hits-back-over-senedd-sex-scene-production-91466-20810926/]

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."

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."

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)cite web|title=Friends lend Sue a hand |author= Jill Tunstall |accessdate=2008-04-09 |publisher=Liverpoll Daily Post |date= 2008-04-19 |url=http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100020826&docId=l:778367307&start=1] III/2-8,10
* Natasha Jenkins (Ffion Williams) III/2-10
* 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
* Jamie Roberts (Dyfan Dwyfor) III/4-10
* 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

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 (III/9), Martin Glyn Murray (III/9), Elen Florence (I), Charmaine Hibberd (III/10), Kathryn Dimery (III/10)

Production

* The series is produced for S4C by "Fiction Factory", a division of "Tinopolis". [cite web|title=Tinopolis Archive |accessdate=2008-04-09 |url=http://www.tinopolis.com/News/Archive/?pid=10&id=38&nid=63]
* Directors: Ed Thomas (I, II, III/1-5), Dave "D.J." Evans (II, III/6-10), Ed Talfan (I, II) [cite web|title=Tinopolis Archive |accessdate=2008-04-09 |url=http://www.tinopolis.com/News/Archive/?pid=10&id=38&nid=63]
* Writers: Tim Price, [cite web|title=Tim Price at David Higham |accessdate=2008-04-09 |url=http://www.davidhigham.co.uk/html/Clients/Price] [cite web |title=Mr. Writer |accessdate=2008-04-22 |date=2007-07-13 |author=Claire Hill |publisher=Western Mail |url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/whats-on/tm_headline=mr-writer&method=full&objectid=19447246&siteid=50082-name_page.html] 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. [cite web|title=Tinopolis Archive |accessdate=2008-04-09 |url=http://www.tinopolis.biz/News/Archive/?pid=10&id=38&nid=64]
* Series 4 has been commissioned and is currently in production.
* 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 restrictios to availabilty. [cite web|title=S4C: Worldwide audience for Caerdydd|accessdate=2008-04-22|date=2006-02-06 |url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/production/rm/news_view/newsid/156/language/eng/]
* All episodes are fully subtitled, in Welsh and English. The Welsh subtitles are available for download. [cite web |title=Download Welsh Subtitles |accessdate=2008-05-10 |publisher=S4C
url=http://www.learnons4c.co.uk/Welsh/subt_download.php]
* All episodes in series 3 feature audio description. [cite web |title=Campaign to push audio description on TV |accessdate=2008-05-10 |date=2008-02-12 |author=Eryl Crump |publisher=Liverpool Daily Post |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/02/12/campaign-to-push-audio-description-on-tv-55578-20463616/] [cite web |title=S4C launches Audio Description awareness campaign |accessdate=2008-05-12 |date=2008-02-12 |author= |publisher=S4C |url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/sched/e_press_level2.shtml?id=153]

Boadcasts

eries 1

References

External links

* [http://www.s4c-caerdydd.co.uk/Default.aspx?locale=en Official Website (English)]
* [http://www.dramacaerdydd.com/default.asp?Locale=EN Official Website (1st series)]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0498330/ Caerdydd on IMDB]
* [http://www.fictionfactoryfilms.com/ Fiction Factory]
* [http://www.tinopolis.com/Programmes/welshproductions/Drama/?pid=4&id=24&gid=51&vid=117 Tinopolis]
* [http://journals.mup.man.ac.uk/cgi-bin/MUP?COMval=searchres&key=/CST/V2I2/020077.xml 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 17496020.
* [http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/feature-news/fashion-lifestyle/tm_objectid=16461220&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=caerdydd-chic-name_page.html The Caerdydd chic]