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Pobol y Cwm is the longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC,
and in recent years has celebrated both its 30th anniversary and its 4000th
episode. This is a staggering success for a series that was originally intended
to run for only ten episodes, and which began at a time when Welsh language
programmes were fitfully scheduled and continually under threat. Its popularity
was an important factor in the battle to establish a Welsh language channel, and
when S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru) finally began transmission in 1982, Pobol y Cwm
took pride of place in its schedules.
Created by John Hefin and Gwenlyn Parry, the series was premiered
by BBC Wales on 16th October 1974 in a twice-weekly evening slot. The first episode
introduced the watching public to the eponymous 'people of the valley' who lived
and worked in the village of Cwmderi. As befitting such a small location, the
series initially featured a small cast of characters, played by a mixture of
professional and non-professional actors, and with most of the action based in
the Deri Arms, a pub that has remained the focal point of the programme. The
series was an immediate hit, and was especially good at portraying strong and
memorable characters, such as the domineering Bella Davies and the youthful
Sabrina.
Despite its humble origins, Pobol y Cwm, like many other soap operas, has had
its fair share of family rows, adultery and death over the years, but has
managed to maintain a level of realism that puts it in stark contrast with the
English soaps. Even since it was scheduled five times a week in 1988, it
has rarely reached for sensationalistic storylines, and instead uses the extra
episodes to explore the ramifications of events and their effect on the
characters. Death, in particular, is always handled in a sensitive way - a 2005
car crash involving newly-weds Anita Richards and Meic Pierce, which resulted in
the loss of their baby, was a case in point. It is this foregrounding of the
relationships within the community and the focus on character development that
has maintained the popularity of the series over the years. Despite the periodic
crises around S4C's long-term viability, it seems likely that the BBC production
base of Pobol y Cwm will ensure its future for many years to come.
John Williams
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Complete episode (29:00)
