Episode 2 A Summer in Wales

-Summer in Wales is a time of celebration...

-Cheese!

-..holidays...

-I want to see a castle, pubs.

-Keep rowing.

..and the great outdoors.

-Whoo!

-A time when many businesses must turn a profit...

We have put everything we've got into this.

..or face a struggle to survive the rest of the year.

Got to keep your head above water.

A time when good weather can make all things possible...

Argh!

..and bad can leave dreams in tatters.

The weather could be nicer but that's not anybody's fault.

This summer was truly extraordinary.

Was that the cleverest idea, to try and take it down?

It saw laughter...

Ha-ha!

..heartache...

-It can be a cruel game!

-..triumph...

I came second.

..and despair.

-The weather's beaten us once again.

-These are our stories...

Nice bit of pavement pizza in this corner here.

..filmed in every corner of the nation across the summer of 2012.

You can't beat it!

This is a story of a summer in Wales.

Let's get the show on the road!

Early summer in Wales,

and it's turning out to be the wettest since records began.

FORECAST: 'Already more rain in the south, it's spreading northwards,

'again, some of it heavy.

'The wind is strongest in the south and west...

'..wet and windy,

'so outdoor activities could be quite challenging.'

Everyone's hoping for good weather,

not least the inhabitants of Pritchard Street

in South Wales' Ely Valley.

This summer they're stringing up the bunting to celebrate

the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Oh, there's a big thing in the middle!

Roy's up the top.

Up you go.

These 88 households have held street parties to mark every big occasion since the 1940s,

from VE Day to Royal Weddings.

Well, it means a chance for everybody to get together

and have a good time, and reacquaint with each other.

Valleys communities are very close-knit,

and in Pritchard Street everyone from young to old gets involved...

My dad lives down by there,

I live by here, and my brother lives over there.

..including long-term resident Marian Owen.

In this street you never ever feel alone.

and as you grow older, I think you need that...

That you need that, you know, a coming together.

Parties on Pritchard Street are a cut above the norm.

Everyone is expected to wear fancy dress.

This year the organising committee has asked Marian to appear as the queen.

-A cloak?

-Yes.

A long dress? Oh, I don't know.

Can we have another bunting?

Roy, ease up on the cord!

-A crown?

-No, a tiara.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

Wayne, let it come out a bit from there.

With over 200 residents plus friends and relatives coming from all over,

Pritchard Street is pulling out all the stops and laying on a big spread...

We've got a bit of a production line going here.

..but with the gloomy weather forecast for the Jubilee weekend,

will their big day be a big washout?

The most important part of today is that it doesn't rain.

Please, Mr Weatherman, be kind.

Derek, I'm talking to you!

Also hoping for good weather

are Wales' 7,000 odd hoteliers and guesthouse owners,

for whom a washout summer could spell disaster.

This year, a new establishment has joined their ranks -

on the border between Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, is Hammet House.

Until recently, it was a failing country hotel,

then Philippa and Owen Gale bought it

and invested their life savings

to transform it into a luxury retreat.

It's an ambitious project.

We have got plans to redevelop this into a hot spa pool,

and then some spa treatment rooms on the inside here.

As you can see, we've got a lot of work to do to get to that stage.

The couple are giving the interior an uncompromisingly modern makeover,

something that's not to everyone's taste in this part of Welsh Wales.

We did have one lady who stomped in and told me that I couldn't do this to this house -

didn't I know this was a much-loved house?

And I was sort of... felt like telling her,

"Well, actually, it's my house!"

Summer is the busiest season in the hotel calendar,

and Owen and Philippa face a steep learning curve.

They're just weeks away from a run of weddings,

and as most event bookings come from personal recommendations,

it's crucial for future business that these go well.

We've done quite a few big dinners and banquets for large numbers,

but it's not... It's just not the same as a WEDDING!

Um, yeah, weddings have a whole load of other issues, don't they?

Yes, for a bride it has to be perfect.

It is their special day,

and we certainly can't ruin it!

We have a wedding coming up that was booked before we took over,

who wanted a nice old-fashioned country-house-hotel wedding,

which is what this place was previously,

and when we told them it's going to be completely different,

there were a few panicked ladies, weren't there?

Dan and Michelle booked their wedding with the previous owners of the hotel over a year ago.

We found out when we came in to make the first payment on the wedding.

Nobody had actually told us beforehand

that the place was being sold,

so that sort of came as a bit of a shock.

The good thing is they've basically left the outside the way it's always been, which is nice.

So far, the couple haven't been big on detail...

There's no plan for the day, really,

so it's just going with the flow with how the day goes.

..but, in reality, a great deal of organisation is needed

to ensure their big day runs smoothly.

The key point is pre-planning everything

down to the smallest detail.

Me and Michelle, neither of us are that regimental

when it comes to something like this.

I'll be happier once I've actually got a list of everything,

and the times,

and who's doing what at each time - what time the DJ's arriving,

we'll have to get the room cleared ready for him to set up,

what time are they having their evening buffet,

what are we putting the evening buffet on.

For novice wedding organiser Philippa,

this laid-back couple pose a real challenge.

And the numbers the same for the day and the evening, aren't they?

With, er...

So it's 90 in the day? And then evening?

-We've got another 40...

-Plus 40.

-Yeah.

-You're not having a receiving line.

-No.

Makes it less regimental, to be honest.

-Yes, more fitting in with your... you want it to run as...

-Relaxed.

-..relaxed and informal, don't you, yeah?

-Yeah.

You've got desserts included as well,

-so there'll be a selection of cheesecakes...

-Black Forest gateau would marvellous.

Black Forest gateau, OK.

Just make sure there's one whole one ready for the groom.

With the wedding just over a week away,

it looks like Philippa has her work cut out.

I'm feeling, erm, almost in control at the moment.

I can't foresee any problems!

Erm, just endless lists of little things that need to be done.

On the coast of South Wales,

a break in the weather brings the first crowd of the season

to the seaside resort of Barry Island.

Try and win a goldfish, all wet and orange! You having a go?

The washout summers of recent years have seen visitor numbers dwindle.

But five years ago,

Barry's declining fortunes were given a dramatic boost.

A popular TV sitcom has put Barry Island firmly on the TV tourism map.

Linda Bailey is a guide for the official Gavin And Stacey Tour,

taking visitors in their thousands to the filming locations used in the series.

Sometimes it can be challenging, but more often than not, it's just fun.

Testing, testing!

It's working, Dave.

A little bit of acting involved, in as much as you're a character.

I take on like the Nessa second-cousin bit.

I'm Sally from the Rhondda Valley.

Set these song sheets up.

Hope we've got a few good singers on here.

If you know the words to Islands In The Stream, just sing along.

It's thought that Gavin And Stacey has boosted visitor numbers

by as much as 25%...

There you are, fabulous.

..and Barry is now one of the most popular TV and film locations

to visit in the UK.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. What's occurring?

-LAUGHTER

-Tell me where you've come from. Abbie?

Derbyshire.

Oh! Absolutely fabulous!

Karen?

Birmingham.

Fabulous! Gareth?

Only Bridgend.

Right, that's fabulous. I'd like now to introduce our driver.

Now, can anyone guess his name?

THEY ALL LAUGH

These diehard fans have travelled from all over the UK and beyond

to take this tour.

Riding on Dave's actual coach from the series,

they'll visit a dozen or so filming locations,

some are more memorable than others.

Including the church where Nessa almost married Dave.

My college went in last time and there was a funeral going on.

Wasn't very welcoming, I tell you.

So she was Nessy-fied bride.

She said she wanted to be look basically like a fat Boudicca,

and she was determined to wear those boots.

And they said, "Are you sure you want to wear them?"

I said, "Yeah. For comfort, why suffer?!"

All right then, here we go.

Once you've had your photographs in here,

speak nicely to Dave, he'll let you sit in the driver seat.

Don't touch any of the controls though, all right?

Everybody loves it,

they love having their photograph taken in Dave's seat.

And quite often, with Dave. I don't know what it is,

he's just got that "je ne sais quoi", I reckon.

Next stop, Nessa's caravan park home,

and the base for her fortune-telling business.

We're not allowed to go IN the caravan,

but we can all stand outside.

SHE LAUGHS

Normally this location is a prime photo opportunity.

Oh, I can't believe this weather, sorry, guys.

But not today.

That's where the bus pulled up.

They've had a new front since we were last here.

I don't think we're going to stay long here, right?

That was our Nessa.

Inside the caravan, of course.

SHE LAUGHS

Quite a few people like having a photograph here,

but you're welcome to borrow this.

I know it's not a crystal ball, but times are 'ard.

Anyone want to put Nessa's scarf on?

So, we're giving up and going back to the coach. I don't blame them.

What's the future looking like?

-Rain.

-Yeah!

Wind, hurricanes.

The elements may be against them,

but these TV tourists are made of sterner stuff.

Start the bus up, love.

Sorry about the wind-sweeping experience there.

It's onwards to Stacey's house.

Torrential rain may have spoiled the early summer for many,

but for some, it's just what they've been hoping for.

In the foothills of Snowdonia,

two enthusiasts and their families are on a quest.

Isn't this fantastic, absolutely beautiful.

Andrew Smith and John Piggott are wild swimmers,

spending their free time hunting out new bathing spots to explore,

far from the safety of lifeguards and swimming pool rules.

I wouldn't say that danger is one of the attractions,

it's more about enjoyment and knowing that it's not dangerous.

Despite the water temperature being a chilly 12 degrees Celsius,

these two shun wetsuits in favour of a more natural approach.

For me, wild swimming is about

being immersed in the fabric of the environment that you're in.

I don't have anything against wetsuits

if people want to wear them, and I prefer not to.

I want to have as little between me and the environment as possible.

I want to feel the water.

If there's fish in there or weeds, then I want to feel those as well.

'For other people's consideration, I might wear some swimming trunks.

'I will be today.'

John has been wild swimming since childhood...

and swims every day if he can.

I think some people sort of would actually like to do it,

but then don't think they can.

All sorts of people say all sorts of things, but,

I'm old enough now, I don't care what people think anymore, so it's good fun.

Very excited! HE LAUGHS

Surrounded by sea on three sides, with 568 lakes

and over 1,000 rivers and streams,

Wales is a paradise for wild swimmers.

And while some will happily bathe all year round,

for most, summer is the season to venture out.

The summer makes it SO much easier.

We've just got a couple of ruck sacks,

and we have it loaded up with warm clothes to get in afterwards.

And it's not blowing a gale.

Yeah, in the summer, everything's fair game.

Oh, absolutely wonderful!

Best swim I've ever done, I think, this one.

Whoo!

More than two thirds of weddings are held in the summer,

and for Wales' hotel and catering business it's the busiest season.

In deepest West Wales, at Hammet House,

it's Dan and Michelle's big day.

With their reputation at stake,

Owen and Philippa are keen to ensure the event is a success.

-All good?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, they should be here about quarter past three-ish,

but, yeah.

I'll do my best.

Excellent. That's all we can ask.

In this area of Wales, people talk, word gets around,

the grapevine's very, very active, so, yeah, we've got to make sure...

We've got to do our best

to make sure that everything is absolutely perfect.

Good colour.

Everything is checked.

Oh, perfect.

From the welcoming Pimm's drinks...

..To the Hammet House signature canapes that chef Ben is whipping up in the kitchen.

-How fast...?

-We're starting to plate up in a second

and then obviously, it will take us about 15, 20 minutes.

OK.

I'm not sure what they're going to think of the flowers that we're doing.

As the wedding party arrives,

the Hammet House team springs into action.

What will the hungry guests make of the fancy finger food?

GUESTS CHATTER

Well, I was a little wary.

I wanted to make sure it was edible before I ate it.

Not sure that I tasted it, but it looked good.

Beetroot and goat's cheese.

Oh, I don't like that! That was horrible!

So far, the event's running to schedule.

Smashing. That's a lovely, cheesy smile you've got there, love.

Well done.

In the next few minutes, we'll start to take the buffet out,

putting it on the tables, which are at the top end of the ballroom.

Formal photographs done, it's time for the wedding party to take in

the new Hammet House decor,

while the hog roast and buffet is prepared.

Mmm, yummy.

And opinion is mixed.

I think it's really nice.

-Not the plastic stuff.

-Not the see-through plastic, maybe not.

No, no.

A bit more contemporary now since we've been here last.

I don't like the retro look with it, I don't think it matches.

No, sorry! That's my opinion, he asked me my opinion.

I've just heard a few witterings of...

"This is Llechryd not London,"

and that sort of comment, so, there we are.

It doesn't really bother us.

We like it when people have got strong opinions

cos if you're not getting people to react,

obviously you're just doing something middle-of-the-road,

so we wouldn't want to be doing that.

Hey, Monkeys!

To keep Dan and Michelle's wedding day on track,

Owen's volunteered himself as master of ceremonies.

I'm just looking for the groom at the moment.

Not an easy task with this laid-back couple.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd like to make your way through to the ballroom,

the hog is served.

-OK, where's Dan gone now?

-I have no idea.

The meal is ready, but before it can be served,

the bride and groom need to be formally introduced to their guests.

Dan's gone for a little wander to say hello to everybody.

And Dan and Michelle keep wandering off.

And Michelle's gone outside.

Oh, no, photographer.

We need to get a move on.

If you grab your wife, get her in...

Ladies and gentlemen,

if you could all be upstanding for the bride and groom.

CHEERING

Ah, finally!

At last, the wedding party can tuck into chef Ben's buffet,

which hopefully will be to everyone's taste.

Caramelised onions in there, couscous in the oven,

corn on the cob is down there, tomato salad out there already...

Ben's an experienced chef, well used to busy kitchens,

but with Hammet House's reputation riding on this event,

Philippa is keen to check that everything is under control.

Is the bread baked off?

-The bread is going to go into the oven in a second.

-Right, OK.

We need all the bread out straight away.

We don't want to be running back and forth for bread.

And what's that going on, do you know? On or in, to go out?

Ummm, we haven't thought about it yet, to be honest with you.

What... Are those accounted for?

Yes, that's going to be couscous and some leaves.

Hello!

Ah, dear...

Despite Philippa's anxiety,

the happy couple are pleased with Ben's efforts.

Everybody's been impressed with the food.

Well, fair play, he's made it.

Particularly Dan,

whose request for Black Forest gateau has been granted.

We'll have to go over and sample it on our table

and we'll see how it tastes afterwards.

The evening wears on with no hitches, and all parties seem happy.

Everybody's had a nice few drinks,

I think, a bit of merriment going on, a bit of dancing,

yeah, a good night, I think.

-Lovely food.

-The best wedding ever.

-Yeah.

But in the kitchen, all is not well.

Yes, just extremely tired and I'm quite glad it's over,

-to be honest with you.

-HE LAUGHS

Ben's not happy.

Some more demolished buffet plates, all going down very well.

Oh great, that's great news.

One slice of Black Forest gateau left.

Oh, brilliant, I'm glad they enjoyed that.

That's probably the most she ever talks to me, to be honest with you.

I'm going to put these away.

Ah, dear.

Dan and Michelle's wedding has been a big success.

Despite mixed reviews

about the hotel's uncompromisingly modern interior,

chef Ben's catering won the wedding party over,

and the word has spread on the local grapevine.

Another wedding booking?

-That was a wedding viewing this afternoon.

-Oh, right.

But it's not all good news.

We're really pleased with the food, especially.

Ben did a great job. But now he reveals to us

that he is going to be leaving us, unfortunately.

Just as we're coming into busy wedding season,

we're going to be losing our head chef,

which is a huge problem.

So it's just the next hurdle, basically.

Hopefully we're going to jump over this hurdle and sprint on.

-PHONE RINGS

-Good afternoon, Hammet House...

As storm clouds gather over Hammet House,

in Barry, South Wales,

Linda's Gavin and Stacey tour is reaching its climax.

Right then, everyone, this is Stacey's house.

Next door is where Doris lived,

and right opposite there is Uncle Bryn's house.

He used to come out to that window and wave, you know,

and he was talcing himself off after a shower.

If you'd like to come in, feel free to look around.

For the keen fans who've travelled hundreds if not thousands of miles

to see these filming locations,

no detail is too small to be overlooked.

When you get out the kitchen, the original omelette pan

is still there if you want to cook an omelette for a photo shot.

You can go in Stacey's bedroom, it's exactly as the film set.

Unfortunately, we can't go to Gavin's house,

cos that's in Dinas Powys, not Billericay.

It's a cul-de-sac, and they just didn't want us there, really.

Apparently Nessa drove her truck in, reversed it in one day,

-and knocked something over.

-SHE LAUGHS

So we don't go there.

I'd like to thank you all for coming on the tour today.

We'll finish off outside Marco's

and around to Nessa's slots, where we'll have our raffle.

In the five years since the series was first shown,

Stacey's house has been visited by over 7,000 TV tourists.

Just look to your left, of course, there's the fabulous Barry Beach.

And a recent survey of Gavin and Stacey viewers

found that over three million of them

wanted to visit Barry after seeing the sitcom.

I'm just going to see if Gav and Stace are there.

I've come up from Cornwall,

and that's five hours on the train.

That's far enough for me, anyway, and you've come via Turkey.

Cornwall, Turkey, to here.

Fabulous, thank you, life-size models.

But if you stand by them and give them a cwtch

and blur your eyes a bit, it looks like the real thing.

I live in Gloucestershire, in Stroud,

and then my friends are from Bristol.

And we came to Wales just to go on the Gavin and Stacey tour.

We've come from North Wales down here for this for the day,

so we'll be travelling back later, but still it's not too bad.

You've got enough time to sort of enjoy the day out

and then a bit of time in Cardiff afterwards before we get the train back.

I've come from Baltimore.

This is actually my second time here.

The show isn't super-popular in the United States,

but it does have kind of a cult following.

I wouldn't have known Barry existed if it weren't for Gavin and Stacey.

We've got the Marco's Cafe behind as well.

It's been really good. Yeah, really good.

-The house was really good, visiting the house.

-Yeah, nice.

It was a shame about the weather,

-but other than that, it was brilliant, really.

-Yeah.

Get your tickets ready.

196. Ohhh!

How many tickets did you have? You had loads, didn't you?

You get the goodie bags.

Number 222. All the twos.

Oh, yes!

Yes, I think it went really well. The bus didn't break down,

the music box didn't blow up,

and no-one fell off the coach, so we're fine.

Oh...

That was a good one.

Back in the Ely Valley,

the weather's held,

and last-minute preparations for the Pritchard Street party are well under way.

There's going to be a party

for the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen.

Kate, come and spray me, babe.

Marian's neighbour Sadie

is putting the finishing touches to her costume.

We're just prepping ourselves now as grannies.

The Queen's muckers, we are.

My sexy pop socks.

I even bought a granny bra, but I won't show you that.

I have a surprise.

-I have bloomers on.

-THEY LAUGH

Welcome to the Tonyrefail Street Party!

Come on out of your houses, and show your faces.

I'm Audrey Hepburn, but with blonde hair!

The whole street's made an effort to dress up.

Where do I sit?

Sadie is going to have a makeover with me,

which should be about six months, I think.

THEY LAUGH

As Marian gets the royal treatment,

neighbour Dai, a factory foreman, is keeping alive a tradition

started by his father at the Silver Jubilee in 1977.

If my father's done it, it's all right to do it,

and the way to go, and the street party is about tradition.

Does that hurt?

No, it's fine. Which do you think?

-That's it, like Sadie got.

-That's it.

I got it. Have I got it, yeah?

Right, I've got it.

With her wave perfected, Marian is ready to make an appearance.

All right?

Best Welsh cake maker in the world, you are.

Thank you. And the best neighbour in the world!

-Ahhh!

-Yeah.

I think everyone's in high spirits,

because of the weather and the fancy dress helps,

out of character, so everyone is enjoying themselves.

The street's oldest resident, 85-year-old Alice Hippsley,

makes a grand entrance dressed as an Olympic torchbearer.

Finally it's time for the traditional

Pritchard Street Party Parade, and photograph.

Cheese!

Next time...

I want to see a castle, some pubs...

..the Americans do North Wales...

The weather could be nicer, but that's not anybody's fault.

We saw the... HE GIBBERS ..town.

I'd like to know where they got all the rock.

..Cardiff gets a deep clean...

It's not a glamorous job.

There's the culprit. Guilty as charged.

..and we meet Wales' hardest-working Marchioness.

Hey! Come here!

Unless you're very rich, you have to be prepared to get your feet dirty.

Work stops here with me.

Oh, my!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd