is a Welsh-language television drama series, created by BAFTA Award-winning scriptwriter Siwan Jones and produced by Apollo and Boom Cymru. It was broadcast on Welsh-language television channel S4C from 23 January 2011 to 30 December 2012, lasting two series. The leading protagonist of the series is portrayed by Sara Lloyd-Gregory, in a role which was specially written for her.Jones, Rhiannon (15 January 2011) Supporting cast include William Thomas, Aneirin Hughes, Gillian Elisa, Shelley Rees, and Kate Jarman. The story revolves around a young woman who flees Cardiff, with her 10-year-old son, trying to escape her troubled past, while her dark secrets eventually begin to surface.
The programme was well received by audiences and attracted high viewing figures for S4C, notably during the first series. It has since been nominated for numerous awards; in 2012 and 2014 it was nominated for Best Drama Series at the Celtic Media Festival, while in 2013, it received a total of eight nominations at the BAFTA Cymru Awards, winning three, including Sara-Lloyd Gregory receiving the award for Best Actress.
Premise The story of the series is centred around the character Alys as she moves to a small town in West Wales with her 10-year-old son Daniel after fleeing her troubled life in Cardiff; she plans to start a new life and does anything she can to make ends meet and that Daniel is looked after. This includes criminal activity, such as stealing and prostitution. Her son has a dream of one day moving to America and becoming an astronaut and Alys will see that his dream is fulfilled. In her new surroundings, she is met with hostility from several of the middle-class locals, as she is judged for her background. However, she manages to make friends and is accepted by certain people within the area.
Production Development was created and written by Siwan Jones, whose work as a writer earned her a BAFTA Cymru Award and a Rose d'Or for her critically acclaimed television series Tair Chwaer and Con Passionate.
The idea for came to Jones while she was shopping in a small West Wales town. She watched as a group of people carried some furniture as she walked from the car park towards the town. Behind them was a dark tunnel which led into the heart of a building; while they were walking, some children followed along and as she watched on, this triggered the image for the series with became . Jones' idea which started there was to create two worlds; one of working-class people such as the shop owners in a small town; and the others who were unemployed and struggled to make ends meet, such as Sara Lloyd-Gregory's character, 'Alys'. She aimed to show how different these two worlds are and yet how similar they also are.
Casting The role of the main protagonist, Alys was written especially for actress Sara Lloyd-Gregory, providing her the opportunity to play in her first leading role.Price, Karen (15 January 2011) She had met Jones in 2009 and had collaborated with her in the third and final series of Con Passionate, and was initially in mind to play the leading role in Jones' then-upcoming new drama series, Alys. Gregory admitted that, to her knowledge, she did not know that the leading role was written for her, which was a good thing, as she still had to audition and would have probably felt more pressure. This was also Gregory's first bilingual role. William Thomas, was chosen to play the part of Wiliam, the alcoholic ex-minister, and Aneirin Hughes received the role of Toms, both of whom Gregory had appeared alongside on Con Passionate. 23-year-old Rhuddlan-born actress Catrin Mai Hue was chosen for the role of Ceri, an 18-year-old woman with a bleak outlook on life. Hue admitted that she was a "huge fan of [Jones]" and she was thrilled to have been given the chance to work on a drama written by Jones. Hue was currently residing in Cardiff when filming the first series. Ifan Huw Dafydd, who also appeared in Jones' Con Passionate, was cast as in the series as Ron, an overweight, financial consultant who hides a disturbing, dark secret. Huw Dafydd was required to wear a fat suit to play the part.
New additions for the second series included Cardiff-based actor Paul Morgans of, who appeared as Dylan, while Carys Eleri was cast as Llio, Dylan's wife. Richard Harrington and Gareth Jewell were also cast in the leading roles of Simon and Phil respectively.
Crew was created and entirely written by Siwan Jones. Paul Jones was the producer for the entire run, while Jon Williams served an executive producer. For the first series, Gareth Bryn directed the pilot episode and episode two; with Lee Haven-Jones and Rhys Powys directing subsequent episodes, respectively. Most of series two was directed by Powys. Dylan Richard served a director for one episode, while the remaining episodes were directed by Paul Jones.
Filming The first series of commenced production in the summer of 2010, while the second series went into production in March 2012 for Apollo TV. The programme was filmed on location primarily in Cardiff, Brecon, a small town within Powys, and Barry, a seaside town in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Road2Reel, a company which provides vehicles for film, television and advertising purposes, supplied the series for its entirety for stunt work, action and background vehicles. In addition, they provided on-set mechanics, vehicle modification and logistical vehicle movement services.
Cast and characters
Main characters
Sara Lloyd-Gregory portrays Alys (Series 1–2). Alys is a strong and independent person. Alys is from West Wales, but moved to Cardiff for university where she became pregnant. She is a young mother who has moved to a small town with her son, Daniel to escape her past in Cardiff, she fled Cardiff following the death of her brother and her boyfriend. With no job and no money, she is given a dirty rundown flat, where she makes some very good friends with her neighbours across the hall, Ceri, Kevin, Shane and Wiliam. She will do just about anything to make sure Daniel eats and has nice things which include stealing and prostitution. Her first "customer" is her landlord, Eirwyn Toms. Alys's plan is to make enough money so that she and Daniel can move to America so that Daniel can one day fulfil his dream of becoming an astronaut. Alys is almost always getting herself into trouble with the rich snobs in the town including clothes shop owner, Debbie, and Daniel's friend Alex's mum, Angie whom Alys seems to be falling for her husband, Chris. Alys is very helpful to her neighbours Ceri and William who have become like her family, she also hates drugs, and it also looks as if her past will sometime come back to haunt her. Zachary Mutyambizi portrays Daniel (Series 1–2). Daniel is Alys's young son, he often suffers from the things his mum gets up to, by the things that people say about her, but being young he doesn't really understand. He has a dream of one day becoming an astronaut. He is friends with Alex, Angie and Chris's son. William Thomas portrays Wiliam (Series 1–2). Wiliam was once a Minister but is now the town drunk, but he is a good friend to Alys and Ceri. His family don't want anything to do with him because of his drinking which is an embarrassment to them, his ex-wife, Lizabeth, and daughter, Catrin never want to see him, but Catrin really misses him. His nephew, Iestyn often comes to visit him at the flat, but with William's behaviour, he doesn't know why he even bothers. Aneirin Hughes portrays Eirwyn Toms (Series 1–2). Known as "Toms", he owns a garage and is the landlord of the flats. He is in serious debt and things in his and his wife, Heulwen's home are often repossessed, but he somehow manages to keep things afloat with the help of town mayor, Ron. Toms has gone to Alys for sex in order to pay for it and afterwards regrets it. The people of the town have been on to their secret affair. With the police often on his back, he once tried to commit suicide by drowning himself. After the death of their daughter, Toms and Heulwen seem to have grown apart, but he seems to be falling in love with Ron's wife Debbie, who is also having problems with her husband. Gillian Elisa portrays Heulwen Toms (Series 1–2). Heulwen (real name, Mary) is Toms' wife, who is mostly always seen in a depressed mood, after the death of their daughter Sarah and the fact that Toms is in a lot of debt. She is known as "Mrs T" by the town's people. She visits her sister whom she hasn't seen in twenty years as she is embarrassed by her working-class family. Her sister is Alys's mother, but having not seen Alys since she was a child, she is unaware that it's the same Alys who lives in her town. Ifan Huw Dafydd portrays Ron (Series 1–2). Ron is the town mayor, he is married to clothes shop owner, Debbie. He and Debbie often hold dinner party's at their home for Toms, Heulwen, Angie and Chris. Ron and Debbie were having little problems in their marriage for a while, but recently Debbie has discovers that Ron has pictures of young girls on his laptop, which has been stolen which Toms is in on. Shelley Rees portrays Debbie (Series 1–2). Debbie is the nosy clothes shop owner who is married to the town mayor, Ron. She is often bullied by her husband and is unable to stand up to him. She has a little dog called Toots who is like a child to her. She has spotted Toms entering and leaving the flats while visiting Alys on various occasions but has kept it from Heulwen. The discovery of the pictures on Ron's laptop has put a strain on their marriage and finds herself turning to Toms for comfort. With the theft of Ron's laptop and the murder of Toots, she begins to feel the pressure. Kate Jarman portrays Angie (Series 1–2) Angie owns a restaurant in town, in which she and her husband, Chris try to get up and running. Her son, Alex is Daniel's friend from school, which Angie has treated badly at times for Alys's behaviours. Angie has told Alys that it isn't fair on Daniel by the things she gets up to. Angie and Chris have talked about Alys in the past about her being a prostitute. Angie is now beginning to suspect that something is going on between Chris and Alys. Rhys ap William portrays Chris (Series 1–2). Chris is Angie's husband, he often doesn't agree with or like the thing his wife comes out with, especially towards Alys. He and Angie have discussed Alys being on the game and Chris has confronted Alys because of this, he has also been worried about Daniel because of the way Alys behaves, like the time he found Daniel home alone while Kevin was supposed to be watching him. Recently he has been falling for Alys, and Daniel has spotted him and his mum kissing, and they have also slept together. Aled Pugh portrays Kevin (Series 1–2). Kevin is Ceri's boyfriend, the brother of Shane and the son of Bessie. He has cheated on Ceri with Vicky and has a child with her, but he is still in love with Ceri. He and Shane discovered a headless body at the local Chinese and has become involved in crime-related businesses. He and Shane recently stole a laptop from Ron and is demanding a ransom for giving the laptop to Toms. Carwyn Glyn portrays Shane (Series 1–2). Shane is Kevin's younger brother and son of Bessie. He works with his brother, and after the discovery of the body in the Chinese he sent the message to Toms and was later arrested. He likes Ceri, so he hated the fact that Kevin cheated on her with Vicky.